You probably know the feeling: After a long flight, you just want to find your accommodation or let your loved ones know you arrived safely – but your phone has no reception. So, you start hunting for Wi-Fi or a way to get back online. It gets even more complicated when crossing borders by land. So, what’s the best way to stay connected while traveling?
As a frequent traveler, I’ve tried pretty much everything over the past few years: prepaid SIM cards, expensive roaming, Wi-Fi hopping – and most recently: eSIMs for travel. In this article, I’ll show you the different ways to stay connected abroad — and what truly works.
📱 What is an eSIM & How Does It Work?
Imagine this: no more fumbling with tiny SIM cards. Instead, you just scan a QR code and download a mobile data plan directly to your phone – no physical card needed. That’s the idea behind an eSIM (embedded SIM).
You simply purchase a plan online, activate it in minutes, and you’re good to go – even right after stepping off the plane.
🚨 Note: Your smartphone must support eSIM technology (e.g. iPhones from XS onward, most Samsung Galaxy models, Google Pixel, etc.).
💡Important: Most travel eSIMs come with data only – meaning you won’t get a local phone number. You can still make calls through apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime, but not through traditional mobile networks.
🔍 Best eSIM Providers for Travel in 2025
If you decide to use an eSIM when traveling, you are spoilt for choice these days. Numerous providers offer flexible data packages for a wide range of countries or entire continents — with instant activation directly via the app. Here I present three popular eSIM providers that have proven themselves among travelers.
| Anbieter | Vorteile | Nachteile | Preisbeispiel (Stand 2025) | Link: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | ✅ Unbegrenztes Datenvolumen ✅ Gültigkeit flexibel auszahlbar | ❌ Kein Hotspot bei den meisten Plänen | Bsp. 15 Tage, Thailand: unlimitiertes Datenvolumen, 46,90€ | 5% Rabatt sichern auf alle Tarife: zu Holafly* |
| Airalo | ✅ Große Länder- & Regionen-Auswahl ✅ Lokale & globale eSIMs | ❌ Unbegrenztes Datenvolumen selten ❌ Vordefinierte Laufzeiten | Bsp.: 15 Tage, Thailand: 2 GB inkl., 5 € | zu Airalo |
| Saily | ✅ 5G in vielen Ländern ✅ Flexible Pakete (täglich/monatlich) | ❌ weniger bekannt | Bsp.: 15 Tage, Thailand: unlimitiertes Datenvolumen, 49,99€ (Hotspot möglich) 3 GB, 30 Tage: 5,99€ | zu Saily* |
To summarize, it is very difficult to compare prices and they can vary greatly depending on the country or regional packages. Unfortunately, there is no clear, cheaper provider for all cases. That’s why I advise you to simply use all three providers, Holafly*, Airalo and Saily* to compare. Pay attention to the following:
➤ How long will you be traveling?
➤ How much data do you typically use per month?
➤ Will you need to share your data (e.g. hotspot for friends or laptop)?
🇹🇭🇹🇷 Local SIM Cards: Cheapest But Less Convenient
Local prepaid SIM cards are still the most budget-friendly way to get internet while traveling, especially in Asia, Africa, and South America. You usually get a lot of data for a very low price – plus a local phone number, which can be useful for longer stays (e.g. making reservations or getting contacted by hotels or delivery drivers).
Where to buy? The easiest place is the airport – slightly more expensive than in town, but hassle-free and English-speaking staff often activate it for you right away.
🔁 Roaming: Is It Still Worth It?
Most european mobile providers offer free EU roaming, meaning you can use your plan across Europe – perfect for trips to Spain, Italy, Germany,.…
But: outside the EU, it quickly gets expensive. 1 MB in Switzerland can cost several euros with some providers — that quickly adds up. And countries like Thailand, Morocco and Indonesia? EU roaming does not apply there. Therefore: Check your cell phone contract carefully — and outside the EU, opt for an eSIM or local SIM.
👥 eSIM vs SIM Card for Travel – What’s Right for You?
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Your ideal setup depends on your travel style, length of trip, destination, and whether you need access to your home phone number for things like SMS verifications or banking logins.
✦ EU Travel: Just use your normal mobile plan if it includes EU roaming. Easy!
Note: Switzerland is not in the EU.
✦ 2–3 Week Trip Outside the EU
You likely don’t need your home number. Just grab:
➤ eSIM (e.g. Holafly*, Saily*) or a
➤ alocal SIM card for a better value in some destinations.
✦ Long-Term Travel (4+ Weeks)
If you’re a digital nomad, backpacker, or on a workation, you’ll need to think beyond just data. Services like your bank may require SMS verification, which you can’t receive without your home number.
➤ Option 1: Keep your home number as an eSIM + use a local physical SIM in your destination 🌍
If your cell phone supports an eSIM, you can keep your home phone number as an eSIM and get a physical SIM card in the country you are traveling to. This way, you can stay in touch and surf at low cost at the same time.
➤ Option 2: Keep your home number as a physical SIM + use an eSIM for travel data 📱
This is particularly practical if you want to use your number at home again without having to port it. You simply install additionally an eSIM with data volume for the country you are traveling to or even for several countries.
Many newer smartphones support dual SIM — either in the form of a physical SIM + an eSIM or even two eSIMs. Check what your device supports before you travel. If you are traveling for a longer period of time, plan in advance how you will keep your home number — otherwise you will no longer be able to receive important text messages in an emergency.
⚖️ SIM-Vergleich auf einen Blick
| Feature | Lokale SIM Karte | eSIM (z.B. Holafly) |
|---|---|---|
| Preis pro GB | 👛 meist günstiger (vor allem bei längeren Zeiträumen) | 💸 meist teurer |
| Einrichtung | vor Ort (Shop, Registrierung) | Bequem von überall (via QR Code) |
| Verfügbarkeit bei Ankunft | 🚫 nicht unmittelbar | ✅ sofort |
| SIM Tausch nötig | ja | nein |
| Lokale Telefonnummer | ✅ ja | 🚫 nein |
| Nutzung in mehreren Ländern | Nur mit Roaming | Ja (bei Regionstarifen) |
| Komfort & Flexibilität | mittel | sehr hoch, insbesondere bei der Wahl von Laufzeiten |
🏁 Final Thoughts: Which SIM Option Should You Choose?
If you’re staying longer in one country and want to save money, a local SIM card is still the cheapest and most practical solution.
If you’re visiting multiple countries, traveling short-term, or simply want to avoid any hassle – a travel eSIM like Holafly* is worth every cent.
