Picture this: the time has come when you’re finally set to take a trip abroad. Months of financial planning and saving have finally paid off. You’re ready to purchase international data plans from your TSP, and are sure that this trip won’t hurt your bank account.
It’s all sunshine and roses until you realize that you haven’t gotten eSIM travel plans. How’s that relevant, you ask? Getting an eSIM and virtual international number is the most efficient way to shield yourself against unplanned financial currents arising from international cellular usage.
Traveling overseas without an eSIM international number can wreak havoc on your bank account in multiple ways.
1. International roaming charges:
Ditching eSIMs and using a regular phone plan from your primary TSP when abroad can often result in high roaming charges. Your carrier will charge you extra for every call, text, and bit of data you use in other countries.
The high costs are due to the need for your carrier to pay fees to the foreign carriers whose networks you’re using. A quick online search for news related to international roaming charges will most likely give you an idea about how costly the mistake of not getting eSIM roaming plans can be.
2. Costlier international data plans from primary TSP:
Your primary TSP may offer international data plans, but these can be more expensive than global e SIM plans. Due to the rising competition in the eSIM industry, more eSIM providers are compelled to negotiate better rates with local carriers in different countries. This leads to the end user, like you, getting a more affordable data package from an eSIM provider compared to your TSP.
Additionally, it can be challenging to estimate your data usage accurately when traveling, which may lead you to feel compelled to overpay for a higher data allowance than you actually need. Conversely, choosing a lower data plan may lead to frequent top-ups, which can shake the budget slightly. This dilemma can be shaken off with an eSIM. An eSIM data roaming plan would enable you to avail yourself of local data pack prices of the country you’re visiting.
Depending on where you’re headed and the exchange rates involved, picking up an eSIM data package could result in significant savings compared to the alternatives. For instance, choosing an eSIM free USA, if you’re travelling to the USA from Brazil, may help you cut down on foreign carrier fees. This is generally because of the difference in currency exchange.
3. Fixing security risks from using public WiFi:
Relying on free public WiFi when abroad can seem like the best trick to avoid spending on eSIM roaming data plans. But, it can quickly turn risky if you’re connected to a network lacking proper security measures.
Public WiFi is often considered a hacker’s playground. When using an unsecured public WiFi despite having the liberty to get a data eSIM plan, an accidental click on the wrong link may cause your device to succumb to a vicious malware or hacking attack. You may have to incur costly repairs to remove the malicious software, which could also necessitate the irretrievable loss of personal data and photos. You may even have to bite the bullet and replace your device outright.
This hassle can be eliminated by getting an eSIM online. An eSIM with a secure data plan would erase the need for you to use public WiFi. This can safeguard your device and data while traveling.
Alternatively, you may want to use a VPN to securely connect to a public network. But that can often require subscriptions more expensive than an eSIM plan. If you’re lucky, you may even find some providers giving a free eSIM plan for the first days of your journey.
The Bottom Line:
If you’re traveling overseas and own an eSIM-compatible device, you should have no reason to overlook the necessity of getting an eSIM or a world SIM card. By making a small investment by buying an eSIM plan, you can save yourself from financial surprises knocking at your door before you reach home.