What's the actual cheapest way to get data for a multi-country (Europe) trip?
Posted by Acrobatic_Fennel127@reddit | Shoestring | View on Reddit | 15 comments
I'm planning a 2-month trip bouncing around the Balkans (Croatia, Albania, Montenegro, etc.) and I'm trying to find the absolute cheapest way to get data.
Local SIMs seem like a hassle if I'm only in a country for 1-2 weeks. But the big name eSIMs still feel kind of expensive for what you get.
I'm not looking for convenience, I'm looking for the lowest price.
What's your absolute rock-bottom, cheapest method for staying connected?
ItchyGeologist482@reddit
T mobile, I get data and messaging in my package internationally
TiredTraveler87@reddit
This point for you specifically is a bit moot because you're traveling in 2 non-EU countries, but it might still be useful for others: By law, data bundles bought in 1 EU country have to be valid in another too, which makes the option for a local SIM more attractive than it otherwise might have been.
thisdude415@reddit
While this is the law, I have had experiences where it did not work. Specifically, in Poland they sell SIM cards that do not have EU data.
also, this is specifically an EU rule, not an EEA rule, so it does not apply in Switzerland and presumably Norway
Grayfox4@reddit
Norway follows this anyway, not sure about the Swiss.
thisdude415@reddit
Switzerland definitely did not as of 2018, not sure if it has changed since.
DymytryArabachkov@reddit
they still don’t. however, for some reason, the brits do, or at least my data plan worked there
Rich_Sherbert2559@reddit
Depends on the provider, some do, some don't.
lomsucksatchess@reddit
I bought a sim in a montenegro gas station that had data in croatia, montenegro, bosnia and albania
ljn9@reddit
Theres a balkan roaming union like in EU. So with just 1 local Sim you cover all countries.
Whole_Winner6172@reddit
I usually just buy a travel sim / e-sim card from Amazon. There's tons to choose from, just sort by price
wanderingdev@reddit
Local sims are pretty easy and given that the countries you're going to won't have cross border roaming, unless you get a world-wide esim, it's likely your best/only option. there used to be a balkan roaming option with some carriers in that region, but I'm not sure if that is still a thing or not. alternatively you could just not get a sim and plan ahead with offline maps and using wifi.
nobojo75@reddit
Not sure where you are from but have you checked with your regular carrier to see what international data might be available? E.g.for a short trip like this (i.e. less than 90 days) some US carriers (including T-Mobile and Google Fi) have international data included in regular plans.
Otherwise, as others have mentioned, the cheapest way is to only connect to WiFi. That was fine for me several years ago, but now I am too accustomed to having data wherever. My advice is to get a highly rated esim that covers all or most of the countries you plan to visit and just consider it an investment in worry-free travel. It is not that much money compared to other daily expenses of traveling but will make so many other things simpler for you.
GeronimoDK@reddit
Local SIM will be the cheapest, depending on when and where you buy it, you may be able to get roaming to other countries as well without having to get a new SIM, but I think this is mostly within the EU, so in the Balkans that means Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Greece.
Limp_Cellist2500@reddit
Local SIM is always the cheapest, period. But yeah, for 1-2 week hops, it's a huge pain. My hack is just to use a comparator site. I use Punti Furbi esim comparison that just sorts every plan by price-per-GB.
gejwood@reddit
I wouldn’t say local sims will be too much hassle. Just go to any mobile phone shop they’ll sell you one and you can leave 5 minutes later. E sims are basically sold for more because of the convenience they provide you with annoyingly.
If you want the absolute cheapest way then go without a sim, rely on public and hostel WiFi and download your maps. When I’ve been in all the Balkan countries this is what I’ve done (other than Slovenia and Croatia where I have a UK sim that covers EU for free)