Destinations

A SIM card built into your phone that you activate by scanning a code, instead of a plastic card you slot in. Nothing arrives in the post and there is no shop to find when you land.

A country plan covers one destination and is usually cheaper per gigabyte. A regional plan covers a group of countries on one eSIM, which is worth more than the price difference if you are crossing borders — one install rather than several.

Maps, messaging and the occasional search run to roughly 1GB a week. Social media and streaming video are what consume data quickly. Compare plans on the per-gigabyte figure shown on each card rather than the headline price — sizes vary enormously.

These are data plans. Calls and messages over the internet — WhatsApp, FaceTime, Signal — work normally. Traditional calls and SMS stay on your usual number through your existing SIM.