What Is an eSIM — And Why You Need One for Your Next Trip.
Traveling internationally should feel exciting — not stressful. But the moment you land in a new country and realize you have no data, the stress kicks in fast.
We've been there. And we’ve tried it all — buying local SIM cards, using overpriced travel plans from U.S. carriers, even relying on public Wi-Fi when we couldn’t connect.
If staying online while traveling has ever been a pain for you too, this post is for you.
The Problem With SIM Cards and U.S. Travel Plans
Let’s be real: staying connected abroad used to be a headache.
If you’ve ever tried to buy a local SIM card, you probably dealt with:
Searching for a SIM card shop at the airport
Comparing confusing plans in a foreign language
Waiting in line when you just want to start your trip
Getting scammed outside train stations or kiosks
Having zero data until you figure it out
And if you stick with your U.S. carrier's international travel plan? You will probably pay $10 a day or more for data that barely works. Over a week or two, those charges really add up.
There has to be a better way — and there is.
What Is an eSIM (In Plain Language)
An eSIM is a digital SIM card that lives inside your phone. Instead of going to a store and physically swapping out a little plastic card, you just download a data plan with a few taps — and boom, you’re connected.
There’s no physical chip, no waiting in line, and no getting scammed by shady SIM card vendors at train stations.
📱 Pro tip: If you’ve got a newer phone like the iPhone 15 or 16, you need an eSIM — they don’t even have physical SIM card slots anymore.
Our Favorite eSIM App: Saily
We’ve tested several eSIM providers over the years, but Saily is the one we always come back to.
Other apps often require you to install a new eSIM every time you switch countries, which clutters up your phone fast. On one trip, we ended up with eight different eSIM profiles installed.
Saily fixes that problem entirely — and then some.
Why We Recommend Saily
Here’s why Saily has become our go-to:
Download once: You install one eSIM profile, and it works for every country you visit. Just switch plans inside the app.
Global and regional plans: Whether you're visiting one country or ten, Saily has flexible plans that save you money.
Affordable rates: Avoid those $10/day U.S. carrier fees. Saily offers data in 200+ countries at a fraction of the cost.
8 regional plans: Great for backpackers or multi-country trips.
Security features: Protect your data with ad blocking, virtual location changes, and web safety tools.
Works on iOS and Android: Compatible with most modern smartphones.
24/7 support + full refunds: Their customer support is available anytime, and you’ll get a full refund if your device isn’t compatible.
Saily just works. It’s one of the easiest ways to solve every phone-related travel problem you’ve probably faced.
How to Get Started with Saily
Getting connected with Saily is as simple as it gets:
Download the Saily app from the App Store or Google Play
Choose your destination (or a regional/global plan)
Install the eSIM — it only takes a few taps and you only have to do it once
Activate your data and when you land you land in your destination you will automatically be connected to a local network!
No lines, no SIM cards, no stress!
Ready to Travel Without Phone Stress?
Skip the $10-a-day roaming charges. Avoid the SIM card scavenger hunt. And stay connected wherever you go — instantly.
Download the Saily app and use our code EVANANDLEMON for 15% off your first eSIM plan.
Once you try it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t switch sooner.
