Why eSIMs Just Work

Ash
Jun 2
2 min read

and why I’ll never travel without an eSIM Again

If you’ve ever landed in a new country, stepped off the plane, and immediately found yourself hunting for a SIM card kiosk while running on zero sleep and half a croissant... you’ll understand why I’ve made the switch to eSIMs.

This isn’t a tech review — it’s a real-world take on how eSIMs have made travel easier for both Mish and me, and why I reckon they’re a no-brainer for anyone heading overseas.

✅ What’s an eSIM (and why should you care)?

An eSIM is a digital SIM you download straight to your phone. No tiny plastic cards to fumble with. No tools. No swapping. Just open an app, scan a QR code, and you’re connected.

We use Airalo, and honestly — it just works. After a bit of research (I fell down a rabbit hole of comparison charts), I landed on Airalo for the price, coverage, and ease of use. We’ve used it in Europe (Camino), Asia, and the Middle East, and so far, no complaints.

🧠 Why we both use eSIMs

We always set up eSIMs before we fly. The main reason? We hate getting separated in a new place and not having data. With eSIMs, we land, turn on our phones, and we’re online immediately — no wandering the airport looking for a kiosk, no local language SIM confusion.

Even better, your physical SIM stays in your phone, untouched. So in an emergency, I can switch my Aussie number back on and roam if I need to (ideally not, but it’s a solid Plan B).

📲 Real pros (and a few tips):

Instant connectivity when you land. No more begging for airport Wi-Fi passwords.
No risk of losing your home SIM somewhere in a random ziploc bag.
WhatsApp is your best friend – no local number means most communication goes through apps. Fine by us.
Wi-Fi still plays a role – we use hotel and café Wi-Fi when we can to conserve data. But having mobile access in-between is the real freedom.

🙌 The small things that make a big difference

We’ve used our eSIMs to:

Find hidden restaurants while wandering the backstreets of Porto
Book last-minute accommodation on the Camino
Translate menus in Spain
Navigate airport transfers in the Middle East

Would I go back to buying local SIMs? Not a chance. eSIMs save time, stress, and — if you’re a couple like us — the pain of being in two different locations with no way to message each other.

💡 Final Tip:

If you're keen to try it, I’d recommend downloading Airalo before you leave home. Set up your account, pick the countries you'll need, and activate when you're ready. Takes about 5 minutes, and you're done.

Want Mish’s take? She’s all about luxury on a budget — and if there's one thing better than airport champagne, it’s skipping the SIM queue entirely. 🍾

Have questions? Drop us a comment or message — we’re always happy to share what works.