Travelling to Europe in April have Apple phones and need help trying to figure out how to use them over there? Other than Telus out of country plan any help re switching out and understanding how to buy and switch out SIM cards would be appreciated by this senior:)

Frank Nolte
Many current apple phones take a e-simm( downloadable). Amazon carries a lot of inexpensive one that cover all of Europe. Used on last fall. If e-simm not an option there are lots of simms you can buy on Amazon for Europe. I used the 3+ from the UK and it worked just fine.

Frank Nolte

I usually go to an o2 mobile store in the UK and buy a SIM card. It’s way cheaper and most of them give you coverage throughout Europe

I don't live in the Apple universe, but there should be an esim pre-installed on your phone. If you download the Airolo app, you can use the esim to buy data packages anywhere in the world. I just got back from South America and it worked wonderfully. I have heard from friends that a global package works well if you're traveling to multiple countries in Europe. The main 'catch' is that you can't use your phone number while away, but that is easily resolved by getting set up on whatsapp before you leave. Hope that helps!

Theresa Hey! do you know if your phone needs to be unlocked to use Airolo? Thanks for the help!

Joelle Don't know. But you can google your make and model to see if it has an esim. As far as I know, that's all you need.

With apple now you can buy a virtual sim card. No switching, just an app. Pretty cool

Madony what’s the app!? That’s cool.

Danielle airalo

Madony thx

I have used airalo app on my iPhone with great success to setup eSim and purchase Data in foreign country well before my trip. And have it working as soon plane touchdowns!

Sergio same! Works great in Europe and CHEAP!

If your phone supports an esim, that is the easiest. You can buy and install it in Canada before you leave and it takes effect as soon as you land in Europe. Plus, you will still have access to your Canadian phone number if you need it.

Lori where do you purchase esim?

Kristin Sehn you can buy them online. I personally haven’t used one but I have seen this company recommended a lot. https://www.airalo.com/canada-esim...
AIRALO.COM
Canada eSIM, from $6 | World’s first eSIM store · airalo

Colleen thank you!!

Kristin Sehn have used airlo. Shop around as it’s not like Canada where there are only the big three. Super easy, app does everything for you

Colleen I have used this one. Zero problems and much cheaper than our phone provider international plans.

I used the orange app , bought an esim plan for 2weeks through 4 countries. No need to take out your current SIM card. So easy and cheap, never going back to switching out an esim card. The app will even tell you if your phone is compatible.

Colleen Hey! Do you know if your phone needs to be unlocked for this?

Joelle not sure. I think for iPhones you have to have at least an iPhone 11 but could be wrong. It needs to be dual sim compatible

Rochelle once installed you don’t get charged in your regular phone carrier?

Kristin Sehn best to go to.your provider and have them program your canadian number in as an esim for you you if you are a bit techno challenged. If you are dual sim capable, get your canadian number as an e sim. Then when you get to your destination buy a sim card with internation capabilities and insert it. Your contacts and everything on your phone remain as always was. You can then choose to use both or shut off the canadian one till you get home.

I can vouch that I used airolo in France last summer with no problem on my iPhone!

Canada is the most expensive country in the world with cell phones by a sim card in the country don't top up your plan in canada

I just purchased a ee SIM card in a scotland airport. 25 pounds for 30 gbs of data. Foot in the UK and EU. Was really easy to switch, just take out the old SIM card and put the new one in. Switch them back when you get home.

I got mine at a convenience store called WH Smith

Use airplane mode once on airplane in Canada. Once in UK airport arrival . Goto store get prepaid card. Then have the staff there help u get the canadian sim out and turn off airplane mode. Remember to see how it is done . When leaving UK . Place phone in airplane mode in airplane before liftoff. Once u land in Canada . Use small paperclip . Remove UK sim. Replace Telus sim. Turn off airplane mode.

I bought a sim card in Italy for $50. Had a huge number of gigabytes 40 I think which I barely dented in two weeks. So could easily use data and never got lost. When you change the sim card everything stays on your phone. Just phone portion doesnt work. In europe many people and businesses use whats app. Messenger works but messages (your north american phone number) doesnt work. Also did this recently in mexico. Next time I will try an esim. No more data overcharges and $15 a day roaming fees!

Depending on where you go - check which sim card you need. I'll have to purchase 2 when we go because the UK and the rest of Europe function on different systems.

Lori i purchased ee sim in Scotland and it works in the UK and EU! Was a surprise for me, I thought I would need two as well

Tiana Phillips oh thanks! I'll check it out before we leave!
I've had other friends who needed two!

Same boat here, but for Florida. Some phones run dual sim and have esim. You chose which SIM to use. Through research, T-Mobil sim was the best choice. Samsung S23 Ultra.

As discussed, switch out the sim card. However the first time, go to the provider instead of the grocery store as they will install it and most important, initialize it so it will work longer than 1 day. Speaking from senior experience, and not realizing you need to phone in to verify the card not just install it.

When you land most airports have a place right in them that will switch out the SIM and set your phone up… put your SIM in a safe and rememberable place ( I usually put it in a piece of tape and tape it to my kids pic behind my wallet pic (if that makes sence lol ) or cheaper once out of airport go to a store (ask a local) and get a sim there… where in Europe? Where are you landing?

Just a tip that we learned on our trip. Don’t use a SIM card on a phone that you may use for telephone banking or other important things that may need to send you a text to verify your identity.
It changes your phone number.
We had issues with online banking because it changed my phone number.
We didn’t think we would need online banking while away but we did

Amber this is if you use a physical sim. But virtual / esim it’s not.

Nikkei yes that is why I said sim not esim.

Same question but for someone spending a month in Arizona. Bell charges $12 a day to access your data through their ‘roam better’ plan.

All we did was pay our Telus $10 a day. Phone worked as usual

Marjie that must have been some time ago. It’s 16.00 a day now:)

Sue it’s $8 on some plans

Following. In the same boat! Lol

Depending on your phone you may also be able to get virtual sim cards which means no switching out!

Amazon sells European SIM cards. I picked one up for around $30 and it included 15 GB data and 100 minutes to Canada/US. I swapped them out on the flight over and swapped them back on the way home. You can buy eSIM’s as well on Amazon but they seemed to be a little more expensive for some reason.

I was in the UK and France in January. I used an airalo Esim it’s a travelling game changer. If you want a discount code send me a message.

SIM card I picked one up in Ireland for $25 gave me all the data and calling I needed for 33 days

Hi! I just lived in London for the last year and know a lot about sims etc… from over there. I actually have a brand new SIM card here that I was just about to toss. Pm me if youre interested!

I bought simcard from Amazon. It covers most EU countries and UK. Includes data and minutes.

The easiest and cheapest solution is buying a new SIM card when you land at your destination and replacing it with your original card when you return home. The only downside is having to ensure your important contacts get your new temporary phone number.

I have enabled wifi calling and texting - this way I just log into any wifi and can message and chat like at home. I also have an international pay as I go and if I access it it is $10 for my normal plan for a 24 hr time.