Stay Connected:

A Guide to Mobile Data Abroad

Stay Connected:

A Guide to Mobile Data Abroad

Other eSIM Providers

If you’re away for a long period of time and/or travelling on a budget, some nights will be quieter than others. Additionally, you may be travelling through the night or day for long periods of time (7 hours+).

If you’re a reader, we'd recommend taking a Kindle. If you're a gamer or travelling as a party, you might want to take a Nintendo Switch. We played hours of Overcooked on bus journeys.

Saily

Discount Code: Special5

Airhub

Discount Code:

Make more savings

Try reducing your home mobile plan to a cheaper package, if that’s possible, as you will require less/no coverage.

Make more savings

Try reducing your home mobile plan to a cheaper package, if that’s possible, as you will require less/no coverage.

What we used for a VPN…

Nord VPN is largely considered the best and is great for keeping your details safe as well as streaming movies from Netflix etc.

There are also some free VPN apps, but they have some limitations so make sure to check that they are actually secure!

You can use our voucher code at checkout! MATT0135

What we used for a VPN…

Nord VPN is largely considered the best and is great for keeping your details safe as well as streaming movies from Netflix etc.

There are also some free VPN apps, but they have some limitations so make sure to check that they are actually secure!

You can use our voucher code at checkout! MATT0135

Use a VPN when on public wifi

You might use VPNs to watch Netflix abroad, but keeping a VPN active allows you to anonymise all your network traffic.

You should also try to use mobile data when making online payments, instead of public wifi.

Use a VPN when on public wifi

You might use VPNs to watch Netflix abroad, but keeping a VPN active allows you to anonymise all your network traffic.

You should also try to use mobile data when making online payments, instead of public wifi.

eSIMs

Flexibility. Using airport wifi, you can get data before you have your luggage.

Easy set up in an app, with a variety of options based on your travel plan.

You can keep your original number active, which can be needed for one-time-passcodes from the bank*.

*Samantha was locked out of her bank account when using a Laos physical SIM, as she wasn’t able to confirm the code from the bank on her home number.
If your home device uses eSIM already, adding a physical SIM won’t create this problem.

eSIMs

Flexibility. Using airport wifi, you can get data before you have your luggage.

Easy set up in an app, with a variety of options based on your travel plan.

You can keep your original number active, which can be needed for one-time-passcodes from the bank*.

*Samantha was locked out of her bank account when using a Laos physical SIM, as she wasn’t able to confirm the code from the bank on her home number.
If your home device uses eSIM already, adding a physical SIM won’t create this problem.

Manage your data consumption

If you’re away for a long period of time and/or travelling on a budget, some nights will be quieter than others. Additionally, you may be travelling through the night or day for long periods of time (7 hours+).

If you’re a reader, we'd recommend taking a Kindle. If you're a gamer or travelling as a party, you might want to take a Nintendo Switch. We played hours of Overcooked on bus journeys.

Download maps when on wifi. Cover a city or a whole country.

Download entertainment on wifi and refrain from streaming video with data.

Plan your travel and book activities whilst you’re connected to wifi.

Manage your data consumption

If you’re away for a long period of time and/or travelling on a budget, some nights will be quieter than others. Additionally, you may be travelling through the night or day for long periods of time (7 hours+).

If you’re a reader, we'd recommend taking a Kindle. If you're a gamer or travelling as a party, you might want to take a Nintendo Switch. We played hours of Overcooked on bus journeys.

Download maps when on wifi. Cover a city or a whole country.

Download entertainment on wifi and refrain from streaming video with data.

Plan your travel and book activities whilst you’re connected to wifi.

How does an eSIM work?

How does an eSIM work?

You may opt for eSIM, physical SIM or switch between both.

Check if your device is eligible for an eSIM.

You may opt for eSIM, physical SIM or switch between both.

Check if your device is eligible for an eSIM.

Both eSIM and physical SIM can work as a hotspot

…in case you need to work whilst you travel.

Both eSIM and physical SIM can work as a hotspot

…in case you need to work whilst you travel.

Our Recommendation 🌟

Given our personal mobile plans use physical SIMs, and having tried both of the above options, we preferred eSIMs - we specifically liked the flexibility of using Airalo.

You can use our voucher code at checkout! MATT0135

Our Recommendation 🌟

Given our personal mobile plans use physical SIMs, and having tried both of the above options, we preferred eSIMs - we specifically liked the flexibility of using Airalo.

You can use our voucher code at checkout! MATT0135

iOS Settings

General -> About

If it says ‘No SIM restrictions’, you’re eligible 🎉

iOS Settings

General -> About

If it says ‘No SIM restrictions’, you’re eligible 🎉

Android Settings

Connections or Network -> SIM

If it says ‘Add eSIM’ or ‘Download a SIM’, you’re eligible 🎉

Android Settings

Connections or Network -> SIM

If it says ‘Add eSIM’ or ‘Download a SIM’, you’re eligible 🎉

If someone does get hold of your login details for an online service, specifically email, having 2FA will keep you in control.

Use 2 Factor Authentication (2FA)

If someone does get hold of your login details for an online service, specifically email, having 2FA will keep you in control.

Use 2 Factor Authentication (2FA)

Physical SIMs

Usually cheaper and often provide Unlimited Data for a similar cost to a limited data eSIM.

Often comes with a local phone number which some websites may require for verification.

Can be configured by a local who is able to assist and help.

Physical SIMs

Usually cheaper and often provide Unlimited Data for a similar cost to a limited data eSIM.

Often comes with a local phone number which some websites may require for verification.

Can be configured by a local who is able to assist and help.

For the cheapest deals on physical SIMs, get one in the country when you arrive. But if you would prefer to have a SIM card before you leave for your travels, we would highly recommend SimCorner.

You can get 5% off at SimCorner with this code XXXX0000.

Stay Connected:

Even if you plan to leave the digital world behind, you'll still need some connectivity to get around.

You may need to check if your device is eligible for an eSIM.

Our Recommendation 🌟

Given our personal mobile plans use physical SIMs, and having tried both of the above options, we preferred eSIMs - we specifically liked the flexibility of using Airalo.

You can use our voucher code at checkout! MATT0135

eSIMs

Flexibility. Using airport wifi, you can get data before you have your luggage.

Easy set up in an app, with a variety of options based on your travel plan.

You can keep your original number active, which can be needed for one-time-passcodes from the bank*.

*Samantha was locked out of her bank account when using a Laos physical SIM, as she wasn’t able to confirm the code from the bank on her home number.
If your home device uses eSIM already, adding a physical SIM won’t create this problem.

Physical SIMs

Usually cheaper and often provide Unlimited Data for a similar cost to a limited data eSIM.

Often comes with a local phone number which some websites may require for verification.

Can be configured by a local who is able to assist and help.

What we used for a VPN…

Nord VPN is largely considered the best and is great for keeping your details safe as well as streaming movies from Netflix etc.

There are also some free VPN apps, but they have some limitations so make sure to check that they are actually secure!

You can use our voucher code at checkout! MATT0135

iOS Settings

General -> About

If it says ‘No SIM restrictions’, you’re eligible 🎉

Make more savings

Try reducing your home mobile plan to a cheaper package, if that’s possible, as you will require less/no coverage.

Manage your data consumption

If you’re away for a long period of time and/or travelling on a budget, some nights will be quieter than others. Additionally, you may be travelling through the night or day for long periods of time (7 hours+).

If you’re a reader, we'd recommend taking a Kindle. If you're a gamer or travelling as a party, you might want to take a Nintendo Switch. We played hours of Overcooked on bus journeys.

Download maps when on wifi. Cover a city or a whole country.

Download entertainment on wifi and refrain from streaming video with data.

Plan your travel and book activities whilst you’re connected to wifi.

Both eSIM and physical SIM can work as a hotspot

…in case you need to work whilst you travel.

Android Settings

Connections or Network -> SIM

If it says ‘Add eSIM’ or ‘Download a SIM’, you’re eligible 🎉

How does an eSIM work?

Use a VPN when on public wifi

You might use VPNs to watch Netflix abroad, but keeping a VPN active allows you to anonymise all your network traffic.

You should also try to use mobile data when making online payments, instead of public wifi.

If someone does get hold of your login details for an online service, specifically email, having 2FA will keep you in control.

Use 2 Factor Authentication (2FA)