Using my existing Vodacom e sim in Europe

[Claire2014]

I am going overseas for 2 weeks (Netherlands, Switzerland & France) next week. I have heard you can use your e sim internationally for mobile data.
Questions:
1) Does anyone have information on how I can activate this function on my phone while I am still in SA?
2) What can I use this for? Mobile data, calls?
3) What are the benefits of using a vodacom e sim rather than buying a European sim card?
4) If anyone has more useful or cost effective alternatives please shout.

Thanks,

 

[Ϲhristopher]

I am going overseas for 2 weeks (Netherlands, Switzerland & France) next week. I have heard you can use your e sim internationally for mobile data.
Questions:
1) Does anyone have information on how I can activate this function on my phone while I am still in SA?
2) What can I use this for? Mobile data, calls?
3) What are the benefits of using a vodacom e sim rather than buying a European sim card?
4) If anyone has more useful or cost effective alternatives please shout.

Thanks,

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You can buy bundles for data and calls. The downside is that it's generally more expensive than buying a SIM card at your destination, but the upside is that it works as soon as you land and works pretty much everywhere.

 

[leonb]

i only buy the travel data bundle. It renews automatically when depleted. Works well, and all your services (banking, whatsaup, etc) just works like in SA.

The problem with the data + voice bundle is that if you data is finished within the 7 day period, but you still have voice minutes, the bundle will not renew., i.e. you are stuck without data or it starts using out of bundle data rates. I dont see the need for voice/minutes when abroad.

 

[chrisc]

Don't know about Vodacom, but used a CellC eSIM in Japan to make and receive calls. Used wi-fi calling as I carried around a pocket LTE router

No extra fees or charges at all

Before we left, I asked a techie at a CellC shop. He was adamant that it would not work

This is an iPhone 15

 

[web_dude]

stop wasting money:

https://www.airalo.com/

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All these have eSIM and you can buy online and activate before departure (sometimes you have to activate at the destination).

But only for data. There are a few with voice options, but a little more pricey.

If you don't have eSIM, you can buy a local Prepaid SIM with Data on arrival. Prepaid from one country works all over europe.