We are going to Spain April-May for 9 days. My T-Mobile iPhone will work there but at very slow speeds unless I get a 10 day travel plan which is fine. I was just curious as my phone has dual SIM capability with eSIM as its second SIM. I know those are added without a physical SIM card and therefore can be purchased in advance but I am curious if they are cheap like regular SIM cards if purchased at a phone store in Spain. Not really consequential in the big picture but I am trying to understand how these things work. Thank you in advance.
Posted by
Hudson Valley
2267 posts
I've been curious about this same topic, and your question got me googling.
Apple's (i have an iPhone) page on eSIMs has a link to carriers that support them by country. The three largest carriers there, MoviStar, Vodafon, and Orange, all say the same thing—that you activate an eSIM you have to go to one of their stores. They seem to have missed one of the technology's major advantages! MoviStar charges 15 euro, and as I understand, Vodaphone only charges if you want to convert an eSIM to a nano.
Posted by
TX, USA
4134 posts
Posted by
OP
48 posts
Yes travelmom it helps a lot. It is important to say that phones must be unlocked (paid for) to accommodate the eSIM and some cell companies penalize you for prepaying off your phone like mine does (discount from new phone purchase disappears). Much easier for the next 21/2 years for me to just say yes on arrival in Europe when the high speed travel plan offer from T-MOBILE comes up on my phone.
Posted by
Tuscaloosa, AL
1152 posts
JayKay, I agree with your conclusion that it will likely be easier to just pay the extra to upgrade your speed with T-Mobile than to try to add a foreign SIM.
I wanted to mention that what I did was to convert my U.S. T-Mobile SIM to an eSIM on my phone. That leaves me with an open SIM card slot that I can use to insert whatever SIM I want to. I assume that step may make it easier to add a foreign number when I think it would be helpful.
Posted by
Ponte Vedra, Florida
34 posts
What is a 10 day travel plan with T-Mobile? I'm looking into that as well. Options to communicate with our Airbnb person. They didn't mention that. Only a plan for 50.00 I could add for one month charge. TY
Posted by
OP
48 posts
I think it goes daily after the week. T-Mobile International Pass: 512MB of high-speed data at up to LTE speeds and unlimited calling, to be used up to 24 hours, for $5/day, 5 GB for 7 days $25. 10 days = $25 + (3 x $5) = $40. A little better. I will be using 9 d/$35.