Hello!
We will be renting a car and traveling through Scotland for three weeks in May. I want to get a SIM card (physical card or E-Sim) in order to have data while on the road. Especially will want to use Google Maps. Does anyone have recommendations on the best SIM card with connectivity in the Highlands?
Thanks!
Hello Helen,
We have successfully used GiffGaff esim while in Scotland. It was inexpensive and reliable. I'm sure other forum members will weigh in with their recommendations.
First, be sure your phone is unlocked. if you got it free from a carrier, it probably is not unlocked, and would not work with another sim or esim.
Lots of folks here like Airalo. Esim only. Pretty inexpensive. Cost more if you get an esim with a U.K. phone number, but you probably don't need that. You can use Whatsapp or Google Voice.
Myself, I like Roamless or BCengi. They are true Paygo (Pay As You Go). That means I give them $10 or $20 to add to my "digital wallet". This money never expires. As I use data, money is deducted from my digital wallet, at $1.58/Gb for BCengi, and $2.45/Gb for Roamless. Next year, I can use any leftover money for whatever country I visit. They each work in some 200 countries, but you would want to check what the cost / Gb is, as some countries are quite expensive.
In the past, I've used GiffGaff, and it worked fine also.
EE has in my experience widest coverge but I am happy with Giffgaff, I ran dual Sim for several years.
Giffgaff make sure to buy a Goodybag rather than just crediting your account.
Set up for a Sim to become active takes bare minutes.You can buy paper vouchers at most supermarkets if you don't want to use a bank card.
My understanding is that EE has the emergency services contact for the Highlands. It's the network that we use and we have good coverage (Skye and wider Highlands). An e-sim is the way to go.
