Using mobile phones abroad... please help

[Rachey]

Hi!

So I'm going to Australia on NYE. My current phone contract doesn't allow my data etc to be used abroad.

So I'm looking at using something like Airalo, which is an app you download and then get an esim.

Literally not a clue what an esim is or how these apps work.

Does anyone have advice?

 

[ZenGiraffe]

Esim is the way to go, and the app will take you though step by step how to add them, but it should be just pressing a button in the app.

 

[jyxz]

Airalo is very easy to set up, so don’t fret

 

[Rachey]

Thank you both! Now I need a phone that can use an esim cos my current one doesn't

 

[PercyPig]

Thank you both! Now I need a phone that can use an esim cos my current one doesn't

You could just buy a physical SIM for pennys

 

[Rachey]

You could just buy a physical SIM for pennys

Yeah I did think that, but I'd need to buy one for NZ as well, and get a temporary number. I'm wondering if it's easier to just do the esim thing.

 

[big ron]

A lot of the roaming esims are data only.

Who are you with? On O2 you can just buy bolt on access if you’re out of your normal roaming.

 

[Lee]

How many days are you here for Rachey? You could just get a PAYG SIM on arrival. They’re available everywhere.

 

[Indie]

A lot of the roaming esims are data only.

Who are you with? On O2 you can just buy bolt on access if you’re out of your normal roaming.

I assume it's not the same with every country but i was just looking at e-sims for Colombia and the version with calls and texts +data is exactly the same price as the one without the first two. Odd.

EE do offer a bolt on for the same country but it's 3x the price.

 

[Dark Carnival]

Yeah I did think that, but I'd need to buy one for NZ as well, and get a temporary number. I'm wondering if it's easier to just do the esim thing.

eSIM is way easier (but usually more expensive) than a local sim that you need to buy once you’re there. You literally just have to buy it online and install it. And yes make sure your phone is capable of having an eSIM. Depending on the country, you can get internet data only or data and a line.
Getting a local SIM requires getting it there + usually providing some sort of identification. And if your phone doesn’t have a place for two SIMs, you’ll need to remove your home SIM card.

 

[Dark Carnival]

Some eSIM providers have multi-destination eSIMs. I’d be surprised if there wasn’t one for Aus + NZ.

 

[Rachey]

I'm with EE, and I'm away for 9 weeks. EE are crazy expensive for using your phone abroad.

I probably do need to check it's not just data tho if I use one of these apps and esims as I'll need to be able to phone Mandy and my stepsister. But I guess I could WhatsApp call them with the data allowance

 

[Rachey]

eSIM is way easier (but usually more expensive) than a local sim that you need to buy once you’re there. You literally just have to buy it online and install it. And yes make sure your phone is capable of having an eSIM. Depending on the country, you can get internet data only or data and a line.
Getting a local SIM requires getting it there + usually providing some sort of identification. And if your phone doesn’t have a place for two SIMs, you’ll need to remove your home SIM card.

If I get the esim thing, do I keep my phone number?

 

[Rachey]

Some eSIM providers have multi-destination eSIMs. I’d be surprised if there wasn’t one for Aus + NZ.

I just checked and I can get an Oceania one for both. Depending on how much data I need it's between £15-30 for 30 days but it is data only.

 

[ZenGiraffe]

If I get the esim thing, do I keep my phone number?

You will still have your normal phone number and phone calls will come through on that (and be charged at the original networks rate) but for whatsapp etc the data of the esim will be used

 

[Rachey]

You will still have your normal phone number and phone calls will come through on that (and be charged at the original networks rate) but for whatsapp etc the data of the esim will be used

Ok. So, If I don't want to use my original network usage at all out there, and I have the esim for Airola, how do I stop people calling and texting me so I don't get charged

I think I'll just use the esim data while I'm out there, and WiFi when I've got it.

Can I turn flight mode on or would that affect the esim?

 

[ZenGiraffe]

You could literally take your normal sim card out, but I'd recommend just not answering any phonecalls, just incase there is a proper emergency and someone tries to contact you you can still find out. You won't get charged just for someone trying to contact you.

 

[Rachey]

Oh it looks like you can disable your actual SIM card as well. I'm hoping most people contact me on WhatsApp.

Trying to work out how much data I need is hard.

 

[Dark Carnival]

I just used 20 Gb in three weeks abroad. I wasn’t being extra careful with my usage though.

 

[Rachey]

I just used 20 Gb in three weeks abroad. I wasn’t being extra careful with my usage though.

Did you use it for things like Google maps and research? As I feel that's what I'll mostly be using it for.

 

[Dark Carnival]

Did you use it for things like Google maps and research? As I feel that's what I'll mostly be using it for.

Oh no I was using it for Instagram (that consumes a lot of data!), maps, PokemonGo, Grindr…

 

[Rachey]

ok so 20g should last me 30 days!

 

[Dark Carnival]

ok so 20g should last me 30 days!

Switch to wifi whenever it is available and be prepared for some places/hotels to have shit wifi. Regardless, most providers allow you to top up when you’ve used all your data.

 

[Rachey]

Switch to wifi whenever it is available and be prepared for some places/hotels to have shit wifi. Regardless, most providers allow you to top up when you’ve used all your data.

Oh that's good to know!
I've done some research and I think Airola seems to be the best

 

[Dark Carnival]

That’s the one I have used the most indeed.

 

[Rachey]

That’s the one I have used the most indeed.

Excellent, then with that recommendation I'll definitely use it. Thank you for your help <3

 

[ZenGiraffe]

Airola is what I used for Vancouver. Seemed the best at the time then as well