- Mr Plane Guy
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Best Travel eSIM? My Honest Sim Local Review (2026)
By Mr Plane Guy, Plane Honest Travel & Loyalty Insights
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog flying
Airport Wi-Fi is unreliable. Roaming charges can be eye-wateringly expensive.
Buying a local SIM after landing wastes valuable time. After receiving a roaming bill that was higher than my flight, I stopped relying on my UK network and started testing travel eSIMs instead.
This is my honest Sim Local review after using it on recent trips.
Quick Answer Express
Is Sim Local worth it?
Yes. If you want unlimited data, instant connectivity when you land and don't want the hassle of buying a local SIM card, Sim Local is one of the easiest travel eSIMs I've tested.
Best for: Short holidays, business trips, digital nomads and anyone who wants to avoid roaming charges.
Not ideal for: Travellers looking for the absolute cheapest option or those who need a local phone number.
Plane Honest Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8/5
What Is a Sim Local eSIM?
Let’s start simple.
An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone, no swapping plastic cards, no airport queues, no losing your UK SIM halfway through your trip.
With Sim Local, you download your data plan before you travel, activate it when you land, and you’re instantly online.
No hunting for SIM kiosks. No stress. If you’re looking for the best eSIM for travel, especially for unlimited data abroad, here’s my Plane Honest Sim Local review.
Why I Recommend Sim Local
✔ Unlimited data plans available
No worrying about running out of data halfway through your trip.
✔ Available in 200+ destinations
Stay connected almost anywhere in the world.
✔ Instant digital eSIM
Download before you fly and activate when you land.
✔ Physical airport stores too
Need help? Sim Local has stores in many major airports.
✔ Keep your UK number & WhatsApp
Your WhatsApp chats continue working as normal.
⭐ Trusted by thousands of travellers
Rated 5★ on Trustpilot and Google.
Why I Switched to Sim Local eSIM
DISCOUNT CODE 10% OFF: MRPLANE
The £1,500 Mistake That Made Me Switch to eSIMs
Last April, on my way to Australia, I had a short stopover in Beijing. I meant to sort a cheap travel eSIM beforehand… but didn’t.
I assumed I’d be fine using hotel Wi-Fi. I wasn’t. A few days later, I received a text from my UK network saying I’d hit my mobile spending cap. Curious, I logged in.
My spending cap was set at £1,500!
Yes, really £1,500.
My phone bill was higher than the flight to China. Somewhere between maps, messages and “just a bit of background data”, roaming charges had quietly stacked up and I hadn’t even realised I was using mobile data.
Don’t do what I did.
If you want to avoid the kind of bill I got… this is exactly what I use now.
Sim Local Discount Code: Save 10% with MRPLANE
Mr Plane Guy readers can save 10% on eligible Sim Local eSIM plans by entering MRPLANE at checkout.
Choose your destination and plan.
Continue to checkout.
Select Add Discount Code.
Enter MRPLANE.
Check that the discount has been applied before paying.
Now? I install an eSIM before I fly. The moment I land, I’m online. That alone changes the airport experience. I recently flew to New York and at JFK, I was able to get an Uber to Manhattan instantly, no taxi queues, no late-night train stress and no guessing directions.
I could track my Uber using my Sim Local eSIM, order the car immediately and follow the route into Manhattan. The plan cost around €14 for several days, which was considerably cheaper than using my normal roaming allowance.
Sim Local Setup: How It Actually Works
Honestly, this is where Sim Local wins.
Setup takes under 2 minutes:
Choose your destination (or region)
Pick how many days you need
Install via app
Activate when you land
That’s it.
An eSIM can be installed with a few changes in your phone settings, no physical SIM card swapping required!
Plane Tip: Install it before you leave the UK airport WiFi is chaos.
Sim Local Plans, Pricing & Coverage
Sim Local covers 200+ destinations with:
Unlimited data plans
Regional plans (Europe, Asia, Africa etc.)
Global plans for multi-country trips
What makes it different?
👉 Unlimited data
No topping up. No tracking usage. No “you’ve hit your limit” messages mid-trip.
Pros and Cons of Sim Local (Plane Honest)
Pros
Unlimited data (huge advantage)
Instant connection when landing
No SIM swapping or losing your UK SIM
Perfect for Google Maps, TikTok, uploads, hotspotting
Ideal for long trips or multi-country travel
Keeps your WhatsApp + number active
Cons
More expensive than local SIMs
No local phone number (data only)
Fair-use policies (heavy users may see throttling)
Requires setup before travel
My Experience: Using Sim local While Travelling
Here’s the real-world bit.
This is where Sim Local makes sense:
You land → instantly order Uber / train
You navigate without stress
You don’t waste 30–60 mins sorting a SIM
If you’re:
Posting content
Uploading videos
Working remotely
Using maps constantly
…it removes the biggest travel annoyance: data anxiety
Sim Local vs Airalo: Which Is Better?
This is one of the most searched questions.
Sim Local
Unlimited data
Higher price
Best for heavy users
Airalo
Limited data plans
Best for light users
👉 Plane Honest take: If you’re just checking emails → Airalo
If you’re living on your phone → Sim local
Sim Local vs Airalo: Which Is Better?
Feature | Sim Local | Airalo |
Unlimited-data options | Available on selected plans | Availability varies |
Low-cost small-data plans | Fewer options | Often a strength |
Best suited to | Travellers using lots of data | Light and moderate users |
Physical airport presence | Available in selected airports | Primarily digital |
Local number | Usually data only | Usually data only |
Plane Honest verdict
Choose Airalo when price is your priority and you only need a modest amount of data.
Choose Sim Local when convenience and higher-data or unlimited-data options matter more than finding the absolute lowest price.
When Sim Local Is Actually Worth It
Sim Local isn’t for everyone.
It’s worth it if you are:
A digital nomad
Travelling for 1–4 weeks
Constantly on Google Maps
Uploading content / working remotely
Visiting multiple countries
Best use case: “I don’t want to think about data at all”
When It’s NOT Worth It
Skip if:
You want the cheapest option
You need local calls/texts
You’re staying long-term in one country
You’re happy managing local SIMs
Cheapest Travel Option vs eSIM (Honest Comparison)
Let’s be real, most blogs avoid this.
eSIM (like Sim Local )
Best for:
Short trips
Convenience
No contracts
Global SIM / UK roaming plans
Best for:
Frequent travellers
EU roaming
Keeping one SIM long-term
FAQ
Is Sim Local any good?
Yes, especially for unlimited data and convenience. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s one of the easiest.
What are the disadvantages of Sim Local ?
Price
No phone number
Fair-use limits
Which is better, Sim Local or Airalo?
Sim Local = unlimited convenience
Airalo = cheaper, limited data.
Does Sim Local work worldwide?
Yes, 200+ destinations including Europe, Asia, Africa, and global plans.
Who This Is For
Digital nomads
Frequent travellers
Content creators
Anyone who hates airport SIM queues
Who Should Skip
Budget-first travellers
Long-term single-country stays
Anyone needing local calls
The One Thing That Matters
You’re online the second you land and that removes friction from your entire trip.
Plane Honest Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8/5
★★★★★ Ease of setup
★★★★★ Coverage
★★★★★ Value
★★★★☆ Speed
★★★★☆ Price
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Plane Extras
The PLANE Smart Way to Take Off
Here are my go-to travel extras that help keep this blog (and me) airborne.
🅿️ Airport Parking Compare prices and save up to 75% at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and more with Compare Parking Prices UK →
🍸 Lounge AccessWhy wait at the gate when you could sip a pre-flight prosecco?
Get 30% off a Priority Pass membership → and access 1900+ lounges worldwide.
🎒 Plane Essentials My must-pack travel gear, from cabin-size backpacks to neck pillows that actually work. Shop my curated Amazon Storefront →
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