Yesim is a Swiss provider with seven years in the eSIM market(Image: Yesim)

Why travellers are looking for easier ways to stay connected abroad

Setting up an eSIM could save you money on unexpected roaming charges when travelling abroad

by · The Mirror

Paying for daily roaming can be an expensive game. The habit of switching mobile data on after landing can cost families hundreds of pounds in needless fees.

You turn off aeroplane mode when arriving at your destination, and an SMS lands from your carrier: incoming calls at eye‑watering per‑minute rates, pricey per‑megabyte data, and a hard sell for a roaming pass with fuzzy terms and buried limits. The sting often arrives only when the bill lands.

But there's an easy solution because a new generation of eSIM providers is fixing this. Yesim, let's travellers decouple connectivity from expensive UK contracts and buy global data with clear, upfront pricing.

Don't let confusing roaming rules leave you out of pocket

An eSIM is a tiny chip already built into your phone that lets you install a mobile plan remotely( Image: Yesim)

Do the maths. A family of four heads to Turkey or Florida for two weeks with no plan in place. Out of habit, they switch on data at the airport, and their provider automatically triggers a daily roaming pass. By the end, connectivity could hit as much as £413.84 - about £7.39 per person per day. In Florida, that £400 could go towards Disney World or a proper sit‑down meal for everyone. For many working families, that’s the difference between a treat and tightening belts.

Unexpected roaming can strike even inside the EU. On Corfu, many Britons receive a “Welcome to Albania” text because the island is around three kilometres from the Albanian coast, and their phones latch onto the stronger signal across the water. One trip can rack up as much as £300 in surprise charges. The same “inadvertent roaming” bites on Kos, Chios, Lesbos, and Samos, where devices can hop onto Turkcell without warning. You don’t see it happening - you just get the bill.

Why the old tricks no longer work

Buying a local SIM means hunting for a shop in an unfamiliar city, queuing, handing over your passport, and often paying airport mark‑ups. Pull out your UK SIM, and you may lose access to bank SMS codes, turning basic banking into a faff.

Relying on public Wi‑Fi ties you to one spot and leaves you stranded when you need maps or a taxi on the move. Open networks are poorly protected, meaning doing banking or sharing personal info on them is a risk no one needs on holiday.

Why eSIMS are the way forward

Set up a travel eSIM with Yesim in minutes at home( Image: Yesim)

An eSIM is a tiny chip already built into your phone that lets you install a mobile plan remotely. No shop, no queue, no fiddling with trays. Your UK number stays live for free incoming SMS and essential calls, while your data comes from a cheaper local or regional plan, making it safer, simpler, and better value.

Yesim is a Swiss provider with seven years in the eSIM market. An early pioneer, it helped shape industry standards and has used that experience to make set‑up dead simple.

  • At home, check your device compatibility, download the Yesim app, and pick a plan for your route. Unsure about quality? Try a 500 MB test package for just £0.45.
  • Data starts working the moment you land. No detours for a SIM shop or a scramble for Wi‑Fi just to order a taxi or open maps.
  • The app connects you to the strongest signal, partnering with 800+ operators worldwide for stable coverage from South Africa to Bali.
  • Plans include the Global Package (80+ countries), Global Plus (140+ countries), and Pay & Fly - a pay‑as‑you‑go model in 170+ countries where you only pay for what you use, and unused balance doesn’t expire.
  • Travelling as a group? Multiple eSIMs let you share profiles - even with people who don’t have the app - and manage them all from one account.

Keep your domestic SIM or eSIM active, but turn off data roaming on that line. You’ll still get free incoming SMS for banking verification and important calls, while avoiding accidental roaming. Switching back to your UK carrier when you return takes seconds.

New users can apply the promo code GETYESIM15 for 15% off their first purchase.*

Freedom instead of a roaming bill

Travel now runs on smartphones - bookings, maps, translations, tickets, and more. Leaving connectivity to chance after landing is what drains wallets. Some families spend hundreds on daily passes. Others get stung by inadvertent roaming. A few end up with headline‑grabbing bills. The common thread is a lack of planning.

A better way is to sort connectivity like any other part of the trip. Set up a travel eSIM with Yesim in minutes at home, and spend the money you save on a proper meal, park tickets, or an extra day by the coast - not on a nasty surprise from your mobile provider.

To find out more, head to the Yesim website. [Link needed]

*Terms and conditions apply. See website for details [link needed]