Guide to using eSim on Holiday - How to Use eSim Mobile Data
- SuperSavvySavers
- May 16
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 14
Are you looking forward to a holiday abroad but dreading those dreadfully expensive roaming charges? Staying connected can feel like a holiday add-on many of us can't afford.
Say hello to eSims – the savvy traveller's secret to cheap and easy connectivity. If you're tired of your network's hefty roaming fees, eSims are here to rescue your holiday. They offer the freedom to switch to a more budget-friendly provider whilst you're travelling, allowing you to download, stream, and stay connected without the fear of a shocking bill on your return.
Using an eSIM while on holiday is one of the easiest ways to save money and stay connected when traveling. Instead of paying expensive international roaming fees, you can simply download a local or travel data plan directly to your phone at a much lower cost.
eSIMs allow you to use data as soon as you land in your destination - no need to hunt for a physical SIM card provider. Plus, you can keep your original number active for messages and verification codes while using the cheaper travel data plan in the background. It’s flexible, convenient, budget-friendly, and perfect for travellers who want to stay online without overspending.
If you're traveling soon, you should consider using an eSIM to cut your roaming costs and stay connected for less. This quick travel hack will save you money!
Here's how an eSIM data package made our holiday!
We recently returned from a family holiday in Italy. As you can guess, we like to find the best deals not just whilst we're on holiday, but we also research before we go so we can make the most of all of our trips to cram in excellent value for our money! We'll do a full review of our Italy trip soon including our visits to Genoa (Genova), Pisa and Livorno (tourist photos at leaning tower of Pisa are a must! 😂)
But before anyone heads off for some festive fun, half term break, some summer sunshine, or a cheeky midweek getaway, we wanted to share our TOP TIP when travelling!
Get Yourself an eSIM! ✈️
💡 TOP TRAVEL TIP! Before we left home to head off for our holiday we bought an eSim online through Maya Mobile. If you don't know what an eSim is... it's basically a Sim card for your mobile phone (but electronic) which gives you access to mobile data you can use on your mobile phone whilst you're out of reach of your local mobile phone contractor.
I splashed out and bought an UNLIMITED European data package with Maya Mobile for £25 (cheaper options available) and it was AMAZING!! It just worked 🤩
In fact, we probably didn't need the unlimited package, but we didn't actually have any idea of how much data we were likely to use which was the main reason we went unlimited. We could probably opt for one of the cheaper packages the next time as we only actually used 1.2GB of mobile data for the entire week we were in Italy! Just to give you a comparison, prices start at just £3.99 for 5GB of data for 5 days or £4.99 for 5GB for 10 days - so in hindsight we could probably of got away with buying the 5GB for 10 days at £4.99 - but we didn't know that at the time!
Why do you need eSim mobile data on holiday?
We've always generally relied on hotel Wifi on previous trips. We usually download all the info we think we need before we go and just log on to Wifi whilst in our hotel or restaurants or museums we stop at that provide free Wifi. However this time we were travelling to three different locations within one week, and I really wanted to maximise our time during the trip and do a little off-piste exploring. A few friends had previously mentioned they had used eSIMs whilst travelling, so I thought we'd give it a go.
We used Google Maps a LOT whilst we were away to find our way around. Within our one week trip we had planned to visit three different locations, Genoa, Pisa and Livorno. We had a loose itinerary of things we wanted to see and do, but this time instead of precisely planning everything, we used Maps when we were at one of our must see locations and searched the local area for other things to do and places to see.
Maps was great for finding local supermarkets, restaurants and places of interest in our area. Then when we needed to head off to another location or back to the hotel, Maps gave us the quickest walking routes, taxi journeys and even told us when the next bus was due to arrive and where the nearest stop was! Having unlimited mobile data made our family trip more adventurous rather than sticking to a well planned itinerary.
The total game changer moment of having unlimited mobile data came at the train station... we had planned to catch a train from Pisa to Livorno just a 20 minute train journey. We booked the train tickets in advance the day before (it's cheaper!) but we arrived at the station a little bit too early. We spotted an earlier train heading for Livorno coming in to Platform 5. I quick looked up my confirmation email and saw a 'Manage Booking' option... clicked the link which took me to my online booking and within moments I'd managed to change our train tickets to the earlier train and hopped aboard! Boom - no hanging around the train station unnecessarily for another half an hour 💖
It didn't take us long to visit Livorno (that's a whole other story!) Unfortunately we'd envisaged the place to be warm and welcoming with lovely things to see and do. But the reality was the most unfriendly, anti-tourist dump of a place we've ever visited and we couldn't get out of there quick enough! So again, I hopped online and managed to change our train tickets to an earlier time. A much earlier time! (I'll write about our Livorno experience another day... but right now I'm still trying to forget all about it ! 😆) so I was super thankful for the ability to quick jump online and get us the heck out of there!
Having unlimited mobile data also proved super useful whilst eating out at restaurants. Many of the restaurants we visited (especially in Pisa) didn't hand out a printed menu. Instead you were requested to scan a QR code located on your table using your mobile phone which brings up the menu on your phone for you to read - although I'm sure the restaurants had printed menus if needed, you'd just have to ask.
The kids loved the unlimited mobile data package too, as they could connect to my mobile data via the 'personal hotspot' functionality on my mobile phone (I believe it's called 'hotspotting'?!). They managed to log into Netflix and watch a movie whilst on the train from Genoa to Pisa. Brownie points for mum! 💖
That's just a few of the many benefits we discovered from purchasing eSim with unlimited mobile data to use whilst on holiday. You will of course have your own reasons and will no doubt discover your own benefits for using eSim mobile data, maybe even for a few things you hadn't considered before leaving home! Let us know in the comments below! 👍
Maya Mobile eSim Data Plans
Maya Mobile is a recognised eSIM provider that is dedicated to delivering convenient, flexible, and cost-effective solutions. They offer a variety of plans, from basic, low-cost data options to comprehensive unlimited data packages that span 200+ countries and regions, including Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
There are various eSim companies to choose from these days, but having used Maya Mobile ourselves we can personally highly recommend purchasing an eSim with Maya Mobile. They have various options and packages to choose from and you can set up everything on your mobile phone well in advance of your travel date, so no panics before you head off on your travels.
We purchased our eSim with Maya Mobile about a week before we were due to travel. You simply put in your travel dates (or dates you need to use your data). You'll receive an email straight away with instructions on how to 'install the eSim to your mobile phone'. You can install the eSim in advance and the data will 'turn on' on the morning of your chosen travel date. I've never used an eSim before but I found it all very straight forward and easy to do. I honestly wouldn't leave home without having an eSim installed ever again! 🤩
What is an eSIM?
An eSim, or electronic Sim, is a digital Sim that allows devices to access a mobile (cellular) service without needing a physical Sim card. This technology lets users switch operators and mobile plans digitally, often more easily than traditional Sim cards.
The Maya Mobile unlimited eSim mobile data plans offer complete peace of mind whilst you're on holiday or travelling within the UK, Europe or worldwide!
And you'll never get lost with Maps in your pocket!
How to Install an eSIM
Check device compatibility: Ensure your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked.
Get an eSIM QR code or activation details: Your mobile carrier e.g. Maya Mobile will provide a QR code, activation code, or an app-based setup.
Open your phone’s eSIM settings:
iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM
Android (varies): Settings → Connections/Network → SIM Manager → Add eSIM
Scan the QR code or enter details: Use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code or manually enter the activation code from your carrier.
Follow on-screen steps: Your phone will download the eSIM profile and activate the plan.
Restart if needed: Some devices require a quick reboot to finalise activation.
Full instructions on how to install a Maya Mobile eSIM can be found on the Maya website here - How to install an eSIM. You will receive installation instructions in your welcome email when booking.
Happy Travels & Stay Connected!
#SuperSavvySavers #moneysavingtips #savemoney #traveltips #esim #mobiledata #budgetholiday #holidaytips #budgettravel #valueformoney
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