Using an Orange Travel eSIM Card in Europe Makes Travel Easy
I have been traveling to Europe for over 30 years, and it has been interesting to see how communication has changed. In the early days, I would look for a payphone to call home, and at one point we were purchasing physical SIM cards from local vendors. One of the original vendors we used was Orange, a French telecommunications company. When they reached out to me about using their Orange Travel eSIM card, I agreed to use it and write about my experience on a recent trip to Italy.
Disclosure: I was given an Orange Travel eSIM card for the purpose of this review. As always, opinions are 100% my own.
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What is an eSIM?
An eSIM card works similarly to a traditional SIM card, but it is embedded in your phone. This means you don’t need to swap out the small memory card in your phone as you might have done in the past.
The eSIM works in the same way, but nothing needs to be removed. You can program your phone to use a local telephone number and save money on international calls, data usage, and wifi.
Why should you use an eSIM?
One of the perks of using an eSIM is convenience. There is no storefront to locate, you can choose your plan ahead of time, and the service easily connects upon arrival at your destination.
On top of this, plans are typically much cheaper than the service provided by your home cell service provider and it allows you to avoid roaming charges. Typically, I pay $10/day for unlimited calls and data, but eSIM cards typically run about $40/week. For me, it makes sense to use the eSIM option.
What to know before using an Orange Travel eSIM
There are a few things to consider before buying an eSIM. One, does it work with your device? On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and scroll to where it says Physical SIM. If you see an IMEI number, your phone is eSIM-compatible. Older Apple phones might not have this ability. I have an iPhone 12 and was able to use the Orange Travel eSIM.
If you are using a different device, you will want to search and ensure your phone is eSIM compatible.
Where does Orange Travel have eSIM coverage?
Orange Travel covers over 100 countries, including all of Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and more. They have partnerships with carriers around the world to ensure you have the best coverage possible.
How does an Orange Travel eSIM work?
First, you will want to head to the Orange Travel website. From here, you will go to Buy a SIM, and select your destination.
Next, you will be presented with the available packages. The smallest package for Italy is 1GB and it doesn’t include calls or SMS, and lasts for 7 days from the time you turn it on.
I chose the Holiday Italy 100GB which offers 5G networks, unlimited phone calls within Italy, 120 minutes of phone calls to the rest of the world, and 28 days of usage. To find out which plan would work best for me, I logged into my provider to check my typical usage. Turns out, it’s about 91GB per week, which means the Holiday Italy was the perfect plan for me.
If you run out of data, you can always top up your service with more minutes. I did not need to do this on my trip, but it would probably be necessary for longer trips.
How to Set Up an Orange Travel eSIM
This was one thing I loved about Orange Travel. They make the set up SUPER easy! Upon purchasing my plan, I was sent instructions for activating the eSIM. This included an easy-to-use QR code to get started, my French telephone number, and a PIN.
Additional step-by-step instructions were included for both Android and iPhone. One very important thing to note is that you MUST download and install the eSIM in your home country before you leave. Orange Travel does a great job of taking you through the process with its easy-to-follow steps.
Using Orange Travel’s eSIM in Italy
Once I arrived in Italy, I disabled my home SIM card and turned on the Orange Travel eSIM. The process was super easy and I knew if I had any problems, it would be easy to connect with an Orange Travel representative.
I found the eSIM card very easy to set up and use and I loved that I had efficient and inexpensive communication throughout the entirety of my trip. Who doesn’t want to save money on vacation?
If you are traveling soon, be sure to set up an Orange Travel eSIM so you can save money too. Click HERE to get your eSIM card!
