Using eSim in Europe

Hi, geraldine,

I have used Airalo eSIMs in the past, and found them very easy to install and activate. Every company is a little different, though, so it pays to look at the instructions for each one. With Airalo, you have to download the app, purchase the eSIM and then install it one of several ways (using a QR code, manually and so on). And it's also easy to top off but with Airalo, the eSIM must be rechargeable, so make sure you check that before you purchase.

Which eSIM are you planning to use?

Hello Mardee,
Thank you for your reply. I plan to use Vodafone which I have used in the past using the regular SIM. I feel better knowing that your experience using eSim seems to have been easy. The instructions are straightforward quite like you described it. Again, thank you!

thanks for posting this. i too buy their physical sim cards on my trips. didn't know vodaphone offered esims. i looked at their website and learned only data is available, no calls or texts. that's a deal breaker for me because i need to communicate with my airbnb hosts as i move from one place to the next.

geraldine, glad it helped you! Sorry, I just now saw that you mentioned Vodafone in your initial post. Good luck with it and have a great trip!

alomaker, that is true of many eSIMs, although there are some that offer a phone number. I have found that most Airbnbs and other places in Europe use WhatsApp, which you can call from for free.

Thank you Mardee! Update: I just purchased and installed the Vodafone eSim. It was seamless. The customer support using the Chat option was also very helpful to ensure I did everything right and the person reinstated on how to activate once I land in Europe. I will update once I have done it.

While most Airb&bs use WhatsApp, some don’t as we learned on our recent trip. We were able to communicate through the booking.com app. In smaller towns we found there was no Uber and no taxi app so we were unable to call for a ride. Luckily the apartment hosts made the calls for us since we were in the historic district pedestrian streets with no roving taxis. So there can be a downside to data only.

I was also wondering about how to call for emergency services in the unlikely event they would be needed.

Nomad, a supplier of data-only eSIMs, has an excellent blog on emergency calls when one uses their (or other similar) products: https://www.getnomad.app/blog/emergency-calls-data-only-sim

Update: activating Vodaphone eSIM here in Iceland was seamless. Any questions you can always email customer service and they responded quickly.