eSIM for UK Travellers: Staying Online on Holiday Abroad

Whether it's a fortnight on the Costa del Sol, a week all-inclusive in Antalya or the big trip to the States, your phone is coming with you, and so is the risk of a nasty surprise on your next bill. Since Brexit, using your mobile in Europe isn't as simple as it used to be. Here's how roaming from the UK usually works, where a data-only travel eSIM fits in, and what to sort out before you set off for the airport.

Roaming from the UK: what it usually costs

For years a UK SIM worked around the EU much as it did at home. That's no longer a given. Since Brexit, several UK networks charge a daily fee to use your allowance in the EU, and the details vary from plan to plan, so check your current tariff before you go rather than relying on what was true on your last holiday.

Outside the EU it's usually pricier still. Roaming further afield is usually charged per day or per MB, and a week of maps, holiday snaps on Instagram and checking in for flights can quietly add up. Turkey and Egypt sit outside the EU, so don't assume a European roaming add-on covers them; check which zone your destination falls into.

There's one more trap that catches people out on ferries and cruises. Once you're at sea, your phone can connect to the ship's maritime network, which is charged separately and can be very expensive, even in European waters.

How a travel eSIM works

Instead of a plastic card, a travel eSIM is downloaded onto your phone and sits alongside your normal SIM. HelloSIM eSIMs are data-only, so they don't come with a local number or standard calls and texts. Your UK SIM stays put and keeps your number for calls and texts, WhatsApp stays linked to your usual number, and ringing home over FaceTime, WhatsApp, Viber or Telegram works on the eSIM's data.

Set it up on your home Wi-Fi before you travel. Buying early is fine: the clock starts the first time it connects to a network in the country you're visiting, not the day you pay. Running low by the second week? Add more data to the same eSIM rather than starting again; there's nothing to reinstall.

Popular holiday destinations from the UK

Spain

From Benidorm and the Costa del Sol to Barcelona city breaks and a week in Mallorca, Spain remains the go-to for British sunseekers. Install a Spain plan before you leave, switch it on when you land in Málaga, Alicante or Palma, and you can sort your transfer or find the hire car desk straight from arrivals. If you're taking the ferry between the Balearic islands, switch data roaming off on your UK line before you board.

Greece and Portugal

Greek island hopping and an Algarve villa fortnight are both covered by the Europe plan, which includes all the big EU destinations. On Greek ferry days, download offline maps of the next island before you sail. A Lisbon or Porto city break suits a smaller plan, while a family week in the Algarve with everyone streaming by the pool needs more data on each phone.

Turkey

Dalaman, Bodrum, Antalya and a long weekend in Istanbul are firm favourites, from half-term breaks to late-season sun in October. A Turkey plan connects once you land and keeps you sorted for messaging your transfer driver, using a translation app in the Grand Bazaar and keeping the family group chat going away from hotel Wi-Fi.

Egypt

Winter sun on the Red Sea in Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh, or a Nile cruise from Luxor, makes Egypt a go-to when the British weather turns grey. Pick an Egypt plan, or the Middle East & North Africa plan if you're combining it with Jordan. Resort Wi-Fi can be patchy once you wander away from the lobby, so having your own data takes the pressure off.

USA

New York at Christmas, Orlando's theme parks in the summer holidays or a road trip down the West Coast: the States are a long way, and roaming there is usually charged per day or per MB. A USA plan keeps your maps and messages going from the moment you land. Download offline maps before heading into national parks or across the desert, where signal can disappear for long stretches.

Multi-country Europe

Interrailing, a twin-centre break or a road trip through France into Switzerland? The Europe plan covers more than 40 countries on one eSIM, including the big EU destinations plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Turkey, Albania and Montenegro. It covers the UK too, which makes it a handy one to recommend to EU friends and family coming over to visit, as their own roaming may not include the UK. Install it before leaving, but keep the line off until you're abroad: it works on UK networks, so it could start its validity at home.

Is your phone ready for eSIM?

Most phones bought in the last few years can take an eSIM: iPhones from the XS and XR onwards, Google Pixel 3 and later, and recent Samsung Galaxy S and Z phones plus many in the A range. On an iPhone, look in Settings under Mobile Service (Mobile Data on older versions of iOS) for "Add eSIM"; on Android, check your SIM settings for the same option.

Your phone also has to be unlocked. If you got it through your network on a contract, check that it isn't locked to them; your network can confirm and unlock it if needed. Do this a week or so before you fly rather than at the departure gate.

Before you fly: step by step

1. 1Check your phone supports eSIM and isn't locked to your network.
2. 2Choose a country plan for one destination, or the Europe plan if you're crossing borders.
3. 3Pay as a guest with just your email address; the QR code lands in your inbox straight away.
4. 4On your home Wi-Fi, tap Settings → Mobile Service → Add eSIM and scan the QR code. On Android, the option sits under Settings → Connections or Network & internet, then SIM manager or SIMs.
5. 5Keep the email handy, as it also contains the SM-DP+ address and activation code if you ever need to install manually.
6. 6Once you've landed, switch on the HelloSIM line, use it for mobile data and turn Data Roaming on for that line. That setting is required, and it won't cost anything extra as the data's prepaid.
7. 7Switch Data Roaming off on your UK line so it can't run up roaming charges.

How much data to buy

• A week by the pool, mostly maps, WhatsApp and the odd email: around 1 GB.
• A city break with plenty of photos and social media: 3–5 GB for the week.
• Working from abroad or video calling home every night: 10 GB or more a week.
• A fortnight of Interrailing on the Europe plan: roughly 6–10 GB, topping up if you need to.
• A family holiday: an eSIM lives on a single phone, so buy one for each family member who wants data.

Paying and getting help

You can use a Visa, Mastercard or American Express card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or credit in your HelloSIM wallet. Everything is charged in euros and your bank converts it to pounds automatically; switch the site to GBP if you'd like to see prices in pounds for reference. Your QR code is emailed straight away and also sits in your HelloSIM account and the HelloSIM iPhone app.

Stuck at any point? Message support on WhatsApp or email [email protected], where emails get a reply within 24 hours.