导航|地址|刷新
eSIM for Europe tips - SIM cards - Trave…








menuWhirlpoolGo to navigation
log inregister




Whirlpool





Search

Forums

Travel

SIM cards

eSIM for Europe tips







Watch




first: 2 years ago

last: 10 hours ago





You have read to here.






User #380409394 posts

Walrustitty

Forum Regular






https://whrl.pl/RgMd6C
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2024-Dec-17, 6:49 am
edited moments later




replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgMd6C
posted 2024-Dec-17, 6:49 am (edited)





O.P.

I'm traveling with family to Europe. France, Switzerland and Italy with a few days in the UK and a stopover in Dubai.

I was planning on using an eSIM provider like Airola or Saily to get a global or regional eSIM for simplicity. However, my post isn't about the best price, but about the service quality.

Our requirements are that we'll mostly use WhatsApp to communicate and my teenage kids will want to make make Internet calls to their girlfriends :).

I read that some of these eSIM providers route the data via certain locations depending on who they have a deal with. So if I'm in Italy, but Airola use an Austrian carrier, then all the data is going via Austria. This can lead to poor signal and latency issues.

Questions
1. Can anyone shed light on this?
2. Am I better to use local carrier eSIMs and put up with the fuss of connecting a new one for each country?
3. Will my kids be able to have a FaceTime or similar call back to Australia without too much hassle?

If indeed Airola go through Austria, then my European trip might be ok?...as opposed to if I was going to be in Asia.

I don't need lightning speeds...just a solid signal and reasonable latency.









User #18356030456 posts

pgdownload

Whirlpool Forums Addict






https://whrl.pl/RgMd7g
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2024-Dec-17, 7:13 am



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgMd7g
posted 2024-Dec-17, 7:13 am





We used www.flexiroam.com without issues. They spruik various discount deal all the time to top up data.

Remember you can also use wifi in a lot of places (the hotel)

I'd be suggesting to the kids that "facetime" might be something they need to go without for a while :o)

WhatsApp works perfectly fine for communicating and sending videos and pictures.

If you're only staying a few days in each country then probably not worth getting local SIMs but if you're staying more than 5 or so days then could be worth while. Thankfully now you can get an eSim very easily and you should be able to find one when you get of the plane at the airport.









User #5151331264 posts

uphillbattler
Improvise, adapt, overcome

Whirlpool Enthusiast






https://whrl.pl/RgMenw
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2024-Dec-17, 11:31 am



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgMenw
posted 2024-Dec-17, 11:31 am





I used an ESIM from MAYA in Italy last year which worked fine.









User #7624 • 6117 posts

courto

Whirlpool Forums Addict






https://whrl.pl/RgMe5I
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2024-Dec-17, 9:44 pm
edited moments later




replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgMe5I
posted 2024-Dec-17, 9:44 pm (edited)





Walrustitty writes...

I read that some of these eSIM providers route the data via certain locations depending on who they have a deal with. So if I'm in Italy, but Airola use an Austrian carrier, then all the data is going via Austria. This can lead to poor signal and latency issues.

I've used Airalo and Maya.net esims for Europe region and they both worked very well. I had no issues with latency or coverage.

Am I better to use local carrier eSIMs and put up with the fuss of connecting a new one for each country?

Assuming you have an iPhone, recent models allow several esims to be installed so switching between country based esims is easy to do.

Airalo has a very good app and the installation process is very easy to follow.









User #83000857 posts

Mickey Cee

Whirlpool Enthusiast






https://whrl.pl/RgMe7v
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2024-Dec-17, 11:01 pm



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgMe7v
posted 2024-Dec-17, 11:01 pm





Walrustitty writes...

I was planning on using an eSIM provider like Airola or Saily to get a global or regional eSIM for simplicity. However, my post isn't about the best price, but about the service quality.

We used Saily and Nomad data eSims this year in Italy and Germany with no problems – fine for Whatsapp / video calls etc with no sign of latency. Data speeds better than what I usually get in Melbourne.

I also had my Aust number on roaming so I could receive work calls / bank SMS etc – which was near useless in terms of reliability – inbound calls failed, outbound calls failed, SMS didn't arrive etc etc.









User #380409394 posts

Walrustitty

Forum Regular






https://whrl.pl/RgMf6E
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2024-Dec-18, 10:47 pm



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgMf6E
posted 2024-Dec-18, 10:47 pm





O.P.

Thanks for the advice. I will go with one of the main providers and should be fine.









User #4353675 posts

Roo

Whirlpool Enthusiast






https://whrl.pl/RgMgfP
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2024-Dec-19, 8:37 am



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgMgfP
posted 2024-Dec-19, 8:37 am





I've been using https://tripsim.com.au from Sydney airport the last few trips to Europe, Bali and elsewhere in Asia. I've just installed the eSIM once and topped it up with a bundle for each destination ... no need to install again. Others might be similar, I'm not sure.









User #274716595 posts

duke
The Game. You lost it.

Whirlpool Forums Addict






https://whrl.pl/RgMka6
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2024-Dec-24, 11:12 am



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgMka6
posted 2024-Dec-24, 11:12 am





I used Saily in Japan with no issues.
The good thing with eSim is you can just try a different provider if the one you have isn't working good enough.




6 weeks later:






User #2967011798 posts

Raiyu

Whirlpool Enthusiast






https://whrl.pl/RgM5CL
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2025-Feb-6, 12:24 pm



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgM5CL
posted 2025-Feb-6, 12:24 pm





I used TravelKon many times including in Europe with no issues – Aussie based and has good support!




14 months later:






User #4557424717 posts

Rendog
Its unlucky 2 be superstitious

Whirlpool Forums Addict






https://whrl.pl/RgVEzz
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2026-Apr-6, 3:36 pm



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgVEzz
posted 2026-Apr-6, 3:36 pm





I thinking of using Airalo or Travelkon just doing southern Europe and the Med, Airalo is 2x the price of Travelkon is the nextwork access that much better its worth going Airalo?




9 days later:






User #276921393 posts

tallman5353

Forum Regular






https://whrl.pl/RgVL1n
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2026-Apr-16, 2:10 pm
edited moments later




replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgVL1n
posted 2026-Apr-16, 2:10 pm (edited)





I recently got a 50GB euro sim on sale for $45 from Travelkon for a trip at the end of this month. From what I've read the Travelkon esim uses major networks in all schengen countries so shouldn't have an issue. Travelkon are Perth based too and their support is pretty prompt.









User #2599603457 posts

TommiM

Whirlpool Forums Addict






https://whrl.pl/RgVMxE
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2026-Apr-17, 9:30 am
edited moments later




replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgVMxE
posted 2026-Apr-17, 9:30 am (edited)





We've used SIM corner both times we went to Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy). Only issue might be Dubai, I think we used the airport wifi there.

No coverage issues, and we were a mix of in and out of towns.









User #737671041 posts

vosadrian

Whirlpool Enthusiast






https://whrl.pl/RgVMKE
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2026-Apr-17, 1:53 pm



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgVMKE
posted 2026-Apr-17, 1:53 pm





Last time I used the Orange Travel app. It is so easy and you can just do it when you are there. Download the app before you go if you prefer to check it out. Then when you arrive in EU, buy an esim from the app (Wifi at airport) and it starts working immediately. I can currently get a 30 day 50GB sim (French number) for AU$50 (data only) or what I will probably get (in a month or so) which is 100GB unlimited calls/text for AU$70 (handy to be able to ring local numbers). You can then renew and keep the same number also. Orange has great coverage and speeds through most of EU and roams to other good roaming partner networks.

Note that a sim for anywhere in the EU will roam for free to anywhere else.




4 weeks later:






User #5976804218 posts

astero
If all else fails...format c:/

Whirlpool Forums Addict






https://whrl.pl/RgV8I8
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2026-May-15, 6:04 am



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgV8I8
posted 2026-May-15, 6:04 am





Does anyone know of an eSIM network that specifically DOESN'T work on cruise ships/"at sea" or at least offers the option to block access to the mobile networks located on cruise ships?

I need to buy a travel SIM for Europe but I don't want any (roaming) data to be used at exorbitant rates to either wipe out my balance (or eat into any payment card on file).









User #633416394 posts

BigRed001

Forum Regular






https://whrl.pl/RgV8Q5
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2026-May-15, 10:00 am
edited moments later




replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgV8Q5
posted 2026-May-15, 10:00 am (edited)





astero writes...

Does anyone know of an eSIM network that specifically DOESN'T work on cruise ships

There are only a couple that DO work on cruise ships I think (Gigsky and Redbull).

I have had Airolo eSims whilst on a couple of cruises. It stays connected to the land based systems and then drops out as you get farther from the coast. Never had a problem with them connecting to the cruise ship mobile network.









User #64356 • 13564 posts

Mugsy
Enhance your calm!

Whirlpool Forums Addict






https://whrl.pl/RgV8WG
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2026-May-15, 11:00 am



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgV8WG
posted 2026-May-15, 11:00 am





astero writes...

Does anyone know of an eSIM network that specifically DOESN'T work on cruise ships/"at sea" or at least offers the option to block access to the mobile networks located on cruise ships?

BigRed001 writes...

There are only a couple that DO work on cruise ships

Yeah, most travel esims will connect to a country's land based mobile network. Unless the esim's profile includes cruise ships (more specifically the maritime network IIRC), it's not going to connect.

Most travel esims are based on purchasing X amount of data for Y timeframe for use in country/region Z rather than a set $/Gb rate depending on location. If they could connect to the maritime network, it would be an extremely economical way to get a data connection when out at sea and kill any need for those expensive wifi packages cruise ships like to sell.









User #267035621 posts

extension

Whirlpool Forums Addict






https://whrl.pl/RgV9en
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2026-May-15, 4:31 pm



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgV9en
posted 2026-May-15, 4:31 pm





astero writes...

I need to buy a travel SIM for Europe but I don't want any (roaming) data to be used at exorbitant rates to either wipe out my balance (or eat into any payment card on file).

Most esims are prepaid data (not cash credit) with no card on file for any additional charges.









User #863338428 posts

skylinewa
Huh? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Whirlpool Forums Addict






https://whrl.pl/RgV9ho
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2026-May-15, 5:29 pm



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgV9ho
posted 2026-May-15, 5:29 pm





Having used Airalo in the past (with the odd issue ...) we are looking at using

tallman5353 writes...

Travelkon for a trip at the end of this month.

Do they do any of the Airalo things like referral discounts?

Also read that with their Europe/Orange eSIM, texts/messages from them will be in French. Am I missing something there? It's many decades since I handled French.









User #863338428 posts

skylinewa
Huh? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Whirlpool Forums Addict






https://whrl.pl/RgV9ia
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2026-May-15, 5:39 pm



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgV9ia
posted 2026-May-15, 5:39 pm





skylinewa writes...

Do they do any of the Airalo things like referral discounts?

Replying to self. Found it. Yuk, fairly useless to us.









User #1297253062 posts

xfaderx
I'm for real!

Whirlpool Forums Addict






https://whrl.pl/RgWaYm
herring|anchor|mark

Reply to this post

posted 2026-May-18, 7:05 am



replyherringmarkurl


https://whrl.pl/RgWaYm
posted 2026-May-18, 7:05 am





Just got back from trip through Singapore/France/Switzerland and TravelKon e-sim worked flawlessly on my Pixel 8A.

I bought a 30 day global e-sim (10 GB data) for $50 and it was more than enough to use Google Maps/Uber/Facebook/Grab all day.

Always had a signal – even up at Mont Blanc, way down to the French countryside.
…(内容过长已截断)

------
导航页 打开网址