If you’re not using an eSIM when you travel, you’re getting ripped off

<p>Say goodbye to extortionate roaming fees – new companies like Airalo, Holafly and Saily offer cheap, easy coverage for your next international trip</p><p>On a week-long trip to Paris last year, I racked up nearly $100 in data charges on my iPhone, with taxes and fees. Ditto for a separate, eight-day trip to Spain, which was even more pricey. And, in what I now jokingly call an act of piracy, my three-week trip to seven countries – including a seven-day cruise – cost me over $300 for data.</p><p>I (eventually) learned my lesson, and a little research yielded a simple solution that can make life a lot easier: Switching to a local carrier for your travels. This used to entail a visit to an airport kiosk or a mobile store to get a fingernail-sized plastic SIM chip installed in your phone, but a new feature called an eSIM lets you handle it all from your phone before you even leave. My eSim for Paris cost $11 for 5GB of data, plenty for checking emails, using Google Maps, and browsing social media (although I was careful not to upload photos until I had wifi access). In Spain, I spent $10 for 5GB.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/sep/26/how-does-esim-work">Continue reading...</a>