If you already follow me on Instagram, you might have spotted that I spent a few days in Krakow, Poland last month. And even though I've still got plenty to share from that trip, I simply had to give you the lowdown on something that ended up being a travel game changer for me.
Yes, I know that things like packing cubes and noise-cancelling headphones can make travelling so much smoother, but have you tried an eSIM before? Well, whether you have an upcoming trip planned or have always been curious as to how they work and where is best to get one from, here's everything you need to know...
Why you need an eSIM
If you've never used an eSIM before, you might be wondering if it's really necessary. But, on my recent long weekend to Krakow, Poland, I was keen to put this to the test. And, I have to say, having one really made such a huge difference to my trip. Basically, if you've ever found yourself hopping into cafes or shops in a bid to access their free WiFi, or even having to ask locals for directions when your maps don't work, I have a feeling that you'll certainly benefit from using one on your travels.
And free WiFi isn't always a given, depending on where you're travelling in Europe, and the world more generally. For example, it would have been so handy to have an eSIM while travelling in Mallorca, as there were more remote points on the island where I knew there was no chance of WiFi, nonetheless free WiFi.
Not only can an eSIM help you to access maps and book taxis and transfers, but you can also upload your photos and videos on the go, or even download a new book, playlist or podcast on a long plane, bus or car journey. Let's just say, the amount of times that I've downloaded a book in advance only for me to not get into it and wish that I'd downloaded a few more, has been a regular occurrence on many a plane and train journey. You also don't need multiple physical SIM cards if you have a number of trips planned or are travelling between several countries or even continents, either.
Physical SIM or eSIM
Now, you might have spotted prepaid physical SIM cards on your travels before, whether that be at the airport or a supermarket/convenience store. However, I don't know about you, but as someone who loves to plan and has a detailed itinerary for each and every day of my trips, I don't really like leaving things to the last minute. Which is why waiting until I get to my destination and then being overwhelmed, or unsure of which one to pick, wouldn't be my first choice.
Often, you'll find yourself standing there looking at lots of different options, price points and data amounts, only to feel completely unsure as to what is best. And, as you might expect, picking one up at the airport can make it much more expensive than purchasing elsewhere or in advance. Plus, many don't include international calls or have certain restrictions.
eSIMs, on the other hand, can be purchased in advance, and don't require you to have to physically remove and insert a SIM card. As someone who would definitely worry about misplacing my original SIM, if I had to pry one out and replace it with another for my travels, having it all done on my phone makes it so much more hassle-free.
Most up-to-date smartphones (from around 2018 onwards) will support eSIMs, but you can always check this out before you head off on your travels, saving you any stress when you get there. And as soon as I landed in Krakow, I was able to switch it on (which was handy as the airport WiFi wasn't the greatest), and let family know that we'd landed and check our onward transfers.
Why Sim Local?
After doing quite a bit of research, UK-based eSIM provider Sim Local quickly caught my eye. Not only do they have destination eSIMs, allowing you to pick one country in particular (from the UK to the US, Japan, Canada, Germany, Spain, France and Australia, to name a few), but you can opt for a multi-destination eSIM, covering the entirety of Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Caribbean, Oceania and a Global option, if you're hopping from one country to another during your next trip.
I already can't wait to get one for my next trip across the pond to the US, as I normally go sans data over there and always regret it.
And it could not have been easier to get my travel eSIM set up and ready to go before my departure. All I had to do was buy it online, download the accompanying app and connect instantly to it once I got to my destination. And what I really appreciated were the different data plan options. So, if you're only going to be away for a night or two, or know you won't be using too much data, there are smaller data plans. Alternatively, if you're going to be away for a few weeks or need a bit more data, they also have multiple unlimited plans to choose from.
How I used it
Even though there have been times on my previous travels (from New York to Florida, Paris and Rhodes) where I wished that I'd been able to easily connect to the internet, without having to seek out a hotel, cafe or shop that has free WiFi, I wasn't sure that I would get as much use out of an eSIM as I did. But I was wrong about that.
One day when it really helped to have it was on our journey to Auschwitz. Even though we'd booked this well in advance, when it came to the morning of, we still had to make our way to the designated pick up point. And given that this was on a street, where I wouldn't have been able to access WiFi to keep in touch with our driver, having an eSIM meant that I received immediate updates as to where they would be parking, their estimated arrival time (which ended up being a bit earlier than expected) and we even received a photo of the minivan to look out for while we were waiting, which I would have missed had I not had data.
We also used it to book an Uber, after a very long day when we weren't in the mood to navigate public transport. Yet, at the same time, we could access up to the moment bus and tram times simply by checking the websites. Which, again, we wouldn't have been able to do without data.
And it was so handy to check emails, scroll through social media and download a new book to read while on the drive to and from Auschwitz, the same for on our way to and from the airport.
Comparing Sim Local with other eSIM providers and finding the right plan
If, like me, you are travelling to Europe. Their Europe eSIMs cover between 36 and 45 countries, depending on the one that you opt for, with Sim Local's Unlimited eSIMs offering 7 up to 90 days. And unlike many other providers and networks, who advertise "unlimited data" only to cap or slow you down after 3GB or 5GB, you have up to 10GB of full-speed data each day, which is plenty to do and access everything that you need to, from Spotify and YouTube, to TikTok, Instagram and even emails/Teams.
And if you're not sure which plan is best for you, Sim Local also has a great Find My Plan checker on their website. I also have an exclusive discount code, to take 10% off. Simply add ELLISTUESDAY to your order to get your plan at an even better price.
Would I use a Sim Local eSIM again?
The answer is simple: absolutely. Having access to data as and when I needed it, instead of having to hope or hunt down free WiFi, felt like such a weight off my shoulders. As someone who travels quite often, whether that be for work or on holiday, I now don't see myself going back to not having an eSIM set up and ready to go.
The amount of times that I've been caught out when trying to catch up with work emails while at the airport or when out and about, has meant that I arrive back to the hotel, and their more reliable WiFi, with hundreds of emails to sift through. I also do quite a bit of solo travel, and having an eSIM just gave me some extra peace of mind that I could get in touch with someone in the case of an emergency or if I wasn't sure where I was on a particular street or which train/bus/subway to catch.
I was also a big fan of how reliable and easy to use it was.
A few final tips (which you might already be aware of if you're used to keeping your data usage low):
- Enable low data usage on certain apps before you head off on your travels (this can be done on WhatsApp, for example)
- Switch off background refresh
- I would still use and have offline Google Maps downloaded for more remote areas
Have you ever used an eSIM before? Or has this prompted you to try one on your next trip? And where are you off to next?
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