Orange eSim update after Trip #2:
I was going to wait to post this after I finished my trip but since jmhiggens2 asked….. :)
I am finishing week 4 of a 5 week trip mostly in Scotland but about 10 or 11 days down into England. For this trip, I purchased the Orange Holiday Europe eSim for all of Europe, but it said it also included the U.K. It cost more at $49. However it had a ton of data, and the promo said I could keep the telephone # for 6 months if I registered it. Great! I am going to be traveling a LOT in the second 6 months of this year.
Installation went just as easily as the time I used it in March, although it was a touch different. The email with the QR code came quickly (and went to my Spam folder) - I was never asked for a beginning date. However I just waited to set it up till the day before I left and turned it off till landing. Again, good for 14 days, but for some reason I thought/hoped I could keep the data going after that, along with the phone #, if I registered it with 30 days.
And I will say it all worked just fine for 14 days. The phone number was French so I had to figure out how to call Edinburgh from France while standing in the middle of Edinburgh. Lol. But it was all fine and I was glad to have it.
After 7 days I began trying to register the number (required by law in order to keep it). I used the link Orange texted me. The first thing it asked for was the sim # - which I had not received in my info emails. So I messaged the help line and was sent the sim number.
However, I tried numerous times for a week and always got the message that the sim # and phone # did not match. I messaged help again (three times). The first time they asked for screenshots, which I sent - and after that just never replied again.
At this point I had access to neither phone nor data. And I had 3 more weeks of trip left. So I did the easy thing and just bought a 30 day Airalo data package of 3 Gigs for $13 (via WiFi at my B&B) and wrote off the wasted money as “research”. Ha! It installed just as easily. So I have been without a phone number for 2 weeks, but had plenty of data. Tomorrow morning will be the first time I miss the phone but I can work around it.
Conclusion:
- the Orange eSim worked for 14 days just fine, just like the first
time.
- It does say data expires after 14 days, so that was my
misunderstanding.
- The smaller plan would have been cheaper and
reasonable, included a set number of minutes both within Europe and
to the U.S. if needed, plus data, and supposedly the telephone number
could be kept for 6 months if registered. Same as the more expensive
plan.
- All plans seem to allow for tethering (hotspotting).
- So, I am still on the hunt for what I want - an eSim that gives me data and a phone number that lasts more than 14 days.
I am going to write a different post trying to consolidate info on phone use and possibilities and parameters and why I like this route - but not tonight. Ha! I did get and bring a gif gaff sim that I could have bought an inexpensive bundle for and used - but right now, my priorities put not having to stay up with that little physical U.S. sim card over having a phone number.
jmhiggens2, I have not come across anything that indicates a family plan, except for the ability to tether for data use. And I don’t think that’s what you want. My suggestion for the girls would be a smaller Airalo data package for each of them, as long as their phones are unlocked and have eSim capability. They can stay up with home and you and each other with that. And yes, they will be happier. :) And you can either add data or just buy a new package if needed.
