I like to think I’m pretty good with technology. I grew up at a time where things like the internet and mobile phones were being integrated into everyday life, and now, as we all know, the idea of functioning without them feels impossible.  

With all that in mind, it’s a bit strange how I’ve ignored the whole world of eSIMs. I’ve been aware of them for a while, but I would normally just go the old-school way of purchasing an actual physical sim card when I landed in the latest destination. 

This usually involved buying a sim card when I landed at the airport, but after a particularly ,,expensive experience in Antalya, upon making a return to Turkey in late 2023, I decided to explore the eSIM route. 

So far, I have absolutely no complaints. The majority of newer model phones will have eSIM capability as standard, so all you need to do is pick your eSIM provider, and go from there. 

If you’re not sure if your phone can indeed run eSIMs, then I would go to settings, search eSIM, and see what pops up (the below image is what pops up in my search settings). If nothing does, then you might not be able to use it on your phone, but it’s always worth checking with your network provider as well.

Which eSIM provider should you choose?

There are a number on the market, and I went with ,,Airalo. So far, the experience has been really good, so I’ve had no reason to change. My friend has also used it, and she was happy with her coverage in Thailand. If I do use another provider in the future though, I will be sure to share my thoughts, and see how it compares.

I simply downloaded the Airalo app, and I then purchased the eSIM for Turkey before leaving the country, as I knew I was landing late, and I also didn’t want to spend as much on a physical sim as I did in Antalya earlier that year. It didn’t connect straight away, as I needed to change one of the settings, but after I did that, it was just the same as having a regular sim card in my phone, and without all the faff of physically changing it. 

Here’s what the home screen looks like, and basically, you just search for the country you want to add, pay for your eSIM, and that is that! 

Airalo’s competitive rates:

The price of the eSIM isn’t universal, and does differ depending on the country you go to. Here’s a few different examples, and what I also like with Airalo, is that they often offer sales, so you can end up getting a great deal on your purchase. I think what I’ll do is, if I feel the cost on Airalo is too high, then just purchase a 1gb or 3gb package, and then when I’m settled in my next location, go to the physical shop in town, and see what they have to offer.

Getting to a new location without data is never fun, especially if you need to take public transport or a taxi from your new destination, so I think I will always use an eSIM for my first day or so, and then assess my options. 

When you have an eSIM on your phone, topping up is really easy. You just need to click a button, and you’re good to go. This page on the app also shows you how much data you have left, which again, is super handy. Expired eSIMs stay on your app as well until you archive them, so I can top up this one next time I’m in Turkey, and hopefully it’s as simple as adding more money, renewing, and then I’ll have data. 

Region based eSIMs:

Not only does Airalo offer country specific options, they also offer regional eSIMs, which cover continents, and even the WORLD (caps for dramatic effect). 

These definitely cost a bit more, but still appear to not be too bad, and if you’re doing a big tour or trip in South America/Asia for example, and moving countries quickly, this could be your best option.

Conclusion:

So far, using the Airalo eSIM has been pretty straightforward, and I’ll look to use it again soon when I head to Egypt. I was recently in popular digital nomad hub Bansko in Bulgaria, and even though I didn’t need to use an eSIM (my phone contract from back home in the UK allows me to use my data in certain countries), it was refreshing to see that rates were good. 

Overall, I’ve found the rates to be pretty competitive, and once set up on your phone, it’s SO much easier than the old way of finding a phone shop, going to the phone shop, bringing your passport with you, deciding what package you want, and actually inserting the sim. Adding a new eSIM takes a minute or two, and after that, you’re good to go and use all of this new found free time you would have spent doing the aforementioned things! 

As a paying member of Airalo, I can also offer you $3 off your first eSIM, which leads me nicely on to the final section!

Do you want $3 off your first eSIM purchase with Airalo?  

Of course you do! If you want to try it out, then why not use my ,,Airalo discount code, and you’ll get $3 off your first eSIM purchase. A 5GB eSIM with this code for a Bulgarian sim card for example would only cost you $4.50, and you'll be covered as soon as you land, which will definitely help you on your way to your next stop. If you want the eSIM just for when you land, and the security that brings, then it should only cost you a few dollars if you use the code or link below.

Sign up, ,,here (referral code should populate automatically), or use the code DAVID8186 at checkout, and you'll get that $3 off your first eSIM purchase! As always, any questions, then feel free to leave a comment, or drop me a message, and I’ll be happy to help!

Notice: I want to point out that I wasn’t paid by Airalo to write this article. I have no link to Airalo, and these are my independent views. As a regular traveller, I’m always on the lookout for things that can help me, and this eSIM definitely does.