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There are three main ways to keep your phone working on holiday: buy a local SIM in the country you arrive in, use roaming on your own line, or use a travel eSIM. All three do the job, but they differ clearly on convenience, cost and flexibility. In this article we look at each one, compare them side by side, and say which is right in each situation.
The Three Options at a Glance
- Local SIM: you buy a physical SIM from a carrier in the country you visit.
- Roaming: you do nothing; your own line works abroad too, at your carrier’s rate.
- Travel eSIM: you download a digital line to your phone before you go and connect the moment you land.
1. Local SIM
A local SIM is the classic physical card bought from a carrier in your destination. On local tariffs it can be cheap, especially for long stays. But in practice it has a few hurdles:
- Finding and registering: you need to find a store at the airport or in town and, in many countries, register with your passport.
- Language and time: the process may be in a foreign language and takes time on arrival.
- Your number changes: you get a new local number, and your existing number is unreachable while that card is in (unless your phone is dual-SIM).
- One country: it usually covers only that country; cross a border and you need a new card.
In short, a local SIM makes sense for users staying a long time in a single country who want the lowest local price; it’s a hassle on short, multi-country trips.
2. Roaming
Roaming’s biggest plus is that you do nothing: turn the phone on and it works. Within the EU/Schengen, many European lines offer “roam like at home,” so it can be practical for short EU trips. But once you leave the EU the cost usually rises noticeably and a clear figure is hard to see up front — that’s where the surprise-bill risk comes from. For a detailed cost comparison, see eSIM vs roaming: which is cheaper.
3. Travel eSIM
A travel eSIM is a digital line downloaded to your phone as software. You buy and set it up before you go and connect the moment you land; what you pay is known up front, and your home number (since the physical SIM stays in the phone) remains reachable. Its only drawback is that it needs an eSIM-capable phone. For the basics see what is an eSIM and how does it work, and for setup see how to set up an eSIM.
Three-Way Comparison
| Criterion | Local SIM | Roaming | Travel eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Store + registration on arrival | Nothing needed | Download before you go |
| When you connect | Once you find and insert a card | When you turn the phone on | The moment you land |
| Cost (outside EU) | Can be low locally | Usually high | Fixed, predictable |
| Your number | New local number | Your own number | Home number stays on |
| Multiple countries | New card per country | Depends on the line | One eSIM with a regional plan |
| Requirement | Dual-SIM helps | None | eSIM-capable phone |
Which One When?
- Short EU trip + line with EU roaming included: roaming can be the most practical.
- Long stay in one country + chasing the lowest local price: a local SIM can make sense (if registration and a number change don’t bother you).
- Non-EU, multi-country or trips beyond a few days: a travel eSIM is the most balanced choice for most users — easy, predictable and flexible.
- An older phone without eSIM: you choose between a local SIM and roaming.
Conclusion
All three are valid, but the centre of gravity shifts with the type of trip. Roaming can lead on short EU trips, a local SIM on a long single-country stay; otherwise — especially outside the EU and on multi-country trips — a travel eSIM combines convenience, predictable cost and flexibility. For the full picture of all options, see our pillar eSIM for international travel; when you’re ready, you can pick your plan for your country or region with Telsimo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a local SIM or an eSIM cheaper?
A local SIM can be very cheap locally on long single-country stays. But factoring in registration, a number change and the single-country limit, an eSIM’s fixed price is usually more convenient and competitive overall on multi-country or short trips.
Can I use my home number and local internet at the same time?
Yes — with an eSIM. Your physical SIM stays in the phone while you use the eSIM for data, so your home number stays reachable. With a local SIM you can only do this on a dual-SIM phone.
I’ll visit several countries — what’s most practical?
A regional travel eSIM that covers your route is far more practical than buying a new local card in each country.
What if my phone doesn’t support eSIM?
You can choose between a local SIM and roaming. Moving to an eSIM-capable model at your next upgrade makes travel much easier.