Prepaid SIM or eSIM for Asia?

NoApostrophePlurals on 24/09/2023 - 06:05

Hi all, my wife and I are going to Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, China and Hong Kong and possibly Macau from 28/10 - 22/11. Total trip duration is just under 30 days.

I am with amaysim prepaid and I can get 1GB add a roaming pack that's decent value. I have an S22 Ultra.

My wife is on Woolworths prepaid and their roaming charges are horrendous. She has an iPhone 11 Pro Max and has preordered an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The options I have come across that cover all my countries so far are:

Amaysim roaming
$20 AUD 100 min voice, 100 text no data
$25 AUD 50 min voice, 50 text 1GB data
$50 AUD only5GB data
$70 AUD 100 min voice, 100 text 1GB data

Airalo eSIM
$13 USD 30 days 3GB data
$20 USD 30 days 5GB data
$37 USD 30 days 10GB data

MOGO eSIM
$24.90 USD 30 days 10GB data

Physical travel sims I haven't found any that cover all my required countries without exorbitant fees. Are there any decent options out there?

There are all the free 1GB eSIM deals on OzBargain such as the red Bull one and but they don't cover Singapore.

I would like to have a phone number to use, just in case, so I will most likely activate the roaming on my amaysim. My wife however probably won't need a phone number. The 1GB won't be enough for nearly a month, I don't think.

Just wondering, can I run my amaysim for calls and SMS only, and then use an eSIM for data only?

Secondy, what do you recommend? I've never used an eSIM before.

Also, are Airalo and MOGO reputable and reliable?

TIA!

Travel Travel SIM Card

Comments

  • jackofspade on 24/09/2023 - 09:20

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/deals/travelkon.com.au
    They regularly have 25% off

  • scaryspace on 24/09/2023 - 09:22
    +1

    I'm currently in Singapore, and I found that the best option is a physical $12 Singtel Sim with 100gb, with another 5gb roaming in Malaysia (and a few other countries as well IIRC) and then 500 mins of local calls (has come in handy for calling hotels etc)

    • chrisie on 24/09/2023 - 10:34

      Where would you buy the $12 Singtel Sim with 100gb in Singapore ?
      Would that include phone calls as well as the 100gb of data in Singapore?

      • scaryspace on 24/09/2023 - 10:49
        +1

        Most 7 elevens and any convenience stores in my experience. (every hotel I've been at has had a 7/11 within 50m, but not all have stocked the cards) They just check your passport and then just give you the card.
        The Sim card has a local +65 number, but if you are trying to do data switching with dual Sim (should only work with Telstra, works by giving your Aus Sim data, so it can do wifi calling/volte) , it can be quite fiddly.

        • chrisie on 24/09/2023 - 11:55

          Thanks for your reply - this exactly meets my needs for a 10day stay in Singapore hope it can work with my existing Aldi Sim :)
          Do you buy the sim on line or when you get to Singapore?

          • scaryspace on 24/09/2023 - 12:00

            @chrisie: Out of curiosity, what phone do you have? I've spent way too much time on my trip trying to figure out why data switching won't work, (currently on physical boost Sim + alosim esim on S23U) and I believe it is because the "global esim providers" such as airalo and alosim that support many countries require their Sim to be "roaming", and on Samsung phones, only your Aus Sim can be roaming, and your data Sim must be local (no R symbol)
            iPhones seem to be a lot less fussy with this, so YMMV.

            • chrisie on 24/09/2023 - 12:04

              @scaryspace: My Phone is a Poco F3 dual Sim.

            • wrekt on 27/10/2023 - 22:52

              @scaryspace: I'm travelling in a couple days to Singapore and have the same setup - s23u and boost physical sim.

              Would travelkon esim suffer the same fate?

              i.e. wont work cause my boost sim would have roaming enabled?

              • scaryspace on 28/10/2023 - 11:43

                @wrekt: I'm honestly not sure. From my testing, if the esim requires you to enable roaming, (usually in any worldwide or multi country Sims) it won't work for backup calling on a Samsung phone. I think Singtel would end up being cheaper, they now offer travel esims with loads more data than any global esim company.

      • Blokeinhisundies on 24/09/2023 - 14:47
        +1

        The Travelex counters in the transit area of T2 & T3 have them as well as in the public areas of T3.

        • chrisie on 24/09/2023 - 15:06

          Good to know Thanks
          I suppose it would just as well to buy the $12 Singtel Sim with 100gb when I land in Singapore or buying it on the net before ?

          • Blokeinhisundies on 24/09/2023 - 15:21
            +1

            @chrisie: One time I prepaid and another I just rocked up so you can do either.

            When I pre-ordred the guy just picked one out of a whole stack so I don't think it even matters lol.

    • NoApostrophePlurals on 24/09/2023 - 10:43

      I don't exactly need 100gb, especially in Singapore (3 days). My wife and I will both need a SIM each, in case we get separated, so tethering won't be useful for us. Also, I doubt it includes roaming to the other countries for $12.

  • branners on 24/09/2023 - 10:38
    +1

    One option I would look at is the Felix global roaming package. It is $20 for 4GB and 100 minutes of calls. Valid for a year, covers all the countries you mentioned

    • NoApostrophePlurals on 24/09/2023 - 10:49

      Just had a look at Felix. Not a bad option. Get a $25 dollar plan for one month plus international roaming for $20. This looks like a pretty good option for my wife, and bonus of having a phone number. The only issue is we'd need to signup up the day before we leave and cancel when we get back so we don't pay another month.

      • jackofspade on 24/09/2023 - 11:29

        Sign up via random referral to get $35 credit then use the credit for international roaming

    • yoho on 24/09/2023 - 20:16

      Felix (e-sim) worked very well for my son in the USA.

      In general, I think everyone who travels should move to an AU e-sim, freeing up the physical SIM slot for a local SIM.

  • soan papdi on 24/09/2023 - 10:52

    Simsdirect and airalo are also options. I just used simsdirect in Japan and it worked well. They’re both data only though, no phone number.

    • NoApostrophePlurals on 25/09/2023 - 00:18

      Simsidirect doesn't have one that suited my needs. I'd need to get two separate ones to cover my countries. airalo is looking good, though!

  • NoApostrophePlurals on 24/09/2023 - 10:56

    I checked out reviews for airarlo and the reviews are generally positive. I'm leaning towards airarlo for myself plus the $20 call and text only roaming on Amaysim plus an airalo eSIM, but need to confirm that I can use my aussie number for calls and text only and eAIM for data only at the same tiem. And Felix for my wife.

  • parisian on 24/09/2023 - 11:05

    3HK esim might be a great solution.

  • SmiTTy on 24/09/2023 - 20:53

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/801682

    Esim south east Asia Explorer 8 might be closest but missing China and japan.

  • victorzzzzz on 20/10/2023 - 08:15

    by my3 hk sim ， it has esim and more cheaper

  • zooter on 08/09/2024 - 21:10

    @NoApostrophePlurals - what did you go with finally? Was Airalo good?

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