eSIM thread
Mar 21, 2025 | 10:03 am
#1111
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,734
Hmm, it may be worth trying out, if you can order the eSIM without being in Ireland and just use it elsewhere.
I don't have any plans to be in Ireland any time soon.
I'm going to Portugal next month, probably will get the Orange Euro eSIM again.
I don't have any plans to be in Ireland any time soon.
I'm going to Portugal next month, probably will get the Orange Euro eSIM again.
Mar 21, 2025 | 3:53 pm
#1112
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,595
Roaming details here: https://n.vodafone.ie/support/mobile...ml#noextracost it covers the EU, the UK and Switzerland plus the French and Dutch Caribbean and, oddly, Suriname. Unlimited plans get only 40 GB roaming; other plans get the full allowance.
It's a monthly (or rather 4-weekly, because Ireland) prepaid plan similar to the prepaid plans offered by a lot of American and European carriers. You have to top up 20, which you then 'spend' on the data pack. In order to buy another data pack you'd have to top up again. If you don't, your service quits working. They're only able to charge against the credits you've purchased.
What's not clear is whether a Vodafone Ireland eSIM has to be activated in Ireland or whether it'll activate while roaming. Anyone tried to buy one from outside Ireland and use it in another EU country or the UK without first going to Ireland? It's a pretty good deal, especially since it includes both the UK and Switzerland. It's an even better deal if you can buy one for a trip that doesn't even include Ireland.
It's a monthly (or rather 4-weekly, because Ireland) prepaid plan similar to the prepaid plans offered by a lot of American and European carriers. You have to top up 20, which you then 'spend' on the data pack. In order to buy another data pack you'd have to top up again. If you don't, your service quits working. They're only able to charge against the credits you've purchased.
What's not clear is whether a Vodafone Ireland eSIM has to be activated in Ireland or whether it'll activate while roaming. Anyone tried to buy one from outside Ireland and use it in another EU country or the UK without first going to Ireland? It's a pretty good deal, especially since it includes both the UK and Switzerland. It's an even better deal if you can buy one for a trip that doesn't even include Ireland.
A link to the installation guide
https://travel.vodafone.com/help-sup...d-installation
Mar 21, 2025 | 4:46 pm
#1113
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,734
Other eSIMs you just have to be online, which can be WiFi.
For instance the Orange Euro eSIM, clearly marketed for the whole region. I ordered and installed without being in France, not even connecting through a French airport.
For instance the Orange Euro eSIM, clearly marketed for the whole region. I ordered and installed without being in France, not even connecting through a French airport.
Mar 21, 2025 | 4:47 pm
#1114
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 724
Mar 21, 2025 | 5:21 pm
#1115
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,698
Paid credits do not expire
Let me update my post to make it clearer
EDIT: someone mentioned you do have to refill once a year $5 to keep account active. Unsure.
Last edited by paperwastage; Mar 24, 2025 at 8:13 am
Mar 24, 2025 | 12:09 pm
#1116
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: MEX
Posts: 1,152
The last few I've bought have been 50/50. Tello (US) and lifecell (Ukraine) both activated without going 'home' but TuneTalk (Malaysia) and Super (Estonia) didn't. Tello and Super clearly documented their activation rules but the other two said nothing. Honorable mention to 3 HK who sell their SIMs specifically for roaming purposes.
Mar 24, 2025 | 4:11 pm
#1117
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,698
https://www.reddit.com/r/eSIMs/comme...users/mjia18w/
Paid roamlesss balance will expire after 1 year unless you add $5, then paid balance rolls over for another 1 year.
Time to try unisim.net and esim.sm. Until they decide to change their policy too. At least esim.sm allows multiple sims on same account, so quicker to deplete $
Paid roamlesss balance will expire after 1 year unless you add $5, then paid balance rolls over for another 1 year.
Time to try unisim.net and esim.sm. Until they decide to change their policy too. At least esim.sm allows multiple sims on same account, so quicker to deplete $
Last edited by paperwastage; Mar 24, 2025 at 4:17 pm
Mar 24, 2025 | 5:27 pm
#1118
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 7,030
https://www.reddit.com/r/eSIMs/comme...users/mjia18w/
Paid roamlesss balance will expire after 1 year unless you add $5, then paid balance rolls over for another 1 year.
Time to try unisim.net and esim.sm. Until they decide to change their policy too. At least esim.sm allows multiple sims on same account, so quicker to deplete $
Paid roamlesss balance will expire after 1 year unless you add $5, then paid balance rolls over for another 1 year.
Time to try unisim.net and esim.sm. Until they decide to change their policy too. At least esim.sm allows multiple sims on same account, so quicker to deplete $
BNESim also has the virtue of not expiring. Their global plan is much too expensive, but their Europe-wide plan is reasonable. It also allows multiple sims on one account.
Mar 24, 2025 | 6:30 pm
#1119
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,698
https://esim.sm/en/global-esim?country_id=US
BNESim also has the virtue of not expiring. Their global plan is much too expensive, but their Europe-wide plan is reasonable. It also allows multiple sims on one account.
Mar 24, 2025 | 6:51 pm
#1120
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 7,030
which part? I'm looking at their global esim , not the 30day packages
https://esim.sm/en/global-esim?country_id=US
https://esim.sm/en/global-esim?country_id=US
Odd that the global no expiration is cheaper than the single country expiring, at least for the countries I checked. Does the global use a single distribution point (or whatever it's called - your IP address is the same worldwide) while the country specific connect through that country?
Mar 24, 2025 | 8:15 pm
#1121
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,698
Aha. I was looking at their destinations list. I should have looked at the bottom of the page.
Odd that the global no expiration is cheaper than the single country expiring, at least for the countries I checked. Does the global use a single distribution point (or whatever it's called - your IP address is the same worldwide) while the country specific connect through that country?
Odd that the global no expiration is cheaper than the single country expiring, at least for the countries I checked. Does the global use a single distribution point (or whatever it's called - your IP address is the same worldwide) while the country specific connect through that country?
Apr 8, 2025 | 9:58 am
#1122
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 23
https://www.reddit.com/r/eSIMs/comme...users/mjia18w/
Paid roamlesss balance will expire after 1 year unless you add $5, then paid balance rolls over for another 1 year.
Time to try unisim.net and esim.sm. Until they decide to change their policy too. At least esim.sm allows multiple sims on same account, so quicker to deplete $
Paid roamlesss balance will expire after 1 year unless you add $5, then paid balance rolls over for another 1 year.
Time to try unisim.net and esim.sm. Until they decide to change their policy too. At least esim.sm allows multiple sims on same account, so quicker to deplete $
Still, I feel burned.
1. The fact that they were going to do this clearly anti-customer change until they were hit with huge backlash is disappointing
2. If you did a "buy $10, get $20" or similar type of promo, now the "free" extra $10 will expire in 6 months. That seems completely dirty to me still. Maybe they should do that for all new purchases but those of us that already purchased were operating under the impression that there was no expiration.
3. They will start introducing some country-specific plans in addition to their global plan. I hope this doesn't start making their global rates less competitive.
I think they really shot themselves in the foot and competitors such as unisim and esim.sm are becoming more interesting.
Apr 17, 2025 | 10:59 am
#1125
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,734
I registered for this deal at the LH Senator Lounge at MUC today on my iPad Pro.
https://www.esimholidays.com/en/europe
For some reason, the QR code wasn't loading correctly on my devices. There was a warning to scan it only once, so I looked at trying to enter some details manually but that didn't work.
Eventually the QR code loaded on the email and I was able to load the eSIM on my iPad.
Then I had to reboot it because it wasn't finding a network.
After it came up, it got a 5G connection. Also got a message to my iPad, which isn't suppose to be able to receive SMS.
It said I have 100 GB in Europe plus 2 hours and 1000 texts for a month.
I had bought this eSIM last summer, when they were advertising 100 GB for €40. The message I got today was the same, except a different phone and SIM number.
Staying in the Algarve for a week. The place has weak Wifi so good to have speed and volume of data.
https://www.esimholidays.com/en/europe
For some reason, the QR code wasn't loading correctly on my devices. There was a warning to scan it only once, so I looked at trying to enter some details manually but that didn't work.
Eventually the QR code loaded on the email and I was able to load the eSIM on my iPad.
Then I had to reboot it because it wasn't finding a network.
After it came up, it got a 5G connection. Also got a message to my iPad, which isn't suppose to be able to receive SMS.
It said I have 100 GB in Europe plus 2 hours and 1000 texts for a month.
I had bought this eSIM last summer, when they were advertising 100 GB for €40. The message I got today was the same, except a different phone and SIM number.
Staying in the Algarve for a week. The place has weak Wifi so good to have speed and volume of data.