eSIM on vacation: How to stay online affordably with your iPhone
Vacation booked, bags almost packed – and then the question arises: How can I stay online affordably abroad?
In the past, this often meant expensive roaming, buying a local SIM card at the airport, or searching for Wi-Fi on the go. Today, it's much simpler: with an eSIM for your vacation.
An eSIM is a digital SIM card that you install directly on your iPhone. No plastic, no opening the SIM card tray, no paperwork. You buy a data plan before your trip, activate it on your iPhone, and you're online in your travel country.
We'll explain how an eSIM works, how to set it up, what to look out for – and which provider we recommend.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is essentially a SIM card without the card.
Instead of inserting a small plastic SIM into your iPhone, the mobile plan is stored digitally on your device. Apple describes eSIM as a convenient way to use international data plans directly on your iPhone when traveling. You can keep your regular SIM or mobile contract and additionally use a travel eSIM for mobile data.
This is especially practical if you:
- want to use mobile data affordably abroad
- want to keep your Austrian number for calls or SMS
- don't want to search for a local SIM at the airport
- don't want to risk high roaming costs
An eSIM is added directly to the iPhone – without a physical SIM card
Why is an eSIM so practical for vacation?
Especially outside the EU, classic roaming packages can quickly become expensive. A travel eSIM is often easier to plan: you choose the country or region, data volume, and duration – and you know the cost before you leave.
The advantages:
- can be installed before your trip
- no local SIM card needed
- transparent costs
- ideal for navigation, WhatsApp, email, and translation apps
- your regular number remains active
Particularly convenient: You land, activate the eSIM – and can immediately call a taxi, open Google Maps, or message your family that you've arrived.
Important: eSIMs are usually only for mobile data
Many travel eSIMs are pure data plans. This means that internet works, but classic telephony and SMS via this travel eSIM are usually not included.
For most travelers, this is perfectly sufficient, as many things already run over data:
- iMessage
- Google Maps
- Instagram & Co.
- Translation apps
Your Austrian number will still be available on your iPhone – for example, for SMS codes or important calls. It's only important to deactivate data roaming for your main number so that you don't accidentally incur costs.
How to set up an eSIM on your iPhone
Setup is simpler than many think. Depending on the provider, it works via an app, QR code, or manual entry.
On the iPhone, you'll find the eSIM settings here:
- Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM
With travel providers like Saily, the process usually runs directly through the app: download the app, select your destination, buy a plan, install the eSIM, and activate it upon arrival. With Saily, you can install the eSIM directly after purchase so that the plan can automatically activate upon arrival in the chosen travel country.
Many travel eSIMs can be conveniently set up via an app
Our recommendation: install before your trip, activate in the travel country
The best time is usually: install at home at your leisure.
Why? Because you need a stable internet connection for it – and you'll have that more relaxed at home on Wi-Fi than at the airport or in a hotel room.
Our recommendation:
- buy eSIM before your trip
- install eSIM on Wi-Fi
- name the eSIM appropriately, e.g., "Japan Vacation" or "USA Data"
- only select it as the mobile data line in the travel country
- activate data roaming only for the travel eSIM
This prevents stress after landing and reduces the risk of accidentally surfing using your home plan.
The most important settings on the iPhone
To ensure everything works smoothly, you should briefly check these points after installation.
1. Set mobile data to the travel eSIM
Under:
- Settings → Cellular → Mobile Data
you select your travel eSIM as the data line. This way, your iPhone uses the vacation plan for internet.
2. Activate data roaming for the travel eSIM
This sounds strange at first, but it's often necessary with travel eSIMs. The eSIM uses partner networks in the travel country – data roaming must be allowed on this eSIM for this to work.
Important: Activate data roaming only for the travel eSIM, not for your regular Austrian plan.
3. Deactivate data switching
The iPhone can automatically switch between two lines if one connection is weaker. When traveling, we recommend: Deactivate mobile data switching.
This prevents your iPhone from accidentally using your home plan for mobile data again.
4. Use Low Data Mode
If you've purchased a smaller data package, activate Low Data Mode:
- Settings → Cellular → your travel eSIM → Low Data Mode
This reduces background activities and helps you use your data volume for longer.
Important: Specifically assign mobile data to the travel eSIM
What to check before buying
Before you buy an eSIM, quickly check:
- Is your iPhone eSIM-compatible?
- Is your iPhone unlocked? Meaning, not tied to a specific mobile provider.
- Does the plan match the country or region?
- How much data volume do you really need?
- How long is the plan valid?
- Is hotspot/tethering allowed?
For normal use, a few GB are often sufficient. Those who navigate a lot, send photos, use social media, or work with an iPad/MacBook via hotspot should plan more generously.
How much data volume do I need on vacation?
This largely depends on usage habits. As a rough guide:
- 1–3 GB: short trip, WhatsApp, Maps, email
- 5–10 GB: normal vacation trip with navigation, social media, and photos
- 15 GB or more: longer trip, a lot of hotspot use, videos, working on the go
Our tip: Download videos, series, maps, and playlists on Wi-Fi before your trip. This saves a massive amount of data volume on the go.
Our Provider Recommendation: Saily
For many trips, we highly recommend Saily because setup is easy and everything runs conveniently via the app.
Saily offers travel eSIMs for numerous countries and regions, including regional and global plans. According to Saily, you simply select your destination, install the eSIM, and you can get online in the travel country.
Particularly practical:
- easy setup via app
- many countries and regions available
- transparent prepaid data volume
- practical for vacation, business trips, and backpacking
With our code EPOS10, you save 10%.
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Note: This is an affiliate link. If you book through it, we may receive a commission. The price remains the same for you, or even cheaper with code EPOS10.
Our Conclusion: eSIM makes travel significantly more relaxed
An eSIM is one of the easiest ways to stay online with your iPhone while on vacation.
No fiddling with SIM cards, no searching for shops in the travel country, and much better cost control than with classic roaming outside the EU.
If you install your eSIM before your trip, properly set up mobile data, and only activate data roaming for the travel eSIM, you'll be perfectly prepared.
Unsure? We're happy to help you before your trip
If you're not sure whether your iPhone supports eSIM or how to set the settings: Just come by.
In our stores in Dornbirn, Götzis, and Bürs, we'll gladly show you what to look out for – so everything works on your vacation.
View Saily eSIM & save 10% with code EPOS10
