It is vital that you can contact Dr Pitamber, myself, or Sarah at any points of the trip in case of emergency. Ideally, you would have at least a data plan for the trip (or partner up with someone who do at all times). Esims are a convenient way to ensure you stay connected, without the hassle of needing to change your sim card and need to manage the whole tiny pin and keeping original sim card safe affair. However, I’ve laid out three options to be connected on the trip (although I strongly recommend the e-sim if possible!):
E Sims
How does an esim work?
- After purchasing an esim, the company will send you a QR code and instructions to download the esim via the QR code. The process takes 10mins maximum, and viola, your phone does not need a physical sim card to be connected to the telcos.
- You need wifi to install an Esim. Most esims have an activation date (I set mine to 20 May) so once I’ve purchased and installed my Esim, I don’t need to worry about it and just need to turn it on when I reach Spain.
Here are some things to note when you are looking for an esim:
- Check if your phone is compatible with the esim.
- Check if your existing telco have any esims available, and if so, whether the cost makes sense.
- Check if your existing telco allows for esim downloads (it should!)
I’ve used this esim company (LINK HERE) and they are reliable, easy to top up when I need more data, and customer service is great when there are any issues. The pros of an esim include not needing to take out your existing sim card, and if your phone allows, sometimes having multiple esims to switch between (e.g. I have both Singapore and American e-sims because I need to receive OTPs from Singapore).
Physical sim card purchases
If you are opting to purchase a physical sim card upon landing, you’ll also want to check if your telco might allow you to switch sim cards. Some telcos (especially for those who might still be paying off their phones) might not, and would not allow you to use another physical sim card in your phone. If this is the case, do let us know and make sure you pair up with someone who can be connected. You can also consider bringing an older, spare phone for these situations.
Roaming from existing telco
The most expensive option (in my opinion) is to see if your existing telco plan has an overseas roaming component. It is hassle free in the sense that you are not “signing up” for a new plan, but you’ll need to decide if the cost makes sense. If you have any doubts, do reach out to your telco ASAP to see what they can do!