Finding a route, finding a restaurant, booking a train ticket or an excursion... When travelling, it is difficult to do these steps without an internet connection.
In Europe, thanks to the abolition of roaming charges
since
2017, the use of mobile data in EU countries is included in many telephone subscriptions.
But elsewhere in the world, buying a prepaid plan is useful if you don't want to depend on your hotel's Wi-Fi or public places.
And above all, avoid receiving an astronomical bill on his return...
If your first instinct is to buy a SIM card on arrival, for example at the airport, this habit no longer exists thanks to its dematerialized version, the e-SIM.
This has undeniable advantages: no more queuing in the store to subscribe to a plan, no more need to insert a physical card into your phone.
After buying a package online, all you have to do is scan a QR code or copy and paste a code into your smartphone settings.
In a few minutes, the line is activated.
Read alsoTravel: applications to download urgently before leaving
Compatible with the latest smartphones
Several sites compare the packages offered by operators around the world, such as Holafly, Airalo and Nomad.
On Holafly, for example, the 10-day subscription in the United States with unlimited mobile data is sold for €34.
In addition to local e-SIMs (valid in a single country), these sites also offer regional e-SIMs (valid across a continent).
Thus, the Asialink package usable in 13 Asian countries is offered at €35 for 30 days with 10 GB on Airalo.
The e-SIM offers the same services as a traditional SIM: you have a local telephone number with which you can call and send SMS.
But beware, only the most recent models of smartphones and tablets, generally marketed after 2019, offer this functionality (see the list of all compatible models).
At Apple, all devices released after 2018 are compatible.
On smartphones with the Android system, this function is mainly available from Samsung but much less from other brands.
While the SIM card has gradually become miniaturized, its virtual version is set to become widespread.
Moreover, in the United States, the iPhone 14 no longer even has a slot to insert a physical card, only the e-SIM is accepted.
Some phones can accept multiple e-SIMs (up to 20 on iPhones).
Convenient if you have to visit several countries during your stay.
