Mobile Plan in Europe: Roaming ? eSim ?

thesla on 07/07/2024 - 17:36

I am currently using Kogan 365 Large days plan. Need to go to Eu (Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, … ) for couple weeks for work.

What should I do to just have data ? I don't think I would need calling/SMS for that short period. Any cheapies advice ?

I saw deals like https://www.cheapies.nz/node/47340 . I have an old phone that probably don't support eSIM. Do I need to invest into one that can support eSIM ?
Or should I buy a Eu SIM card that cover a bunch of country (if that even exists …) ?

Or this post: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=40&topicid=311… but I think it's for going to Aussie

General Discussion

Comments

  • wellydeal on 08/07/2024 - 09:28

    When I was in Europe, I used Holafly esim for the duration. It's data only, but was super easy to set up. Can't remember how much I paid, but it was 2 months of unlimited data. I think hotspoting was included not that I used it.

  • ABCDEFG on 08/07/2024 - 09:32

    What model phone do you have? There are a few eSIM providers that will give you what you need and are super easy to setup but if you're stuck using a physical SIM it's a bit more of a hassle.

  • Sickman on 08/07/2024 - 11:32
    +1

    Just get an Europe SIM with the amount of data you need from Simcorner if you do not have eSIM. Then you are good to go on arrival.
    That is what we did and we just spent 2 months in Europe.
    If flying into France then Free Mobile is awesome for 19.99 Euro for 250Gb data and calls, additional 10Euro for actual SIM card. My Free sim is even working in Dubai and provides 35Gb data when ouside of France.

    • joshtnz on 16/09/2024 - 20:58

      Were you able to extend this Free Mobile plan at all? From what I can tell on their site, it seems like it's only valid for 30 days.

      • Sickman on 17/09/2024 - 07:35

        You can go on a monthly prepaid plan but then it is a little bit of a hassle to close the plan, sounds like you can close with it a txt when still in their coverage area. You can google more about that as some travellers have had trouble stopping prepaid plan once out of Europe.
        I ended up just geting a second Free Mobile sim when required for the second month. They have sim machines in shopping malls which have english language option.

        • Sickman on 17/09/2024 - 07:44

          You could ask in a Free Mobile shop about extending a monthly sim but I could not see that option with the Free Mobile store persons helping me.
          Trying to use phone helpline will be useless unless you speak French. Store people have good english.

  • thesla on 16/09/2024 - 21:15
    +1

    Hi all !

    I just came back and can report the French Free Mobile works wonder !
    As other user said:
    - 10 euros for the sim card
    - 20 euros for the prepaid
    - 30 days validity.
    - I bought at a physical shop as I needed a sim card (my phone don't support eSim)
    - The sale rep told me that I can extend it up to 3 months. I did not try as I did not need this.
    - 300GB in France
    - 35GB elsewhere (not counted toward the 300GB in France, as explained by the sale rep). When traveling, I receive a text each time I changed country. It feels like each country have its own 35GB but cannot confirm. I tested in Ireland, Belgium, Germany, and even New Zealand (use it a while before getting one of those tiny stick to switching my NZ sim back)

    Overall, everything went smoothly over 3 weeks in Eu

    • joshtnz on 17/09/2024 - 06:15

      Thanks, this is really helpful! Did you buy it at the airport or find a shop once you'd arrived?

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join