Travel SIM or eSIM around Europe

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floydbloke

3522 posts

Uber Geek

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#3354605 17-Mar-2025 14:27

invisibleman18:

Wondering if there's any update to this on what people have used recently?

Looking into options for a UK/Europe trip later this year. I see Sim Corner has a good discount on at the moment - are they any good? Trip includes UK, Ireland, France, Switzerland.

And is esim or physical sim better?

Bought a physical SIM (my phone doesn't support eSIM) off them last year for a Canada trip. All went smoothly, it arrived quickly and activated on the specified date. They were very quick (I'm talking minutes) to respond to an email query about phone compatibility.

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Kiwifan

169 posts

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#3354642 17-Mar-2025 17:31

I have been using Simcorner for years (US, Canada and Europe) and they have been great to deal with. I wouldn’t use them for Aus again as you still have to go to an Optus store to validate the sim and to be honest the staff really don’t want to know you. In saying that the last time I just picked up an Optus sim at Brisbane airport the staff were great.

I did buy a Simcorner eSIM for Europe last year and although it worked well I got heaps of calls in French so guess it was someone’s previous number still in the system of some businesses.

invisibleman18

1360 posts

Uber Geek

#3354658 17-Mar-2025 18:58

Thanks for that. I'm only really looking at data only options and not needing calls/texts so sounds like they would be a good option with the current 30% off.

Kiwifan

169 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#3354662 17-Mar-2025 19:22

invisibleman18:

Thanks for that. I'm only really looking at data only options and not needing calls/texts so sounds like they would be a good option with the current 30% off.

i normally go for a 10 or 12 GB sim and then use iMessage for contacting people. Oh and using to track her-in-doors when we get separated in a mall. Works well unless someone turns off wifi to save data. 😂

Tinkerisk

4227 posts

Uber Geek

#3354669 17-Mar-2025 20:00

https://esim.holafly.com/sim-card/europe-sim-card/

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CYaBro

4583 posts

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#3354710 17-Mar-2025 23:50

Anybody have any experience with Firsty?

Looks like they have a free eSIM plan with unlimited data but limited to 256kbs so really only useful for messaging.
But their other plans don’t look too bad either.

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noroad

949 posts

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#3354718 18-Mar-2025 06:19

freitasm: It is not for me, but it would be good to have data (tablet) and voice/SMS (phone).

I will check Airalo now.

I have used Airalo a few times now and would not go back. The trick is to activate the e-sim before you board the plane so when you land magic happens (it sees a compatible network and actually activates the e-sim) and everything just works. Its affordable and works, what more can one ask for.

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noroad

949 posts

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#3354719 18-Mar-2025 06:25

Kiwifan:

I have been using Simcorner for years (US, Canada and Europe) and they have been great to deal with. I wouldn’t use them for Aus again as you still have to go to an Optus store to validate the sim and to be honest the staff really don’t want to know you. In saying that the last time I just picked up an Optus sim at Brisbane airport the staff were great.

I did buy a Simcorner eSIM for Europe last year and although it worked well I got heaps of calls in French so guess it was someone’s previous number still in the system of some businesses.

I have used Simcorner a few times (still do with the wife's non e-sim phone) and its fine. The one issue I have had is getting the timing correct. I.e. you have to pre-set the activation date and I have got to the US and gone, hey why is this not working and a day later it works due to timezones. Last time I used the month long one and activated it a day early (was traveling for three weeks) and it all worked. Airalo does not have this issue as the actual activation only happens when it connects to a compatible network (you can pre-activate the e-sim without the countdown starting)

invisibleman18

1360 posts

Uber Geek

#3355204 19-Mar-2025 14:40

Good tip on the date. We're away for about 46 days in total but of course a couple of them are taken up with the to and from travel. Looks like a 45 day one should work out and I'll set the date to be the day we leave NZ.

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