Best way to roam these days in England and Italy

[VPS]

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.

Depends is you want to hit the ground data and calls which I prefer to do. Sim corner and Sims direct both do good deals

 

[gerrib]

Just trying to get my head around this. I may want to make some local calls in Italy. So an esim is for data only? I'm thinking of a situation where I might be at a station and want to ring an accommodation provider. Can an esim I buy for data allow me to do this. Would it have a local phone number? I also may need to receive 2 factor identification codes from my Australian banks. Do I have to switch to my Australian sim card for that. Can esim and sim card function at the same time? Sorry but want to be clear about this.

 

[SYD]

Just trying to get my head around this. I may want to make some local calls in Italy. So an esim is for data only? I'm thinking of a situation where I might be at a station and want to ring an accommodation provider. Can an esim I buy for data allow me to do this. Would it have a local phone number?

Some eSims are data only but others operate like a physical sim. Probably worth while looking at what local telcos offer a prepaid eSIM option.

I also may need to receive 2 factor identification codes from my Australian banks. Do I have to switch to my Australian sim card for that. Can esim and sim card function at the same time? Sorry but want to be clear about this.

Yes, you can have your normal Oz SIM for text and the eSIM for data (as well as calls/txt).

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

An eSIM is for calls and data. It has the same function as a physical sim. You normally get a local phone number too.

Some phones will be able to use both. Mine does. To do this, it must have dual sim capabilities, ie two sets of radios. It uses more batteries, even when idle.

Yes, if you don't have dual sim capabilities, you will need to use your Australian sim for 2FA. Check with your Australian provider if it will work (Telstra stopped all roaming for prepaid last year, causing me enormous problems, but brought it back).

 

[SYD]

An eSIM is for calls and data. It has the same function as a physical sim. You normally get a local phone number too.

Not all eSIMs operate this way. The popular roaming service providers discussed in the thread below (like Flexiroam, Truphone and others tend to be data only and you don’t necessarily get a “local” phone number) but yes, there are eSims that provide everything (the same as a physical SIM).

eSims, what is your experience.

I am interested in the concept of eSims but have no experience with them. The notion of running my local sim plus having an international sim for phone use while in USA and EU could be handy. What have members experience been? TIA

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

The second link in post #4 in the thread above is a good place to start to see which telcos offer eSims in each region and then see if you can get a prepaid or short duration plan for your travels. For Europe, I’d probably lean towards a UK or US service that roams in Europe - just because any apps or website will be in English.

I personally would still rely on receiving free SMS to my regular Oz number for 2FA when overseas. Any Oz telco that doesn’t allow that is probably not ideal for regular travellers in this day and age.

 

[VPS]

An eSIM is for calls and data. It has the same function as a physical sim. You normally get a local phone number too.

Some phones will be able to use both. Mine does. To do this, it must have dual sim capabilities, ie two sets of radios. It uses more batteries, even when idle.

Yes, if you don't have dual sim capabilities, you will need to use your Australian sim for 2FA. Check with your Australian provider if it will work (Telstra stopped all roaming for prepaid last year, causing me enormous problems, but brought it back).

I'm currently in the UK and before I left I asked Telstra if I could get texts and phone calls on my prepaid service. I asked three different people and they all said no unless I pay the $10 a day or something ludicrous. I have had no trouble at all receiving texts and phone calls When I get home I'm going to change my Telstra Sim to an esim and use my UK number as a physical sim. I have a UK bank account and they are even harder to deal with if you don't have the same phone number

 

[SYD]

I'm currently in the UK and before I left I asked Telstra if I could get texts and phone calls on my prepaid service. I asked three different people and they all said no unless I pay the $10 a day or something ludicrous. I have had no trouble at all receiving texts and phone calls When I get home I'm going to change my Telstra Sim to an esim and use my UK number as a physical sim. I have a UK bank account and they are even harder to deal with if you don't have the same phone number

Receiving SMS should be free but you would have had to pay (as you go) to receive (and make calls) if not on the $10 per day thing (which is a rip off). Call costs are manageable. It’s the roaming data as PAYG is the killer (if left on “roaming”).

Switching your sims does sound like a plan for your scenario.

 

[VPS]

Receiving SMS should be free but you would have had to pay (as you go) to receive (and make calls) if not on the $10 per day thing (which is a rip off). Call costs are manageable. It’s the roaming data as PAYG is the killer (if left on “roaming”).

Switching your sims does sound like a plan for your scenario.

I’m on a prepaid plan and have received calls without the $10 a day. Possibly on wifi when I received it.

 

[SYD]

I’m on a prepaid plan and have received calls without the $10 a day. Possibly on wifi when I received it.

Yes, “wifi calling” is another excellent workaround for those times you can’t use FaceTime, Skype, Zoom etc etc. For Telstra customers, it even works in destination where there’s no roaming agreement at all e.g NLK.

Unfortunately, Optus doesn’t support it overseas. Not sure about Vodafone.

 

[MikeG]

Whenever I travel to the UK, I have my Postpaid Telstra esim set to no-roaming, and I put in a three mobile UK European roaming physical SIM and use LTE over data. Works perfectly. Only downside is if you want to use your Telstra SIM to call New Zealand or another "overseas location" that ceases working when Telstra realise you're overseas. Not sure why I pay for the international calling pack if it stops working overseas Its probably Telstra's way of saying, spend $10/day roaming - its worth it. Not for three weeks thankyou very much...