The internet has become essential for travelling, whether it’s using apps while away from home or keeping in touch with family and friends.
If you’re travelling internationally, you can still use your provider’s data plan. However, roaming costs are usually quite high, so it’s best to plan your trip with an alternative that doesn’t involve a huge phone bill when you get home.
To give you an idea of all the options, this guide will show you the best way to travel and surf the internet abroad.
But before we get started, I’ll tell you that we almost always use the Holafly eSIM card, which is ideal if you only need internet on your phone. We’ve even written a full guide to Holafly so you can find out more about the service.
There are several ways to access the internet when you’re travelling, so in this article we’ll explain the different methods and the pros and cons of each. After reading through the options, you’ll be able to make the best decision for your trip!
The Holafly eSIM card is my favourite for travel internet. You can buy it even if you’re already abroad, as you’ll receive your eSIM card by email. It’s by far the most convenient option, and can even be cheaper than some local SIM cards.
Holafly is the eSIM card you use when you’re on the move and need a secure internet connection while travelling, and we have a Holafly discount code for you if you choose this option.
Another travel internet option is to use an international SIM card. Instead of buying a local SIM card at your destination, you can buy an international SIM card before you travel and have it delivered to your home or even the airport, depending on where you are travelling to.
We prefer SimOptions, which has partnerships with a number of well-known mobile operators such as AT&T, SimsDirect, and Orange. Additionally, you can use SimsDirect promo codes for up to 20% off while travelling. They offer prepaid standard, micro and nano SIM cards, so any mobile device should be compatible.
It’s the best mobile internet for travelling if you only want to use your phone abroad, and activating the SIM card is as simple as unlocking the device and inserting the card.
A local SIM card is an affordable way to access the internet while travelling. This means that you can spend a lot of time looking for a suitable SIM card when you arrive at your destination, so I don’t consider this option when travelling unless I’m travelling for more than a month.
Also make sure that your SIM card is compatible with your phone and allows you to share data with other devices. The latter is important if you’re travelling as a couple or family and don’t want to buy multiple SIM cards.
A USB dongle also provides internet access while travelling, although I recommend this option specifically for those who need to connect their laptop more often than their mobile device.
It’s one of the best USB dongles I can offer, and creates a shared Wi-Fi network that doubles as a portable router. This means you need to plug it into a battery, either your laptop battery or a USB plug to make it work. So it’s not the ideal internet travel solution, especially if you want internet access while sightseeing in a city.
Pocket Wi-Fi is nothing more than a portable router that you can rent for travel internet access. Some countries in Asia, such as Japan and Thailand, have this option. In Japan, it is against the law to buy a local SIM card if you are not a Japanese resident, so your options are limited to Holafly eSIM, Solis router or renting Pocket Wi-Fi at your destination.
We’ve already written a whole guide on portable Wi-Fi for travel, but I’ll mention here that it’s a great option for a one-off trip as you can rent the device for a day, a week or GB. It also allows you to connect a variety of devices, including laptops. On the other hand, it’s not a good choice if you’re going on additional trips, as you’ll have to return the router and then rent a new one.
Related reading: Nine Incredible Reasons Why Your Internet is Slow
For occasional trips and if you only want to use travel internet on your mobile device, the best option is the Holafly eSIM card.
We use the Holafly eSIM card for international travel and it has always worked very well for us. It provides great coverage and allows me and Dan to access the world wide web without any hassle. Plus, the eSIM comes straight to our email address so we can purchase it at the last minute.
Obviously, your travel internet options will depend on the type of trip and your internet access needs, so I hope this guide will help you choose the best solution for you! If you have any questions, leave a comment below and I’ll try to help in any way I can.
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