Alajode features carefully selected affiliate links from trusted partners. Your clicks help to support the site at no extra cost to you.
It’s hard to imagine now that, once upon a time, I used to travel without an eSIM.
In every new destination, my first stop was always a phone stand or shop to pick up a local sim card so that I could stay connected for my work.
Sometimes they were expensive. Oftentimes there was a language barrier. And, in some cases, it wasn’t even possible to get a sim card as a foreigner.
Now, all of that has changed thanks to the introduction of eSIMs – a kind of digital sim card that eliminates the need for any physical sim card.
As you may have noticed from the number of times I’ve mentioned them on this site, one of my go-to eSIM brands is Holafly.
I’ve used a Holafly eSIM across multiple continents and countries, including Australia, Sri Lanka and Morocco. I’ve also used many other brands.
Whether you’re a digital nomad, long-term traveller or using an eSIM for the first time, here is my honest thoughts and review of Holafly based on these experiences!
📲 READER EXLCUSIVE: If you’d like to try a Holafly eSIM for yourself, you can save 5% with the code ALAJODE. Click here to give it a try for less.
What is an eSIM?
Despite working remotely for more than eight years now, I only started using an eSIM while travelling… last year.
Yes, they’ve been around for a long time. And perhaps it’s because they didn’t exist when I first started travelling full-time, but I somehow managed without one.
I say “somehow” because I now can’t imagine travelling without an eSIM. They truly are an absolute game-changer!
But what exactly is an eSIM?
The name stands for “embedded SIM” and it’s essentially a SIM card that is embedded in your phone digitally.
It functions in much the same way as a regular SIM card, only there is no physical card, so to speak.
That means you can keep your regular SIM card in your phone at all times.
This is my favourite thing about using an eSIM because it means I can connect to local data services while continuing to use my regular number for calls and texts.
As well as being able to enjoy low data costs and still receive important texts from the bank, etc, there are plenty of other benefits.
Benefits of using an eSIM
Some of the many, many benefits I’ve enjoyed since switching to using an eSIM include:
Saving time in a destination by not needing to find a booth/shop or spend time buying a SIM card on arrival.
Being connected from the second you land since you’ll already have the SIM card installed.
Not needing to rely on unpredictable WiFi both at the airport and wherever you travel thereafter.
Never getting caught out when you need a connection the most whether it’s for work, directions or downloading a hotel booking confirmation.
Staying connected in remote areas. Using a Holafly eSIM was an absolute game-changer in the Gal Oya region of Sri Lanka, and at the Gal Oya Lodge, where there’s no WiFi.
Being able to top up easily when the data runs low (or choosing one of Holafly‘s unlimited data packages – more on that in a bit!).
Choosing an eSIM that covers multiple countries or an entire region, rather than a single country.
Being able to switch between providers, particularly in remote areas such as when on safari.
Introducing Holafly eSIM
While there are plenty of eSIM options on the market now, they’re definitely not all the same – something I’ve learned the hard way!
Unfortunately, it seems that you really do get what you pay for when it comes to choosing an eSIM.
This is especially true if you need to stay connected for work, directions, downloading tickets or just about anything else.
Of all the eSIM providers I have tried, Holafly has been by far the most reliable and consistent throughout my travels, which is why it’s become my go-to in most destinations.
My experience using Holafly
Even though it’s now my go-to eSIM, I’ll admit I didn’t have the best start with Holafly.
The first time I used it was during a trip to Australia, when I had very little experience in using eSIMs.
Back then, I was using an Android phone and the activation process was different to eSIMs I had used previously.
It’s my fault for assuming it would be the same, of course, but this meant I wasn’t able to activate it right away and had to contact their support for help.
What I can say, then, is that their 24-hour customer support is absolutely phenomenal!
I went from feeling frustrated and anxious about being able to get my work done to being set-up and using the data in a matter of minutes.
That in itself is worth the slightly higher price that their eSIMs often carry. After all, problems can always happen, and an eSIM is useless if you get stuck with something along the way.
Other things I love about Holafly
As I previously mentioned, Holafly has become my go-to eSIM provider for several reasons:
- They have impressive coverage, even in the remote areas I often travel to.
- Holafly has always offered noticeably faster speeds when I’ve compared them to other eSIMs.
- Holafly offers the ability to tether other devices in 199 destinations. This means you can use one eSIM for both your phone and laptop, or even let your travel buddy connect to your network if needed.
- In 160 destinations, Holafly eSIMs come with unlimited data so you don’t need to worry about running out – ever!
- You can choose the exact number of days you need in 126 of the available destinations, rather than having to choose between predetermined durations that might not fit your needs.
- Holafly covers a huge range of destinations, including regional and global plans, perfect for spontaneous travellers, long-term travellers and digital nomads who want complete freedom!
If there’s one downside to Holafly, it would be that the prices do tend to be slightly higher than other options on the market.
But, as I’ve found out, it’s for very good reason – you really do get what you pay for! – and I still find it 100% worth it in most cases.
Exclusive Discount
Even though Holafly provides great value for money, it’s always nice to save a little!
That’s why I’m offering all Alajode readers a 5% discount on any Holafly plan.
Whether you’ve used Holafly before or want to give them a try, simply click here and use the code “ALAJODE” on your next order to enjoy this saving!