If you're travelling outside the EU — whether to Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, the USA or Dubai — one of the first questions is: how will you get internet? Your home carrier's roaming fees can skyrocket, but fortunately there's a better solution.
Roaming: how it works and what it costs
Roaming means your phone connects to the local network in your destination, but your home carrier bills you for it. The problem: carriers charge each other network-usage fees, and ultimately you pay for it.
Within the EU: no problem
Since 2017, 'Roam Like at Home' rules have applied in the EU: you can use your home plan at domestic rates across all EU countries (plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein). So in Greece, Croatia, Italy and Spain, roaming is generally free.
Important: there are countries we easily forget are not EU members: Turkey, Switzerland, Egypt, the United Kingdom (after Brexit).
Outside the EU: price zones and high charges
Home carriers sort countries into price zones. The more distant the zone, the more expensive the roaming.
Typical charges outside the EU (indicative):
| Service | Zone II (e.g. Turkey) | Zone III–IV (e.g. USA, Thailand) |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile data | High per MB | Very high per MB |
| Daily bundle | Moderate per day | High per day |
| Making calls | Per minute | Per minute |
| Receiving calls | Per minute | Per minute |
Cost of a week's holiday with roaming (1–2 GB of daily data use): a significant sum.
eSIM: the economical alternative
An eSIM data plan uses the destination's local network directly. Instead of going through your home carrier's roaming agreements, the data runs at local prices.
Advantages of an eSIM over roaming
- Prepaid, fixed price — you know what you're paying, no surprise bill
- Pay in your local currency — in the eSIM Surfer app
- Local network quality — you get the same internet as locals
- Set up at home — no need to queue at the airport
- Dual SIM — your home number stays active
Comparing concrete prices
| Destination (1 week, 5 GB) | Roaming (daily bundle) | eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Expensive | from €5.99 |
| Egypt | Expensive | from €8.99 |
| Thailand | Expensive | from €6.99 |
| USA | Expensive | from €8.99 |
| Dubai (UAE) | Expensive | from €10.99 |
*Prices are indicative. Current eSIM prices can be viewed in the eSIM Surfer app.*
When should you choose which?
Choose roaming if:
- You're travelling within the EU — it's free or very cheap thanks to Roam Like at Home
- You're only travelling for a few hours — not worth setting up an eSIM
- You don't have an eSIM-compatible phone — older devices don't support it
Choose an eSIM if:
- You're travelling outside the EU — savings can be 70–90%
- You want to know the cost in advance — a fixed, prepaid amount
- You want reliable internet — local network quality
- You want simplicity — set it up at home in 2 minutes
How to set up an eSIM instead of roaming
- Download the eSIM Surfer app
- Choose your destination and plan — prices are shown clearly
- Pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
- Install the eSIM (scan the QR code, Wi-Fi required)
- Important: turn off data roaming on your physical SIM so your home carrier doesn't charge you
Tip: how to stay reachable on your home number
Thanks to dual SIM, the eSIM and physical SIM are active at the same time:
- For internet: you use the eSIM (cheap, local prices)
- For calls and texts: your physical SIM (home number) stays active
- WhatsApp, Viber: available free of charge over the eSIM's data
That's the best of both worlds: cheap internet with the eSIM, and you stay reachable on your home number.