Originally Posted: September 2023
Backpacking trips are usually regarded as a time to disconnect from technology, but foreign travel requires some degree of connectivity for tasks such as checking into flights, booking train tickets, getting directions, and checking email. Connectivity becomes even more important for inter-personal communication when travelling with a large group of people.
For our first few international trips, Eileen and I chose to use only WiFi connections. The international cellphone plans offered by our domestic carrier are very expensive, whereas free WiFi is available at many establishments in most developed areas. While traveling through a city, we found that WiFi was adequately convenient and functional; once even slightly out of range, however, we were effectively off the grid.
Recently, we were introduced to eSIM cards for cellphones. These virtual SIM cards can be purchased online at a reasonable price and then managed through the settings on your cellphone. Most eSIM vendors offer options regarding validity duration (7 days, 15 days, 30 days, etc.), data limits (2 GB, 5 GB, 20 GB, etc.), and geographic coverage (single-country or multi-country). After purchasing and downloading a card, you can delay the activation until it is needed.
On our recent Haute Route trek through Switzerland, everyone in our eight-person group had an eSIM card. Whether in towns or on the trail, we were able to stay connected via WhatsApp texting and calling features, and also use location-sharing to see each other’s whereabouts. In addition, we could use our phones to access the internet for buying tickets, getting weather forecasts, and many other purposes. This connectivity was critical to the success of our trek.
Our daughter, Brooke, has been using eSIM cards for a while now and introduced us to her favorite source for cards: Airalo. Most of our Haute Route group used Airalo and had a very positive experience in terms of both functionality and customer service. You can get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack by using the code JAMES6603 at signup or checkout.
Be aware that some older cellphones might not be compatible with eSIM cards. Here is a list of current eSIM-compatible cellphones.
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