Should you get a travel eSIM for your layover?

Traveling internationally often involves layovers, and the modern traveler is faced with the decision of whether it is worth getting a travel eSIM to helping you stay connected during these often brief periods. Let's break down the problem to help you make an informed decision.

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a built-in SIM card in modern smartphones and devices. Unlike traditional SIM cards, which are physical chips inserted into your phone, eSIMs are rewritable chips embedded in the device’s hardware. This allows users to download and switch between different mobile network providers without needing a physical card.

Travel eSIMs have plans and packages that are designed and tailored for travelers - typically with shorter periods of validity and varying data volumes. Travel eSIMs have been increasingly popular with travelers due to the convenience it brings about, allowing travelers to easily get connected without going through the hassle of buying and changing out a physical SIM card.

Do you need a travel eSIM for a layover?

While you will almost definitely get a travel eSIM (or a local tourist SIM) at your destination, you might be wondering if you should also get one for your layover. After all, your layover is probably going to be for a relatively short period of time.

Whether you should get a travel eSIM for your layover really depends on how long your layover is going to be, whether you need to stay connected during that period of time, and whether or not you have other options.

Duration of your layover

If you have a very short layover, you are much less likely to need a data eSIM. That’s especially the case if you might have to clear immigration again, or if your connecting time is very short.

However, for longer layovers, then it becomes more likely that you might want to get a data eSIM. If you have enough time to leave the airport to do a short city tour, you might want to get a travel eSIM to help you stay connected while exploring the city. Given you probably wouldn’t have a lot of time during your layover, you likely wouldn’t want to spend the time queuing up for a local SIM card when you can spend that time exploring the city — that’s when a travel eSIM could come in really handy.

Or, even if you were not heading out of the airport and simply want to get some work done while waiting for your next flight, a travel eSIM could come in handy. In such cases, a stable internet connection is often required and having a travel eSIM on hand could prove to be useful.

Do you really need internet and what are your options?

One of the most important considerations that you might have would be whether you really need internet during your layover; and if you do, what your other options are.

Whether you really need internet depends on what you are planning to do during your layover. As discussed previously, if you were traveling out to explore the city, chances are that you will need the internet. But, if you are simply going to be staying within the airport, maybe you don’t really need the connectivity.

If you need internet, consider what your options are. Most major airports today offer free WiFi, so if you are going to be in the airport, then perhaps you do not really need to get a travel eSIM to help you stay connected. But, it is important to note that the free WiFi offered could be time-limited; and if there are too many people connected to it at the same time, it might not always work well.

In addition, not all airports offer free WiFi so you might not always be able to count on it. Check the airport that you are flying into to confirm if free WiFi is offered. And even if free WiFi is offered, consider if you might need a secure (non-public) connection or if you need a stable internet connection - if so, then getting a travel eSIM could be helpful.

If you are unsure if you need to get an eSIM in advance, but the airport you are traveling to offers free WIFi, you could always purchase your eSIM upon arrival. You will need a stable internet connection to buy and install your eSIM, but the entire process takes no more than a few minutes.

Nomad’s day plans are a suitable option for helping you to stay connected during layovers

A reason why you might not necessarily want to get a travel eSIM during your layover is because the plan sizes might not always make sense for a layover. It is unlikely that you will need a plan that gives you unlimited data for a few days; and in fact, you might not even require a 1GB of data during your layover.

Here comes Nomad’s day plans which allow you to customise your plans based on your actual data needs. You can choose how much high-speed data you get per day - from as low as 500MB to 3GB. And in the event where you underestimated your needs and require more than that, you will still be able to continue using the internet, while at a throttled speed.

With Nomad’s day plans, you can also choose the number of days you need your plan to be valid for. In the case of a layover, a one-day plan should be sufficient; but if you are planning to make use of the layover and spend a few days in the city, you can also choose a longer validity for your plan!

From prices as low as $1.10/day, Nomad’s day plans are an economical option to helping you stay connected while on your layover!