Holafly eSIM Review: The Best eSIM for Travel?

After 10 years of travelling, I’ve only just used an eSIM for the first time (bit late to the party, I know). In the past, I’ve always purchased local SIM cards in every country, having to allow time at the airport to set up a new SIM before heading to my hostel. However, I recently tried Holafly’s unlimited data eSIM for my trip to Central Asia and I think I’ve been converted.

While local SIMs are generally cheaper, I’ve discovered that eSIMs offer an unmatched convenience and ease of use that is perfect for people who travel for extended periods of time (like me).

In this post, I’m sharing my honest Holafly eSIM review, including how to set it up, their plans for different destinations, and what I really think are the pros and cons of eSIMs for international travel.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I received a free eSIM and financial compensation for my partnership with Holafly in Central Asia, but all information provided in this post is true and based on my own personal experience.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means I get a commission if you buy a product through my link at no extra cost to you. By doing so, I can keep this blog going and continue to create helpful guides for you. Read more: Privacy Policy

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM works basically the same as a regular SIM but without the physical card. Instead of inserting the SIM card into your phone, an eSIM is automatically embedded into your device, so all you need to do is install and activate it. It’s as simple as it sounds.

There are several eSIM companies offering international plans for travelling, including Holafly, Airalo, and Saily. For this trip, I tried Holafly for my first eSIM experience.

Why I Always Get a SIM Card for Travelling

For all the good and the bad, smartphones have become an essential tool in our lives, including when we travel abroad. From staying connected with family and friends, to booking hostels on the go, or searching for a good place to eat, having data on your phone while overseas makes the experience so much easier.

However, paying for roaming charges with your home service provider is almost always quite expensive, with daily charges that quickly add up. For this reason, I usually get a local SIM card upon arriving in a new country. This allows me to use my phone while travelling without paying too much.

However, now that eSIMs are easy to set up and work in almost every country, it makes the process much more simple. This way you can stay connected at all times, from the minute you leave your home country.

What is the Holafly eSIM Setup Process?

1. Go to either esim.holafly.com or the Holafly app (I personally prefer the app)
2. Choose the destination or region that you’re travelling to and how many days you need 
3. Use my discount code: BEYONDWILD for 5% off (automatically applied when you click on this link)
4. You’ll receive an email with the instructions to setup up your eSIM, this includes options for both a QR code and manual installation
5. Make sure you have reliable Wi-Fi connection before installing your eSIM (I suggest you do it at home, before leaving to your trip)
6. Open Settings on your device and go to SIM Card Manager to add an eSIM
7. Scan the QR code in your email or follow the instructions for manual installation to complete the setup (it only takes 1 minute)
8. After you arrive at your destination, activate the eSIM and turn on your data roaming. It should connect instantly and you’ll be online
9. Make sure the SIM swap feature on your phone is disabled, so you don’t accidentally get unwanted charges from your home provider
10. If you have issues, Holafly offer 24/7 help, but my eSIM worked straight away

Holafly eSIM Pricing and Plans

Holafly offers eSIMs to over 200 destinations with unlimited data. They also have 11 regional plans and one global plan, for those travelling for longer periods of time in several countries.

Each destination has customisable plans depending on how many days you will be there. It’s a flat fee for unlimited data for the total amount of days you need (but generally works out cheaper per day the longer your plan is), with no hidden extra costs. It all starts from just a couple of dollars per day!

Pros and Cons of eSIMs

As with anything, there are pros and cons with using eSIMs for international travel. Here’s what I’ve found from using an eSIM for the first time.

Pros of Holafly eSIMs

• Peace of mind, you’ll be connected from the moment you step off the plane without having to wait for a physical SIM to activate
• No more fiddling with physical SIM cards for individual countries (and no more worrying about losing your home SIM card when you’re not using it!)
• Unlimited data everywhere; never worry about running out or checking how much data you have left
• Perfect for digital nomads who travel long term and don’t want to constantly top up local SIMs
• No hidden costs or charges, it’s just pay and go 
• Easy to use and setup through the Holafly app, plus the ability to purchase additional countries as you travel
• Keep your home phone number and still use Whatsapp without any issues

Cons of Holafly eSIMs

• Compatibility may vary, but generally all new phones will work with eSIMs (check on the Holafly website or app to see if your phone is compatible)
• Sometimes more expensive than local SIM plans depending on the country
• No local phone number included, so you cannot make local calls or texts
• Activation requires internet access, so you have to remember to do it before you take off or use the airport Wi-Fi when you arrive

My Review of Holafly eSIM in Kyrgyzstan

I used a Holafly eSIM for my trip to Kyrgyzstan and it was my very first experience using an eSIM. I’ve found it really convenient and easy to use while travelling around this beautiful country.

Setting Up and Arriving

I had downloaded the Holafly app and pre-organised my eSIM for Kyrgyzstan before I left Australia. However, it wasn’t until I landed in Bishkek airport that I activated it using the airport wi-fi. It worked instantly within minutes, before I’d even made it to the front of the immigration line.

This allowed me to skip the long queues of people purchasing local SIMs at the airport and use Google Maps to work out how to get to my hostel. Having data on my phone instantly, made everything smooth and easy, which I was grateful for after 30 hours of travelling on planes.

Performance and Signal in Kyrgyzstan

Holafly uses Beeline as their local partner service provider in Kyrgyzstan. This means I have access to their 4G and 3G network, which has worked really well for me throughout my travels so far.

I’ve used it both in cities and more regional areas, including small villages like Jyrgalan without any issues. There’s limited or no service in the more mountainous areas and in national parks, but that is common with any SIM or service provider in Kyrgyzstan.

Some other local SIM companies have better coverage in remote places than Beeline. However, I honestly enjoy switching off when I explore these kinds of places, so this hasn’t bothered me too much.

As someone who works online, having unlimited data on my phone has been really helpful. I’ve been able to upload and send files, edit videos, post on social media, and download anything I needed without having to worry about how much data I was using or whether the hostel wi-fi was working.

For Long Term Travel and Digital Nomads

Knowing I was going to be in Kyrgyzstan for two months, meant that I was able to pre-organise an eSIM to last for the entire trip. Most local SIMs expire after 28 days and need to be topped up, while I have peace of mind that my Holafly eSIM will continue to work without interruptions for the entire time.

With plans to continue travelling to neighbouring countries after Kyrgyzstan, it’ll be easy for me to just purchase another eSIM for my next country before I head across the border. This way it’s one less thing to worry about when arriving in a new country.

Final Thoughts

After years of getting a new physical SIM card in every country I’ve visited, it’s been really useful having Holafly’s eSIM. If you’re someone who wants convenience when you travel then an eSIM is the perfect solution.

While it does work out more expensive than purchasing a local SIM, I have realised how easy it is to use an eSIM and it’s definitely one less thing to worry about. Also, don’t forget to use my code BEYONDWILD at checkout for 5% off on any eSIM purchase on Holafly.

If you’re going to be travelling through multiple countries, I’d definitely recommend checking out Holafly’s regional plans, which would be really useful when hopping from country to country.

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