Evening all,
I'd appreciate a bit of help if anybody has any knowledge of using a new Sim card or Esim when travelling, please.
I'm off to Canada , touring for three weeks, and my current Vodafone doesn't cover me for that and the daily rate is extortionate.
I understand that you have the choice of swapping your SIM card here or in Canada or buying the Esim here.
Has anybody experience of this kind of caper and, if so, could you give me the benefit of that, please.
Bear in mind that my knowledge on this is considerably less than basic so please go gently.
Thanks!

I used an e-sim when I went to Tanzania. Worked brilliantly, you just go into your settings and select which SIM you want to be active.

I used the Airalo app, the only complication being that you need to scan a QR code to activate the sim, which is tricky when it's sent to your current phone. You just need to use a second phone to take a picture of the QR code then use your own phone to scan the QR code from there.

If you use code "Phil3" then you get a discount.

That's brilliant, Croydon.
Do you get a new number with the e- sim or does it just continue as normal?

Another vote for Airalo here - used it in several countries in America and Europe without issues.

evensteadiereddie wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 17, 2025 6:47 pm

That's brilliant, Croydon.
Do you get a new number with the e- sim or does it just continue as normal?

Normally the e-sim would be data only so there wouldn't be an associated new number. This means that whilst the esim is active then you wouldn't see calls/texts to your usual number. You can opt for a higher level of esim that does provide a number but I didn't use that.

How I used it was that I switched to the esim whilst I was out and about, then back to my regular SIM once I was back at the hotel and able to use WiFi.

If your phone has dual SIM capabilities then you can keep them both active but I have no experience of that.

There's some more info here
https://www.airalo.com/blog/are-esims-a ... _XKKtF32ra

Croydon Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 17, 2025 6:22 pm

I used an e-sim when I went to Tanzania. Worked brilliantly, you just go into your settings and select which SIM you want to be active.

I used the Airalo app, the only complication being that you need to scan a QR code to activate the sim, which is tricky when it's sent to your current phone. You just need to use a second phone to take a picture of the QR code then use your own phone to scan the QR code from there.

If you use code "Phil3" then you get a discount.

You can screenshot the QR then open it in a camera app and then use that to select the QR link. I use mobimatter for esims. All very easy. You might want to buy a cheap UK esim on one of the providers to get used to how it works whilst in the UK.

claret wizard wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 17, 2025 7:18 pm

You can screenshot the QR then open it in a camera app and then use that to select the QR link. I use mobimatter for esims. All very easy. You might want to buy a cheap UK esim on one of the providers to get used to how it works whilst in the UK.

Top tip. Thanks

evensteadiereddie wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 17, 2025 6:47 pm

That's brilliant, Croydon.
Do you get a new number with the e- sim or does it just continue as normal?

Normally data only, though you can use WhatsApp still for calling and I think it still shows as your number.

We are with Vodafone and just got back from Panama to find €45 on the bill. Contacted them for clarity and was told it is a red zone, €5/day charge from Panama to Vodafone that they pass on to the customer. Nice lady advised us to leave the phone on airplane mode for duration. If we needed to use it make a wi-fi call or if desperate turn airplane mode off and use as normal until just before midnight, then switch back as it is a daily charge.

I have used esims on multiple occasions and use Saily…been reliable and do the job for what I need which is data for WhatsApp etc. if you need a local number then get a physical sim!

The sims available in the airports (Toronto/Vancouver) were reasonably prices for a good amount of data when I visited.

Although I have not used it yet, Revolut have an esim which you can load from your acount which is meant to be ok.

And keeping phone in airplane mode unless using it, especially overnight, is great advice. Some apps can burn through data on some spurious setting you missed.

Just to add, Saily are owned by NordVPN

Thanks to you all, much appreciated.

As luck would have it, I've just downloaded the Saily app.

Log in with Google or apple (or sign up) - Installs their eSIM pretty much automatically for you, pay a couple of quid for whichever country you need, switch data over to the esim and off you go.

Plans are cheap as... Crack on!

Thanks, Tarkys.