25 June 2024 , 12:46
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Holidaymakers have been warned that they could be paying extortionate prices when travelling outside the EU. An alert was issued in the latest edition of the Money Saving Expert newsletter which stated that many providers charge up to £8 a day for very little data usage in return.
Furthermore, customers could receive even more costs by dipping into their add-ons, including watching any TV on their data plan while outside the EU. Instead, customers are being advised to dodge high mobile costs abroad by simply investing in an affordable international eSim. These virtual sims provide the same benefits as any normal physical sim card and temporarily changes your phone settings by connecting you to an overseas provider which will give you a separate data allowance.
Personal finance guru Martin Lewis himself previously praised his own experiences with using an eSim when he was travelling around Europe. He said: "As I was going out of Europe for just under 10 days, I picked a one-month 10GB eSim for £18.
"My own network charges well over £6 a day for a 500MB daily data limit. I was a touch trepidatious about whether it would work, if the signal would be good (as it could only connect to two networks rather than all) and how it would work with messaging."
He was taken aback by how straightforward it was to set up the eSim at the airport before his flight, taking just about six minutes with the instructions given. He further detailed the process by adding: "Once I was abroad, after a little confusion that there was no homepage indication that a different Sim was being used (I found myself flipping to the eSim app, waiting to see if it was using up megabytes - after a couple of minutes it started to register), it was easy.
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"I got a strong 4G signal virtually everywhere, and used the internet with the freedom and speed of home. The 10GB limit lasting my whole time away smacks the bottom of a 500MB daily limit, as you don't need to worry about busting it with one download."
He pointed out that the entire experience was "very simple" and he could switch back to his regular sim card in just a few seconds. Those looking to try an eSim should note that while they are compatible with most modern iPhones and Android devices, it's always best to double-check with your phone manufacturer or eSim provider before parting with your money.