Let’s be honest, we are all quite reliant on our phones to stay connected, to find directions, or to just doom scroll in bed out of habit. Using your domestic provider data while travelling is typically the most expensive option, so the alternatives are to either find a local SIM card package or get an eSIM. 

Getting a local SIM can be as easy as walking into a cell phone shop at the airport and popping in a new card (Mexico City airport). More often than not, however, it is a quest around town or to the neighbouring resort/mall, and at this point, you may have already had to turn on your data, which, if you are Canadian, immediately costs you at least $14. I’ve been using eSIMs for over a year now and have found them reliable and safe to use.  Admittedly, occasionally they can be more expensive than a physical local SIM card, but the hustle of finding one is a major deterrent for me, especially with multiple country stops.

This post is about a specific eSIM provider, GigSky, but first, let’s cover some common eSIM-related questions. If you are already familiar with how eSIMs work, just scroll past these FAQs. 

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eSIM FAQ: What’s an eSIM & How does it work

What’s an ESIM

eSIM is a shorthand for embedded SIM. Instead of having to swap out a physical SIM, eSIM gets installed next to your regular SIM digitally, so in simple terms, it’s a digital SIM card. You can even add it to your tablet if that’s where you want your data to live. Using an eSIM offers you data only, typically this data is sourced from a local provider (Orange, T-Mobile, etc). Since it is a data-only card, you do not get a phone number, and you cannot make or receive calls unless, of course, it is a WhatsApp or FaceTime. 

How does it work

eSIM can be installed in two ways: using a QR code or using an app. I found the QR code method a bit tedious since the code needs to be visible on something other than the phone you are installing the eSIM on. Additionally, with a QR code without the App, you don’t get visibility into the status of your data. With an app, you can purchase, top up, and keep track of your usage so you can know if you are running out and will not be just cut off. You do not need a contract to use an eSIM, you simply purchase the data package and top it up as needed. 

Where is the eSIM on my phone

Once your first eSIM is installed, you can turn off your primary SIM with a toggle and turn on the eSIM. This makes sure you do not get charged for roaming usage from your local provider (Rogers, Bell, etc) because that SIM is now completely inactive. On your phone, the eSIM lives in the “Cellular” settings section (iPhone), here’s a screenshot of mine. The one “On” is my Canadian physical SIM. The ones “Off” are the travel eSIMs that I can top up when I return to that location. The “no sim” lines are the eSIMs I removed.

Can I make calls

Not in the traditional sense, but you can make calls using WhatsApp and FaceTime, which I found is perfectly enough, unless of course you need to be on a call or waiting to receive some banking verification code. 

What happens to my phone number

Nothing. It is there, taking a nap behind the scenes, receiving text messages that will flood your phone once you turn your primary SIM card on upon returning home. All of your apps and settings remain intact and you can use iMessage (iPhone) and WhatsApp to stay in touch with your friends and family. In many places around the world, WhatsApp is actually the preferred mode of communication and can even be used to make restaurant reservations. 

About GigSky eSIM

GigSky is a company from Palo Alto, California. When the eSIM was first released, GigSky launched as an Apple partner in 2018. Today, they provide eSIM services on land, cruise ships, and in-flight. The company is also the largest provider of connectivity services to the Airline industry, servicing staff, passengers, and core parts of the plane. Recently, GigSky launched a global partnership with Visa so if you have a US Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card, a GigSky data plan is available to you. It is a safe, legitimate business, and a reliable eSIM provider. 

How does GigSky work

Same as any other eSIM plan (described above) GigSky eSIM can be installed using a QR code or through the app (recommended). With GigSky you can have two operators active at the same time, for example, their eSIM and your regular physical card, if you need the calls for example. The plan can be purchased in the app or on gigsky.com. In a nutshell, the steps are:

1. Choose your destination and package
2. Install your eSIM
3. Activate the eSIM on arrival
4. And you are connected!

GigSky connectivity & Service locations

Connectivity is the major differentiator for GigSky. The majority of eSIM companies basically resell network services from local providers (re-route you to it so to say), GigSky, however, is an actual network provider. The company partners with about 400 cellular network providers around the world to have direct access to the servers. So if one network goes down, they will automatically re-connect you to the next, best available service. 

The coolest bit is that you only need one GigSky eSIM for all of the countries you plan to visit, so your cellular settings are not riddled with lines like mine. 

Where can you use GigSky

Currently, GigSky offers connection services in 190 different countries and offshore throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea. It is also available at sea on over 190 different cruise ships. Trust me when I say that getting connected on a cruise ship is challenging and expensive so if I ever do get on another boat, this is my plan. Data plans are also available for over 20 different airlines, more about in-flight connectivity here. What all this really means is that even if you are island-hopping, you can still stay connected.

The GigSky plan range

Plans are offered by country, region, and location (cruise, offshore, in-flight). GigSky also offers a trial package, 100 MB for free without a credit card, to test drive the data and the app. 

Overall, the packages are competitively priced and in some instances could be a bit more expensive than other brands (ie. AirAlo) but for some destinations are also more affordable. You can get country-specific packages (ie. India), regional (ie. Asia Pacific), or combo (ie. Cruise+Asia Pacific). The choices you need to make, of course is how much data and for how many days. However, if you run out of data on the trip, you can simply top it up within the app.  

The best value, in my opinion, is the unlimited regional packages, for example, the Unlimited European country of your choice or Europe as a whole is $27.99/7 days or $44.99/15 days!

Purchase your plan on gigsky.com.

A few eSIM usage tips

• Turn off your domestic SIM and roaming as soon as you take off to avoid accidental charges
• Upon landing, connect to the airport WiFi, find a strong connection spot, and stay there until your eSIM is activated 
• Check the connection by turning off the WiFi
• You might need to make sure roaming is turned “On” for your new eSIM
• In “Cellular” settings, scroll down and turn off roaming for any apps you know you won’t need so they are not using data in the background

The post Staying connected with GigSky eSIM & How you can get some free data appeared first on Paths to Travel.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.

Airalo pros:

• Easy to purchase, easy to activate. You can buy the eSIM online or within the app. The instructions are easy to follow, and the customer support is built into the app.
• Airalo now offers data, talk, text options for many locations, which gives the user a set number of minutes and texts they can send from a local number. 
• Options for geographies and data package sizes are great. You can get a single country, or a regional SIM, for example, Europe, so there is no need to find new physical SIM cards at every stop of your European road trip. Your options come in various package sizes and durations. You can get 10g for 30 days and not think about it till you’re home or have it cover multiple trips to the US within 30 days. 
• Easy refills. You get notified when your package is about to run out and have an option to purchase a top-up. Once your original package runs out your new one kicks in.
• The eSIM lasts a long time. As in, once installed on your phone, you can turn it off and on as needed and add data to that eSIM a year later if your device is still the same. 
• There are regular customer perks. You get a small percentage back from each purchase and can apply any amount to your new purchase at any time.
• Customer support is quite fast and is very helpful. I’ve had to use it on a couple of occasions (both times because my internet connection at the time of activation was bad) and they were able to fix my issues efficiently. 

Airalo cons:

• You do have to have a stable internet connection to connect to a network. My go-to solution, of cours,e is checking the airport wifi on arrival. Quite often, you can find a stable spot, you just need to spend a few minutes there waiting for things to connect (5-10 minutes average)
• It could be more expensive than a local physical SIM, so here really just see what your priorities are. Sometimes SIM cards are sold directly at the airport but if not you may have to go on a bit of a hunt. Do you have time to do that and can go without the internet until you find it? Keep in mind that turning on your home country’s SIM for even a minute comes with a charge. With Rogers, for example, that’s $12 in the US and $15 internationally, the key here is the 24-hour window is in your home timezone not the time zone you are travelling in. 

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