Experience with eSIMs?

Have you checked in the technology tips section of the forum. There are a few threads over there. Here’s one that might be helpful.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/buying-an-international-esim-data-plan-for-your-regular-phone-with-esim-no-more-burner-phones

Have you used an eSIM? Yes

What is your experience vs a physical SIM card? Easy, I would do it again, although eSIMs are way more expensive than physical SIMs bought in the country

Which provider(s) did you use? Orange
Did it work in all the countries you visited? Yes
How much data/text/voice did you use? No idea, I never checked
Can you top off? All those instructions come with the eSIM after you buy it
Did you get hit with any additional costs or charges? No

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/esim-success

I recently returned from a 2.5 month trip in Italy. For the first month, I used Verizon's international coverage ($100 supplement to my monthly bill, coverage worked exactly like it does at home). For the second month, I used the Airalo app to purchase an eSIM. I have an iPhone 13.

Coverage was excellent. I was in Venice, Udine, Milan, Stresa, Mantua, Modena, Florence, Rome (didn't go any farther south than that). I liked that the eSIM automatically selects the best network from a variety of providers (Vodaphone, TIM, Wind) based on which provides the best coverage where I am. I purchased an Italy-only eSIM, so it did not work on the day when we crossed over from Stresa to Locarno, Switzerland. (For that day, I disabled the eSIM and switched back to my Verizon physical SIM and purchased the Verizon $10/day travel pass.)

My eSIM was for data only, meaning that it did not cover calls or SMS texts (because iMessages are sent/received over data, I could text or FaceTime anyone with an iPhone). It obviously worked with all my apps (Google maps, instagram, email), and I could use it as a hotspot to connect my laptop and/or iPad while I was working. The main downside of Airalo is that I did not have a separate Italy-based phone number. My phone acted exactly as if I had it in airplane mode, but with wifi (except instead of wifi I had an eSIM).

I initially purchased a 10GB plan for $16, which was valid for 30 days. I used nearly all of that and before it expired (end of 30 days). I then topped up (extremely easy to do) for another 5GB for $11, also valid for 30 days. I used 3.5GB of that, and then my trip was over. Since I was using my phone as a hot spot, I'm sure I used more data than the average person.

I did get hit with some additional charges until I figured out how to completely turn off my Verizon SIM (because SMS texts were still pushed to my phone). That was entirely my fault - Airalo provides excellent detailed instructions, I just didn't follow them properly. Once I did that, no problem.

Hopefully this was somewhat helpful - I'm not tech savvy at all, but I'm happy to try to answer any questions if you have them! Have a great trip!

Thanks Bill and Erin! I appreciate you sharing your usage experience and we will definitely will be going with esims.

@Erin E, did you leave the Verizon sim card in your phone for the second month, and avoid charges on it after you followed the instructions Airalo provided? As far as I can tell, the advantage of getting the esim in Europe (Greece, for me, 3 weeks hence) is not having to remove and lose the Verizon sim card. Thanks!