Best European Travel Hack: International eSIM Guide

Have you ever come back from vacation to find a MASSIVE phone bill waiting for you at home? Wait, what? How did that happen? 

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Let’s rewind… you’re having the time of your life on holiday, taking pictures and posting them to Instagram, all without realizing your mobile data is set to “roaming on”! The data is adding up fast and within a few hours, you’ve racked up a heafty bill! 

We’ve had our fair share of internet mishaps through the years, and it’s safe to say we’ve learned many lessons. Never travel without prepaid mobile internet – is just one of them! The data charges and sky-high phone bills are just not worth it, especially when you go to Europe.

Europe Croatia Dubrovnik OM 3155 scaled

Traveling Soon? Here is a list of our favourite travel providers and accessories to help get you ready for your upcoming trip!
  • Book Your Accommodation HERE
  • Search for Great Tours HERE
  • Get a Car Rental HERE
  • Buy Travel Insurance HERE
  • See our Favourite Camera Bag HERE
  • Grab a Reusable Water Bottle HERE or a Filtration Straw HERE
  • Order an eSim HERE

We’ve tried it all: from buying local sims in every country visit, to purchasing pocket wifi or roaming plans. After going through many alternatives, we finally discovered the ULTIMATE Travel Hack – eSIMs.

What’s an eSIM?  

Basically, an eSIM is a virtual SIM that gives you all the functions of a regular SIM card without a physical sim card. Depending on the plan, eSIMs can come with mobile internet/data, calls, and/or texts.

How does an eSIM work?

eSIMs function through a microchip installed on your phone. It allows you to access a different virtual eSIM with a different courier or data plan. ​​eSIMs are convenient because you don’t have to insert anything into your phone or carry another device. All you have to do is activate the digital sim card through your mobile Settings to switch carriers or mobile plans.

Note: Not all cell phones are eSIM compatible, but most newer iPhones and Androids are. Before you buy an eSIM for international travel, check if your phone is eSIM compatible.

Staying connected while traveling has become so much simpler and cheaper ever since we discovered eSIMs! We now have a number of eSIMs loaded on our phones and switch between eSIMs as needed, all while having our main mobile SIM activated to receive calls and messages.

Europe Germany Berlin river Oksana 04451

Why eSIMs are a Game-Changer for Travelers 

In case you’ve never travelled with an international eSIM before, here are some great reasons why it’s worth a try:

No need to switch physical SIM cards

No more stopping at the airport or pausing mid-train ride to carefully take apart your phone, swap the plastic sim cards, put your primary one away, and do it all over again when you leave the country! Since it’s a digital SIM card, you can use it without removing your primary one.

Save money by avoiding charges while roaming Europe

eSIM prices differ based on destinatios and providers, but in almost any scenario an eSIM is going to be cheaper than using your mobile data, yes, even if you opt into your providers “roaming plan” at $10-12/day. 

Easy to activate and use

Buying and activating a travel eSIM takes just a few minutes on your phone.

Flexibility to switch between different plans and providers

Most phones can store multiple eSIMs at once, so you can switch to different plans or providers whenever you want.

Holafly Europe eSIM Review: The Best eSIM for International Travel

There are dozens of eSIM providers on the market – we’ve tried a fair few and have found ourselves going back to a couple of trusted and well priced providers. Holafly eSIM is one of our favourites, especially for Europe.  

If you’re looking for unlimited data for Europe, we highly recommend it. It’s convenient, easy to use, and offers good value–we think it’s the best eSIM for international travel!

An offline map is essential just in case you are having problems accessing the internet.

About Holafly

Holafly is an eSIM provider offering mobile data plans in 200 destinations worldwide, with unlimited data available in 150 of those destinations. Europe is one of them! They have a great eSIM Europe unlimited data regional plan that offers reliable and fast internet connection in more than 30 European countries!

Here’s what we love about Holafly eSIM Europe:

Wide unlimited data eSIM coverage across Europe

Holafly Europe eSIM lets you explore Europe with coverage in 30+ European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine.

Plus, they just recently added a data sharing/hotspot Europe eSIM feature. You can now share up to 1GB of data with a friend, family member, or whoever you’re travelling with. Now your eSIM can act as pocket wifi Europe.

Affordable and customizable data plans

With Holafly, you can customize your data plan, so you only pay for how much you actually need. No more unused days! Holafly eSIM Europe Unlimited Data prices start at €6.00, which is a huge saving. 

Seamless and convenient activation process

After purchasing an eSIM online, a QR code is sent to your email, and you can activate it within minutes. It’s easy to do while you’re on the go – on the plane, on the bus, etc

Excellent customer support

If you ever run into any problems, Holafly has a 24/7 support team ready to assist you on WhatsApp.This is KEY! The assistance is immediate and doesn’t require you to call or email and wait for 24-48 hours for a response.

Flexibility and convenience

Plans can change at the last minute. If that happens, Holafly offers refunds for cancelled trips, phones that aren’t eSIM-compatible, and certain connectivity issues. 

Sustainable eSIM Provider!

A big plus is that Holafly is committed to the planet! They implement sustainable practices that help reduce their carbon footprint.

How to Get an eSIM

Purchasing a Holafly eSIM | Best eSIM Europe

  1. You can buy eSIM online through the official Holafly website or on their app
  2. Select the number of days and number of eSIMS
  3. Fill in details at checkout and proceed to payment
  4. Once your payment is processed, an eSIM is e-mailed to you
eSim installation
eSim installation

Setting Up and Activating Your Holafly eSIM

  1. Open the Holafly eSIM QR email on a different device than the one you will be using. For example, if you’re using the eSIM on your phone, open the email on a laptop instead.
  2. Scan the QR code using your phone camera. Alternatively, you can scan it manually by going to your phone’s Settings -> Mobile Data -> Add Plan.
  3. Follow the instructions as prompted on your phone:
  4. The first prompt will say: Install Your Data Plan. Click Continue.
  5. Then: Mobile Configuration Completed. Click Done.
  6. Give your Data Plan a name, like Holafly eSIM Europe. Click Continue.
  7. Choose your Default Line. Select “Primary” to receive messages and calls from your existing mobile number. Click Continue.
  8. For iMessage and Facetime, select “Primary” again to use your existing mobile number. Click Continue.
  9. For Mobile Data, select “Secondary Option” so your data will be through your e-Sim. Click Continue.
  10. You’re all done setting it up!
Holafly eSim installation
Holafly eSIM installation

Activate your eSIM when you arrive at your destination

  • Open Settings, then Mobile Data
  • Select “Holafly eSIM Europe” (or whatever you named your Data Plan)
  • Scroll Down to Data Roaming, and make sure it’s set to On

e-SIM Troubleshooting Tips 

If you’ve purchased an eSIM and it’s not working, try these common troubleshooting tips for internet for travel:

  • Make sure you activate your eSIM in the destination rather than at home
  • Check your phone coverage and try again in an area with a better signal
  • Restart your phone and turn your mobile data on/off again
  • Update your software to the latest version for maximum compatibility
  • Give it a few minutes. Sometimes the network needs 5-10 minutes to register and activate. 

smartphone 1

FAQs for Using an eSIM + Travel Tips: Europe 

How to avoid international roaming in Europe? 

This is IMPORTANT! Turn off “Allow Mobile Data Switching” so you don’t get additional roaming charges from your primary mobile number

Do all eSIMs have unlimited data? 

While Holafly has unlimited data, not all eSIM providers do. Keep track of your data usage if you book with a different provider. 

Can I have more than one data plan? 

Yes! eSIMs let you switch between multiple data plans or providers easily.

Do eSIMS have coverage in remote areas? 

This depends on the provider. Holafly offers data in 30+ countries in Europe, but if you’re going remote, it’s best to ask! 

What are useful ways to use an eSIM in Europe?

With your Holafly eSIM, you get clear video calls, fast upload and download speeds, and seamless online navigation. We’ve used our Holafly eSIM to watch Netflix and stream sports while on a boat in Croatia, so trust us, the connection is GOOD!  

Europe Croatia sailing Oksana 2900 scaled

 

Heading to Europe? Want unlimited mobile data for your trip? We hope we have convinced you that getting an unlimited Holafly eSIM package for your trip to Europe is the best travel hack and a must-do for any European vacation! 

It saves money and lets you explore, share, and connect with everyone without worries.  

Let us know if you’ve tried Holafly eSIM before!  Did you have a good experience? 

 

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