Your eSIM is your ultimate travel safety net, don’t forget it!

Modern technology has unlocked some truly incredible horizons for us. Just a couple of decades ago, traveling to an unknown location meant you needed to have at least one map, travel booklet, quick tourist’s dictionary, and a lot of grit.

Thanks to the advancements in technology, it’s much easier to research a location as well as navigate and explore once you are there. But, as miraculous as this all is, it all underpins one important factor:

Connectivity is your Number 1 safety tool when traveling

Airalo recently commissioned a new study by YouGov, which looks at exactly how travelers feel about venturing into the unknown without a SIM card. No surprise here, but not many are comfortable with the thought!

Why? Well, data connectivity unlocks a lot of tools that are otherwise unreachable. Finding your way back to your hotel via Maps. Or hailing a ride-sharing service. Or simply using a translation app because, spoiler alert, many people out there don’t speak English.



What’s fascinating is that the study covers 9 major countries, and most travelers share the same feeling of unease if they don’t have a connected smartphone on hand. Well, minus the German tourists, they seem to have things figured out.

Read the full Airalo x YouGov study here

Which is why Airalo’s service is perfect for travelers

eSIM technology has truly unlocked the ultimate travel plans for tourists. You don’t need to pry your phone open, you don’t need to worry about roaming or inflated bills. Just pick an all-data plan for the location you are about to visit, tap a link, and it’s all set up for you.

And data-only is basically everything we need nowadays. Google, Maps, ridesharing, all work over the Internet. And if you need to make a call home, you can use WhatsApp, Viber, FaceTime, or any of the other VoIP apps out there.

And yes, Airalo does offer data options all the way up to Unlimited for those of you that are addicted to their phones as much as I am.

Explore Airalo’s plans

Plus, you can quickly search up embassy and emergency contacts on the spot if you need them. But, word to the wise — do prepare emergency numbers and contacts in a screenshots folder or Notes document before you actually leave.

Is it better than local SIM cards or Wi-Fi?

Multiple countries around the world will have local SIM cards, sold by their national carriers, that are tailored for tourists. Some minutes for calls, some gigabytes of data. That’s great!

But one, sometimes you need to hunt for a SIM card store. Two, you don’t know if you are getting fair rates, and since you’ve already landed and have no other option, you hands are tied.

Using local Wi-Fi? Generally not a great idea for security concerns. Considering how integral eBanking has become, and how our smartphones are somehow at the heart of it, you don’t want to pass your login credentials through public Wi-Fi, ever. Or your chats, for that matter, if you are privacy-sensitive.

My personal eSIM experience

Traveling alone has become a part of my job, and I’ve learned to rely on eSIM plans quite quickly. It’s incredibly convenient to know that you will have phone data the moment your plane lands. You can text back home and let everyone know you are safe. You can immediately hail a ride. You can learn about local food places and dig into the reviews that others have left.

It truly allows you to go outside your comfort zone and explore a little, instead of sticking to the well-lit halls of the hotel and its dinner buffet.

I prefer the Unlimited options for ultimate peace of mind, but there are many to pick from. If you are only visiting for a day or two, you can adjust your desired plan so you don’t overpay for something you won’t need, for example.

Explore Airalo’s plans