Hello,
We are going to Scotland in March and spend 4 weeks there. We are on google fi Simply Unlimited plan which means when we travel internationally, there is no data or free text while not on wifi. We are considering to get SIM cards for our phones to browse, and use GPS etc when we are out and about. We will be staying in Inverness area and mainly explore highlands. What is the best way to get sim cards or esim cards? Thank you !
Sabrina
Most corner stores and all supermarkets will have a range of SIMs from different operators
Typically £10 ,1 month package should get you thru.
Typically activation goes thru wihin 5 mins,I have set up dozens of phones..
I have a liking for Giffgaff used them a long time including my last 10 month trip in Scotland.
With giffgaff, make sure to convert your £10 payment into a Goodybag,its far far better value.
If you hit a problem I can highly recomend the guys at Highland Mobile , excellent service used them a time or two.
You might want to check your US phone is compatible with UK mobile bands...its way more complex than it used to be
In case it's an option for you, Google Fi easily allows you to switch plans. You could switch to the Unlimited Plus plan (happens immediately) which gives you unlimited international data in their 200+ destinations. Or, you can switch to the Flexible Plan, which bills for the amount of data you use. That switch happens only at the beginning of a billing cycle.
After your trip, you can then switch back, though again a switch may not happen until the beginning of a billing cycle.
I used the Google Fi Flexible Plan successfully in quite a few countries, though not Scotland. They will use whichever towers are available, so if there is service to be had, you should have it.
You can make these switches in the Google Fi app on your phone.
Check if your plan/phone allows esims. I have a GiffGaff esim on my Samsung and can sign up for a 30 day use ($12/mo) before a trip. The clock starts as soon as you enable the esim (or install the Sim) or top up your plan. The esim can be delivered in advance online (just a few hours) to your existing number or you can have them mail you a Sim (takes 1-2 weeks).
As mentioned, every sizeable town has mobile stores that will install an eSim or Sim for you. The downside is not knowing your phone number in advance, so you can let people know and add a second number to bank profiles, etc.
Thank you everyone :) I am going to looking into these options this weekend. Have a great weekend :)
I tried to create an account with Giffgaff, but it does not seem to offer eSim? the only option i saw was order a sim or free sim when you signed up an account. Where does everyone find eSim option? Thank you!
SS, I bought a GiffGaff sim on ebay a year ago, it cost about $1.25. It shipped from Paris, and arrived in 15 days. No problem activating it online. Worked ok when I arrive in Ireland, although it was roaming in Ireland. Calls and text were cheap but not free.
After reading your post, I looked online, and read that you needed to use the phone app to order an esim. Today, I logged into my GiffGaff account using my phone app, and saw no mention of getting an esim. Might be because I already have an active sim with a phone number?
So I still don't know how to get a GiffGaff esim...
https://help.giffgaff.com/en/articles/240404-how-do-i-get-an-esim-on-giffgaff
Check the video for new customers. Were you look8ng on the app?
Most corner stores and all supermarkets will have a range of SIMs from different operators
We were unable, as US citizens, to secure SIMs from Tesco or Lidl while in the UK. Those offerings appear to be limited to UK residents. We also weren't able to secure plans from 3, O2 or the other main players. We did, however, manage to get a plan for my wife at Vodaphone. YMMV.
I would add my voice to just changing your Google Fi plan temporarily. It's easy, and it worked for us in Netherlands and France just fine. We'll be traveling to Scotland in June, and plan to do the same thing again. Convenience is worth a bit, too.
