How To Use A Travel eSim: Get Online As Soon As Your Plane Lands

I used to have issues with connectivity when I was travelling, but not anymore since travel eSims have been invented. 

It’s not that I need to share a new Instastory on my Instagram every time I move around an airport, but the reality is that internet connectivity is a must-have for the modern traveller. 

Having access to the internet is the easiest way to find out how to get from the airport to the city centre, order an Uber if necessary, or access any online customs forms when entering a new country. 

Many international airports claim to have free WiFi, but the reality is that most don’t work really well and are definitely not secure. 

What’s an eSim?

An eSim, or an electronic sim card, is a sim card that doesn’t need to exist physically and go into your smartphone. This electronic kind of sim card can be installed on your smartphone like you would install an app and then use it exactly the same way you would use a traditional sim card.

Using an eSim is much more convenient than using a traditional SIM card because you don’t have to buy it when you reach a new country, and you don’t have to wait for hours for it to be activated by the issuer’s company. 

To get an eSim, you need to sign up on one of the eSim providers. Don’t worry, they work almost everywhere in the world.

Best eSim for international travel

The best eSim for international travel I used so far is Airalo. I started using it in May 2023, and it’s my go-to app for eSim whenever I travel to a new place. 

I used it in Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus, the United States, Central America, and South America. The app offers travel eSims that work in over 200 countries and territories. 

I understand that the world of travel apps is still expanding, and people are now travelling more than ever, which raises the demand for internet connectivity. 

However, after trying some of the most popular eSim travel apps, I do not see much difference between them. In the end, the choice comes down to your personal preference. 

How to use a travel eSim

Using an eSim for international travels is much easier than you think. I was confused, too, when I first had to use it, but it’s much easier than you imagine it to be. 

To make things easier to understand, I will explain how to use a travel eSim in five simple steps:

1. Make sure your smartphone supports eSims. Most high-end smartphones and some of the middle-range ones support it, but make sure yours has this functionality. You can check this by going into your Settings > Mobile Service (or something similar). If still unsure, Google for the model of your device and add eSim after that. E.g., “iPhone 12 eSim”
2. Choose an eSim app and install it on your phone. I use Airalo and I had no issues with it. You can find it on Google Play or App Store. 
3. Sign up on the app. You’ll need to create an account so that the app can keep track of your orders. It will make sense once you get the app. 
4. Buy your eSim. You can choose to buy an eSim for a specific country, for a region, or a global one. This will depend on your travel plans. You can also choose the validity (7/15/30 days) and the data amount in GB. The prices are according to your choice. 
5. Install your eSim. You will need to install your eSim in your phone before you reach your destination, as the installation of a new eSim requires a stable internet connection, preferably a Wifi. 

And this is all you need to do. Once you reach your destination, you can turn on mobile data just make sure to select the corresponding eSim from your settings and you’ll have a data connection. 

Tips for using Airalo

Once you install the Airalo eSim in your smartphone, it will work just as it would with a physical Sim. 

However, if you are new to eSims, you might not be aware of a few tricks that might interrupt your internet connection. 

Make sure you install your eSim before you leave your home or hotel

Do it someplace with a stable internet connection, preferably a WiFi. Don’t worry about the steps to install the eSim, because the Airalo app will guide you through all the steps, and it is really straightforward. 

The issue is that without a stable internet connection, the eSim installation might not go through and it might get stuck. 

I know this for a fact because I once tried to install it in an airport and the Wifi in the airport wasn’t great. The result was an eSim that didn’t work. 

The issue is that if that eSim is not properly installed, there’s nothing you can do, and you have wasted your money. Luckily, this only happened to me once (but it was a $20 eSim, so it hurt a bit). The only solution was to get a new eSim. 

The validity of your eSim starts when you start using it

Even if you install it before you reach your destination, the validity period only starts when you first start using it. 

This is important because you can choose to buy an eSim for a different amount of time (7/15/30 days) because you might not need it for longer. 

But if you need more time or more data, you can always top it up from the app. Actually, the Airalo app will notify you when your data runs low, so you have time to top up and not be left without any connections in the middle of nowhere. 

You can buy a regional or global eSim

If you’re like me and you travel to multiple destinations during one trip, it would make more economic sense to get an eSim that covers multiple regions or countries. 

Let’s say you only spend 5 days in one country and then you travel to the neighbouring country where you’ll spend 10 days. Instead of buying one 7-day eSim for the first country and then another 15-day eSim for the second country, you might be better off buying just one 15-day eSim that covers the region. 

With an eSim, you can choose which data provider to connect to

These eSims aren’t necessarily tied to one data provider, and in some places, you can try to connect to different providers to see which one offers a better internet connection. 

This might not always be the case, as in some countries, only one of the country’s providers will work with the Airalo eSim, but you can try. 

In fact, your mobile phone might be confused when you first turn on the mobile service after you land and will not connect automatically. 

If that happens, go to Settings > Mobile Service and select the eSim you want to use. Turn it on if it’s not already turned on, and then wait a bit and go to Network Selection. Deselect Automatic, and then after a while, the eSim should display a list of the available providers. 

Go through each one until one connects. Be patient, as sometimes it might take a minute or two for it to connect to the network. 

You can get an eSim that supports data, calls and text 

In general, when talking about eSims, most of them will only provide an internet connection. This means that you won’t be able to call or send texts (SMS). 

This is the case with most providers that offer eSims for countries and different regions. 

But if you also need to call or send a text once you reach your destination, then you can choose the Global eSims from Airalo, which includes over 135 countries. The total time for the calls are a bit limiting, but I find it a great option for emergencies. 

eSim Europe Travel 

If you’re travelling to Europe and need an eSim, then you should first asses your travel plans, if you’re only travelling in one country, then get an eSim for that country only. 

However, if you’re going on a trip through multiple countries, then choose the regional eSim for Europe on Airalo. 

The eSim is called Eurolink, and it has coverage in 39 countries in Europe. 

Here are all the Airalo options available if you need an eSim for travelling in Europe: 

• Data 1 GB; Validity 7 days; Cost $5. Buy here
• Data 3 GB; Validity 30 days; Cost $13. Buy here
• Data 5 GB; Validity 30 days; Cost $20. Buy here
• Data 10 GB; Validity 30 days; Cost $37. Buy here
• Data 50 GB; Validity 90 days; Cost $100. Buy here
• Data 100 GB; Validity 180 days; Cost $185. Buy here

The other regions available on Airalo for international eSims are Africa, Asia, the Caribbean Islands, Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa, North America, and Oceania. 

Airalo discount codes

Because I have been using Airalo for a while now, I have two discount codes for you if you want to try it out. 

New users – NEWTOAIRALO15 (get 15% discount)

Existing users – AIRALOESIM10 (get 10% discount)

Both of these Airalo promo codes offer a maximum discount of $100 and are valid until December 31, 2024. 

I hope this guide will help you find the best eSim for travelling and you’ll never be without an eSim when travelling overseas. 

What’s the best eSim travel app? It’s up to you, but my suggestion is to go with something tried and tested. I have been using Airalo since May 2023 and it’s my best eSim for international travel.