Another little travel trick: eSims

Talk about traveling light - have you checked out the whole eSim thing? For a number of years, I just let my big phone carrier charge me the per day international rate, because I was lazy. It ends up being something like an extra $150 on my bill the month I took a trip.

After finally upgrading my phone to one that can use eSims (in Santiago, Chile, after my old one got stolen out of my hands!) I started researching the ways to travel internationally without this big bill.

One thing to remember about this process is you WON'T have your regular number while using the eSim - you can't make calls or get regular text messages. BUT, you can use other messaging and calling apps - the simple one for me is Whatsapp. You can call, video call, and text everyone who also uses whatsapp while on a local network with your eSim.

I settled on Roafly, https://www.roafly.com/ a vendor of eSims for around the world. It takes a minute to get your head around the concept, but basically, you go to their site, find the country or countries you're going to, figure out what amount of data you will probably use on your trip, and then purchase a super cheap eSim package.

About figuring out how much you need:

My trips are often around 2 weeks. I use my phone like a regular person - maps, ride services, translation, wasting time on social media, the typical stuff - and I was purchasing 20gb packages. Then I get home and realize I only used 2gb for the whole 2 weeks! (I would get on wifi if it was easy and available, but not fanatically)

One thing you can do is go to your phone account and find out what your typical usage is at home, and figure it'll be about the same when traveling.

About the set up and starting to use it:

I found the instructions a little confusing, but here's how to do it: purchase the eSim that will work for you. Be on wifi, and install it.

Then, when you land in the country you are traveling to, before coming out of airplane mode, go to your SIM manager and turn off the one provided by your phone carrier, and turn on the one from Roafly. Then come out of airplane mode, and you should connect up to the local network. done!

Use this referral code for $3 off your first purchase with Roafly, and I get some credit for my next one too!

"JOHN4226"

Let me know if you have questions

Tys