I used to always buy a local SIM card at the airport whenever I traveled. It worked fine, but sometimes it was a bit of a hassle after a long flight.
A couple of things that annoyed me:
- Waiting in line at airport SIM kiosks
- Switching out my regular SIM card
- Sometimes needing a new SIM in every country
On a recent trip through Southeast Asia, I tried using an eSIM instead, and it was surprisingly convenient.
I set it up before leaving home and my phone connected to data right after landing. No searching for SIM shops or dealing with tiny SIM cards.
From what I’ve learned, eSIM works especially well if you’re:
- visiting multiple countries
- traveling for short trips
- working remotely while traveling
This article explains the differences pretty well if anyone’s comparing options:
eSIM vs local SIM for travel
I’m curious what other travelers think though — do you still prefer physical SIM cards?
eSIM works for me. it’s also convenient and way easier to setup. Some said renting pocket wifi also works in some countries, like Japan, but i couldnt afford going back and forth getting and returning those if i rent hahaha!