Guide: How to save on your phone bill during your next overseas trip

As a Canadian, I’m sure we can all bond over how expensive everything is here - namely our phone bills. Apparently, in Canada we pay roughly 15%-40% more than our friends in the States and the bill racks up even more when you roam while traveling.

To avoid paying sky-high roaming fees, my buddies and I usually opted to switch our SIM cards out with local ones while traveling. With these, we’ve had our share of either (1) breaking or (2) losing the SIM card - which means, having to buy a new one upon returning home.

Before, my rule of thumb for a while used to be:

1. When traveling in the US: Bite the bullet and take the $10.00 + 13% HST a day roaming fee.

2. When traveling in Europe: Purchase the Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card for $60.00 + 13% HST for 20GB of data.

3. When traveling in Asia: Swap out my SIM with whatever deal the Klook app has (Use code 48YBF to get a C$5.20 Klook credit when you sign up).

However, in 2021, I discovered Airalo, they are an e-SIM store that is easily accessible through your phone’s app store. It’s been absolutely a life-changer and I’ve converted all my friends and family so far to use it while traveling to save on their fees.

The way it works is simple:

1. Download the Airalo app

2. Create an account and link your phone number

3. Link your preferred payment method

4. Run a search on the country or continent your visiting to see the available eSIM options

5. Choose your data package

6. Install the eSIM on your iPhone/Android

7. Once you reach your destination, turn the eSIM on. The eSIM automatically activates in less than 5 minutes of landing.

Some tips my friends, family and I learned since we started using Airalo:

• Make sure that your phone is e-SIM compatible - you can do a quick Google search for this.

• You only have one chance to install the SIM card correctly. Although very straightforward and hard to mess up, please make sure you follow the instructions carefully.

• You can download and install your e-SIMs weeks before your trip. You will need access to your mobile text messages to create your account and stable internet connection while installing your e-SIM. For the best experience, set yourself up before departure because airport Wi-fi is not going to cut it when it comes to setting these bad boys up…

• Although options exist to download e-SIMs on a per-country-basis - you might find it more efficient to download regional e-SIMs instead. If you opt-in for country-based eSIMs, you’ll be left with way too many SIM profiles to manage in your phone than you’ll ever use again.
  
  As of May 2023, you can choose to download:

  • a Global e-SIM (which has coverage in over 85/195 countries)

  • a Hello Africa e-SIM (which has coverage in 27/54 countries in Africa)

  • an Asialink e-SIM (which has coverage in 13/48 countries in Asia)

  • a Eurolink e-SIM (which has coverage in over 39/44 countries in Europe)

  • an Island Hopper e-SIM (which has coverage in 24 countries in the Caribbean)

  • a Latamlink e-SIM (which has coverage in 19/21 countries in Latin America)

  • or a Menalink e-SIM (which has coverage in 15/19 countries in the Middle East and North Africa)

  
  So I would recommend you check whether the country you are visiting is covered in any of the regional SIMs above before making a purchase. That way, you don’t have to install and manage too many e-SIMs. I have personal experience with the United States, Asialink and Eurolink e-SIMs as of the writing of this post and they've yet to let me down.

• The e-SIM will not activate outside of the region you’ve bought it for - you’ll be safe to follow the instructions on the Airalo app while at home. Once you turn the e-SIM on at your destination, it will automatically activate.

• You do not have to buy a install a new e-SIM every time you travel. You would only need to buy and install other e-SIMs for locations that any of your existing local or regional e-SIMs don’t already cover. For example: If you bought a Eurolink e-SIM for your Paris trip, in a couple of months, if you end up in another European country covered by the e-SIM, you can simply access the e-SIM via the “My e-SIMs” tab on the app and choose a package to “top-up” your e-SIM.
  
  I tend to start with 10GB for one week trips to see how far it will take me and top-up if I run out. I usually have a gig or two leftover after using the data for regular activities such as browsing, posting on socials, maps and Spotify. However, if you FaceTime often, you will most likely need more than that.

• You earn “Airmoney” (Airalo currency) every time you make a purchase. As of May 2023, all purchases made will earn you a 5% cash back and you can use the Airmoney to shave off a bit of the cost for your next e-SIM or top-up package.

• Finally, bear in mind that Airalo’s plans are currently data-only. This means you will not have a phone number - and this also means you will not be able to make traditional calls or receive SMS. If you’re on an iPhone, your iMessages should work normally. Otherwise, I recommend you let people at home know (or any private airport transfers/drivers) to contact you via WhatsApp or any app that allows them to reach you via Wi-fi call so that they can get in touch with you.

Unless another company comes out with a better product, I will be an Airalo girlie - it’s one of my favourite discoveries within the past couple of years and I hope that you’ll find the service as useful as I do.

[If you wish to save US $3.00 on your first e-SIM purchase, use the code CHALIC6466 when you sign up to let them know I sent you there!]