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Rant: I was paying way too much for SIM cards in every new country
For the first year, I'd land, find a kiosk, and pay about $30 for a local SIM and a small data plan. Last month in Lisbon, I was tired of the hassle and bought a global eSIM from a company called Airalo for $9. It gave me 1GB for a week and worked right when I landed. I'm torn because it's way simpler, but the data runs out faster than a local plan. Has anyone else switched to eSIMs full time, or do you still hunt for the local deals?
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rosew3718d ago
Oh, the local SIM hunt is such a pain (and those airport kiosks are the worst for prices). I've been using eSIMs for a while, but I wouldn't say they run out faster. It's more that you're paying for short, small packs. That $9 for 1GB is a lot per gig compared to, say, a 10 euro local plan in Portugal that might give you 10 times the data. So for a long trip, the local SIM still wins on price, hands down. The eSIM is just pure convenience tax.
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seanh9118d ago
Wait, you were paying $30 at airport kiosks? That's brutal. Rosew37 is right about the local plan being cheaper for longer trips, but that initial price is a total scam.
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