Staying connected to the internet is a basic necessity nowadays for any traveler, especially when planning to travel to Europe. When you go on a long trip navigating through unknown areas or finding the best restaurant, it is preferable to be connected to the internet. Unfortunately, it can still get confusing for travelers to find the best cellular network options when they step outside their country. Hence, in this article, we are covering the topic of getting the cheapest possible data connectivity options in Europe.
Will Your Smartphone Work in Europe?
Most modern days, smartphones can be used all over the world. In fact, every primary cell phone carrier nowadays offers international data plans. You need not change your SIM cards when traveling to a different country. You just have to activate international roaming on the SIM card, and you can use it in Europe. However, remember that many international plans are expensive, so you have to pre-plan it pretty well, or else you will be hit with a massive bill after you return from your travel.
If you do not visit Europe as frequently, it is the easiest way to set up your mobile phone by activating a basic international calling plan and customizing it per your needs. This means you need not change your phone number and can travel with all your contact information, making it easy for folks back home to connect to you.
What are Your Other Options?
When you travel in Europe, there are many places where you can get access to public Wi-Fi, which is usually free. This is the most cost-effective way, as you do not have to pay to be connected, but it is unreliable. But if you have activated an international data plan on your cellular network, connecting to Wi-Fi in public places can help you save money, as most of your online tasks can be done via WI-Fi.
Especially if you wish to download a map or app such as a language translator or ebook reader, then it is wise to download these heavy files via Wi-Fi to save your data.
In fact, most accommodations in Europe offer free Wi-Fi. A few expensive hotels can charge your fee for the same. It may work well in a few accommodations and may be unreliable in others. This means you may be easily able to send an email. But it will be too slow to stream movies or even make video calls. If having free WI-Fi in the room is that important to you, then you must ensure that by calling the hotel before booking it. As soon as you arrive at the hotel desk, ask for the password and network name so you can log in immediately.
The other option you can opt for is to buy a European SIM card, which comes with a prepaid data plan. This also can be considered a much cheaper alternative. The only disadvantage is that you will have to physically go there to get your SIM card changed as soon as you land in Europe. Thankfully, if you own the latest cell phone, such as an iPhone 14, you can use eSIM instead. This means your data plan can be activated even when you are not in Europe, making it more convenient. You do not have to worry about changing your SIM cards, and you will be connected to the internet as soon as you land in Europe.
How can eSIM Help You Stay Connected?
Nowadays, getting hold of SIM cards from different carriers is not a big deal if you have a smartphone that is eSIM enabled. This gives you the flexibility of storing multiple eSIM cards on your phone. This can be a beneficial feature if you have planned your itinerary to travel to various locations. Using esimdb.com, you can figure out the best-unlimited data plan in your destination and get a prepaid eSIM plan even before you reach Europe. If you have to take multiple cellular prepaid connections, you can do that and save all the eSIM cards on your phone. With the help of software, you can switch between these SIM cards, making it very easy to stay connected always.
Conclusion:
Staying connected to the internet during international trips is no longer a luxury but a necessity. A few years back, always staying connected when you are on an international trip would actually dig a hole in your pocket. But nowadays, with multiple cellular networks offering cheap international roaming packages, opting for one has become really convenient. Switching to the local cellular networks of the destination with the help of eSIMs has also made it easy for travelers to pay a few bucks to always stay connected to the WI-Fi. This is especially helpful if you are a backpacker traveling on a limited budget.
