this post was submitted on 30 Jun 2023
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Travel tip: I'm writing this because I didn't know this service existed so maybe others don't know either.
LT;DR version: pre-purchase international SIM cards from Melbourne-based online store so you can use mobile data with decent data caps as soon as you land overseas.
Long version: (I'll use spoiler tag to avoid a huge text post appearing by default)
Expand Long Version
Did you know there are services where you can pre-purchase international SIM cards before you travel, which will be activated on the date you specify? When I've travelled internationally in the past, I have gone SIM hunting after I've arrived, which can take a few hours off your day and can be tricky if you've landed somewhere where you don't speak the language and need to use your phone's navigation without any service (real life experience for me in France 2017 trying to drive myself to a convenience store in the suburbs near Lille). I'm not even going to entertain the idea of roaming with my Aussie SIM. I need more data than the piddly amounts they overcharge for. I also don't need to be contactable via phone or SMS on my Aussie number while OS. Apps all use push notifications for authentication (banking, microsoft, google, etc)Anywho, cut to planning for my upcoming US trip and I find out there's a Melbourne based SIM store called simcorner who I was able to buy an UNLIMITED DATA 30 day T-Mobile SIM through for $67 AUD. It took a few days to arrive but I've now received and registered it for activation which should happen while I'm in the air on my way to LAX in August. All I need to do is swap SIMs on the plane and when I land I'll be up and running right away. No muss. No fuss.
@bull @StudChud you can also purchase international e-sims that don't even need to arrive physically, which I've found much better, though of course you need a phone which supports them, which is a limited range, even of new release phones.
Ah yes I forgot to mentioned those because I've never had a phone capable of e-sim. Thanks!