Best way to roam these days in England and Italy

[SYD]

I have used maps.me for years, as you say, download then they work offline. I suppose I could just manage turning it on occasionally but think I’m too used to having access 24/7! Might just buy a SIM card in UK and top it up. But I’d like to give eSIM a go as it sounds good. Just need to get my head around it.

Probably the easiest eSIMs for iPhone are TruPhone and Flexiroam. I know some peeps have had issues with both but I’ve used TruPhone without problems. Keep in mind that they’re usually data only but still ideal for staying connected as required.

TruPhone - download app, install eSIM (should be free) then buy the relevant packages:

My Truphone eSIM app for Phones, Watches and Tablets

Connect your devices, manage your account and buy eSIM data plan directly in the app on iOS or Android devices.

www.truphone.com

Through the app, you can pre-purchase plans in Oz charged in AUD. Usually cheaper than if you buy once in country.

Flexiroam is similar but they do charge a modest fee for the eSIM but often have offers that waive the esim fee (there’s one underway at the moment). They also have advance purchase discounts but I assume that locks you into their eSIM until you’ve used up those packages (I’ve never quite worked that bit out). The link below is mostly “global roaming” but the country / region specific plans are cheaper.

Shop Now - Flexiroam Prepaid Mobile Data

Get mobile data with global, regional, and local coverage for your travel. Stay connected in 150+ countries. Free eSIM available.

travel.flexiroam.com

 

[karen blancfield]

The newer Optus plus plans have $5 a day roaming.

Do they? My phone is new but when I went to NZ in May, it was $10 day. I’ll check, thanks.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I have used maps.me for years, as you say, download then they work offline. I suppose I could just manage turning it on occasionally but think I’m too used to having access 24/7! Might just buy a SIM card in UK and top it up. But I’d like to give eSIM a go as it sounds good. Just need to get my head around it.

eSim is the way to go, IMHO.

 

[TheRealTMA]

The newer Optus plus plans have $5 a day roaming.

Maybe but that’s theft. $150 for 30 days vs £10 for a local sim in uk. Time such theft by phone companies ended. Costs them nothing for roaming.

 

[serfty]

Maybe but that’s theft. $150 for 30 days vs £10 for a local sim in uk. Time such theft by phone companies ended. Costs them nothing for roaming.

Sure, but for a weekend it's fine.

A week or more? Yes, get a local e/sim.

 

[karen blancfield]

Maybe but that’s theft. $150 for 30 days vs £10 for a local sim in uk. Time such theft by phone companies ended. Costs them nothing for roaming.

And when vodaphone only charges $5 day. I’ve checked Optus info and I don’t see any reference to anything cheaper than $10 a day. I’ll get my head around eSIMs.

 

[SYD]

And when vodaphone only charges $5 day. I’ve checked Optus info and I don’t see any reference to anything cheaper than $10 a day. I’ll get my head around eSIMs.

Example pricing of upto 30 days roaming data in the UK using TruPhone purchased in Oz before you leave is in the range of 2GB/A$10 to 20GB/A$25 (purchasing once in the UK is slightly more). For a little bit more you can get single regional plan that covers UK + EU.

You can also buy 1 day bundles - handy for transits and wifi access is patchy.

Once you download the app, you can review the different prices to see if it is best to buy seperate bundles per destination or regional plans. Also, if you use up the data, you can can just buy another bundle.

The caveat with these and many resellers is what actual network you end up connecting to and whether it can provide 5G or 4G (and preferably not capped at 3G…).

 

[karen blancfield]

Example pricing of upto 30 days roaming data in the UK using TruPhone purchased in Oz before you leave is in the range of 2GB/A$10 to 20GB/A$25 (purchasing once in the UK is slightly more). For a little bit more you can get single regional plan that covers UK + EU.

You can also buy 1 day bundles - handy for transits and wifi access is patchy.

Once you download the app, you can review the different prices to see if it is best to buy seperate bundles per destination or regional plans. Also, if you use up the data, you can can just buy another bundle.

The caveat with these and many resellers is what actual network you end up connecting to and whether it can provide 5G or 4G (and preferably not capped at 3G…).

Thanks for all that info. I’m currently chatting to Optus but doubt I’ll get anything cheaper, thought I should try. Then I’ll read up on your info and get it in place before I head off.

 

[SYD]

Thanks for all that info. I’m currently chatting to Optus but doubt I’ll get anything cheaper, thought I should try. Then I’ll read up on your info and get it in place before I head off.

If Optus comes to the party, you can turn the Optus roaming bundle on/off via the Optus app when you’re OS.

 

[karen blancfield]

If Optus comes to the party, you can turn the Optus roaming bundle on/off via the Optus app when you’re OS.

An hour and a half with Optus, we both now have new plans, a saving of a grand total of $6 a month, and we have $5 day roaming! So thanks yet again to AFF tips, we can at least use this option if needed. Wish I’d known this in May when I was in NZ. Thanks everyone and I’m sure others will find it useful as well.

 

[karen blancfield]

The option of $10 a day for Optus is too pricey for 40 days. I used to buy a sim in Europe mostly for when there’s no wifi. That worked well. Anyone used a good plan lately for Singapore, England, Italy?

Thanks for all the advice. As a starting point, Optus will now give us $5 a day roaming, half of what I was offered prior to this thread leading me to contact them, I have the other options too, thanks to you all.

 

[11sjw]

eSim is the way to go, IMHO.

Can the eSim (say Airalo) be used for data only whilst keeping my Aust number for calls & SMS's?

 

[SYD]

Can the eSim (say Airalo) be used for data only whilst keeping my Aust number for calls & SMS's?

Yes.

 

[SYD]

Can the eSim (say Airalo) be used for data only whilst keeping my Aust number for calls & SMS's?

Yes.

Further to my very concise response earlier (sorry, I was on a gym treadmill at the time ).

When you have both SIMs installed you can control what each can do from Settings -> Mobile (some websites might say “Cellular”)

You’ll have two “Mobile Plans”. That you can configure for voice/txt and data. I currently have them labelled “Primary” and “Travel” (but I could call them Optus and eSIM, or Work and Private etc).

Turning “Data roaming” off on your Oz number will disable data use but you can still make/receive calls and txts (roaming charges apply if you send a text, initiate or answer a call).

If your eSIM/2nd SIM is Data only, then you can turn Data Roaming on/off as required and your phone will use that data plan.

 

[11sjw]

Thanks @SYD for the reply.

 

[billmurray]

I am currently on an 7wk Euro trip, which finishes in a few days, visited 8 different countries.

I used Airalo which is an eSim app that worked across all countries. Worked perfectly the entire trip. Thought definately didn't need the 50gb package for the 7wks, only used 20gb on the trip even with heavy usage (and hotel wifi as well)

 

[TheRealTMA]

Our experiences with iPhone 13 in Switzerland and UK.

Converted my Optus sim to an esim before leaving australia and turned on roaming for Switzerland. Cost a mint! $10 a day for SFA. What a ripoff. Tried to buy European esims on line but lots of issues. In Scotland, bought Vodafone physical sims for £10 for 30 days with 20GB of data, text and wifi calling. Set Vodafone as primary number for all, and Optus for secondary so could use merrily in the UK for calls, text and wifi, but still receive calls and txt from home.

Worked well.

 

[mel-world]

I don't have e-Sim availabilty on my phone but saw a letter in The Age this morning recommending simsdirect.com.au for Europe and the UK. Has anyone had any experience with this service or is it cheaper to buy on arrival? Only need data and occasional calls. Will use my Aussie SIM if I need an SMS verification.

 

[SYD]

I don't have e-Sim availabilty on my phone but saw a letter in The Age this morning recommending simsdirect.com.au for Europe and the UK. Has anyone had any experience with this service or is it cheaper to buy on arrival? Only need data and occasional calls. Will use my Aussie SIM if I need an SMS verification.

I read that article earlier and thought it was a bit naff. Most / all of the major Oz Telcos let you roam for free (if enabled) so you can receive SMS for free. But PAYG to make and receive calls, send text and use data (wouldn’t recommend those)!

I just posted on the eSIM thread that GiffGaff is still a good choice for a local physical SIM. Pick up the sim in a local convenience store eg Tescos. You buy a “Goody bag” that suits your needs for duration, included calls, txt and amounts of data.

Can be managed online or app (all in English!). It should also provide some free roaming in Europe.

https://www.giffgaff.com/

 

[11sjw]

Used SimCorner but the network accessed (Wind Tre from memory) seemed to be rather ordinary. Ended up buying another Sim from a TIM shop in Florence and it seemed to produce better reception and data speeds.