Greetings fellow travelers. My wife and I are visiting Scotland in September. Our itinerary includes five nights in Edinburgh, five in Inverness, three in Portree, three in Oban, and one more in Edinburgh. Beyond thoughts on this particular itinerary, we're wondering if anyone has a suggestion for phone service while in Scotland. We have iPhones and we're on a T-Mobile plan here in the U.S. We're thinking of pre-purchasing an eSim from one of the UK or Euro carriers rather than buying a T-Mobile travel plan. I'm about confused about the need for calling and texting as well as data for internet streaming while in Scotland... do we need calling and texting or just data? Are there any eSIM plans for Scotland or UK that make the most sense in either case?
Posted by
Duluth, MN🌲
12583 posts
So do you not have the T-Mobile international plan that's free? I have a T-Mobile plan, and I get free international data while I'm traveling up to a certain point. Once I've used enough data, they cap it to a certain speed, and at that point it gets really slow until my bill cycle starts again. But I don't think every T-Mobile plan has that. Regardless, I would definitely check into that.
Otherwise, yes, I would probably get an eSIM, although you do not need to get an eSIM with a phone number. There's no real reason to call, and in all my multiple trips across the continent, I've never had to make a phone call. I use WhatsApp to keep in touch with businesses if possible, and most of them have a WhatsApp number. Keep in mind that you can text but you need to text while you have Wi-Fi available. You can also contact family back home by using either FaceTime, audio, or WhatsApp, or Skype, but again, you have to do it while you have wifi. I will usually contact my family or friends if I need to while I'm in the hotel room in the evening.
So, in a nutshell, just look for an eSIM that gives you a good data plan for 18 days. I've used Airalo in the past, and I've been very happy with them. This time I'm going with Bcengi, which is a pay-as-you-go plan. I prefer that since it stays with me all the time and I don't have to keep topping it off or buying a new plan every time I travel. Unless you travel a lot, you're probably fine with Airalo.
One other thing, check the prices. Think about how much data you use at home, and that's probably about how much you'll use, with maybe a bit extra. You might want to add on some to it because you'll be using GPS a lot more if you're driving, but don't overbuy data.
Posted by
San Francisco area
2034 posts
https://www.giffgaff.com/sim-only-deals/pay-as-you-go
I’ve been using Giffgaff for the last few trips. Get a pay as you go plan and turn off auto reload. £10 for 15GB or a little more for 25GB. Comes with a UK phone number and an allotment of calls and local texts. For iPhones I strongly suggetyusing their app to buy the plan and set up the eSIM on your phone.
Enjoy Scotland!
Posted by
Freedonia
19179 posts
Check your T-Mobile plan. It may come with international service. Mine does. I get free data and texting and calls are 25 cents/minute.
In the UK, T-Mobile data is slow. The texting and phone calls work fine.
What I usually do is wait until I am on my hotel wifi to make actual calls via Google Voice. It's much cheaper than using T-Mobile. I don't make that many calls.
The only thing I really use data for when out and about is Google Maps and occassionally looking something up on the internet. Sometimes I can find a store/restaurant/cafe/museum/etc that has free wifi and connect there.
I've tried two esims in Scotland--Airalo and Roamless. Neither performed that great or much better than what I get from T-Mobile.
Posted by
Isle of Skye, Scotland
1704 posts
It might be worth mentioning that in remote areas, such as the Highlands and Islands, EE tends to be the most reliable network. This is because it operates the UK's emergency services network. Coverage tends to be much better than other networks. In fact I don't know anyone here in Skye who isn't on EE.
Posted by
Duluth, MN🌲
12583 posts
For what it's worth, when I was in Scotland, I used my T-Mobile plan and I had excellent service the entire time I was there, even when I was out on the water. I was really impressed. I had read that Scotland updated a lot of their cellular towers a few years before. Jackie, you might know more about that, but whatever it was, it worked.
Posted by
Isle of Skye, Scotland
1704 posts
Mardee
As far as I know most of the new cell masts are connected with the upgrading of the emergency services network, which is EE. But good to her T Mobile worked for you. I think 3 and Vodafone are less reliable.
Jacqui
Posted by
Mountains of S. Oregon
1194 posts
we recently were in Shetland, Orkney, and Uist and Giffgaff O2 network was useless. My home carrier is Mint (t-mobile) and I just spent the $2/day with them and had data most of the time. we use a dashboard GPS so navigation works everwhere.
Posted by
US
406 posts
I will be in Scotland this July for three weeks, with many days at Glencoe, Lewis and Harris. At the EE site, there is UK eSIM for visitors.
https://ee.co.uk/mobile/travel-esim-uk
The £30 30 days pass with unlimited data is more expensive than many online offers (with other carriers). But worth it if it is reliable outside the major cities.