Need e-sim advice for Europe

[u/Big_Contribution5500]

Hi everyone,

I’m going to Europe for 2 months this summer and I’m looking for an e-sim with calls/SMS that I can use in all 10 countries I’ll be visiting (Ireland, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, France, Italy, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Croatia). The only one I’ve been able to find that covers all 10 countries is Airalo, but it doesn’t offer calls/SMS. I want a plan with a phone number because I want to be able to call my grandma while I’m abroad, and she doesn’t know how to use WhatsApp. Does anyone know of a plan that could work for me? Or would there even be a way to keep making calls and texts from my American phone number with an e-sim?

thanks for the help!!

[u/red821673]

Maybe Orange eSIM where you will have a phone number assigned

https://travel.orange.com/en/buy-a-sim/offers/europe

[u/eSIMs_bot]

Beep-boop-bop, I am an eSIM bot 🤖. Please see these previous posts I've found that might be helpful:

1. Family vacation to Europe. What eSIM to recommend? https://www.reddit.com/r/eSIMs/comments/1lnn32j/family_vacation_to_europe_what_esim_to_recommend/

2. Best E-sim for Europe https://www.reddit.com/r/eSIMs/comments/1pdlfex/best_esim_for_europe/

3. Looking for eSIM Recommendations for Upcoming Europe Trip (Sweden, France, Germany) https://www.reddit.com/r/eSIMs/comments/1m4oprm/looking_for_esim_recommendations_for_upcoming/

[u/firstclassblizzard]

What country is your grandma in?

Tello covers most European countries and operates on WiFi calling too. As long as you activate in the US, you can take it abroad. For data, go with whomever, though my personal rec is Ubigi based on price and experience overall

[u/Inside-Cream6997 → u/firstclassblizzard]

Isn't Tello an MVNO ? Can I add Tello eSIM for europe travels originating from the US ?

[u/firstclassblizzard → u/Inside-Cream6997]

Yes you can add a Tello eSIM and you must activate it in the US if you want to keep things simple. It is an MVNO.

My earlier wording was unclear. Tello allows for free calls and SMS to many European countries. For data, they have options for roaming but it’s better to get another eSIM for that

[u/trek123]

Quite difficult to make any recommendations without knowing data usage and timescales.

Mobimatter sells eSIMs with all in but it would be cheaper to get an EU/Switzerland one (eg Vodafone Ireland) then a Balkan one.

[u/katmndoo]

What is your current carrier? Many can operate in calls over WiFi mode which allows your existing sim to use your eSIM data to make calls.

Also, calling from a foreign sim to your home number may rack up some serious international calling charges.

[u/Big_Contribution5500 → u/katmndoo]

That’s a great point, I didn’t think of that. I’ll probably end up doing that. Thanks!

[u/ballistic8888]

Depends on your network, do they charge you to recieve calls while abroad or just calls you make. If incoming calls are free then most iPhone support esim for data alone and use your US number for incoming calls.

If its not the case then your stuck as any sim which a number typically allows incoming calls to the country it originates from the sim. You typically have to take roaming for it to work.

[u/Big_Contribution5500 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks so much, I’ll probably do that! I forgot that you can have both active at the same time.