The phone feature travellers should check before their next holiday (cloned)
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
A phone feature you may never have used could get you online within a minute of landing, without hunting for airport Wi-Fi or changing your physical SIM card.
The most frustrating moment of a holiday can happen before you’ve even escaped the airport.
You switch off aeroplane mode, open the map to find your hotel and discover your phone has no useful internet connection. Now you’re standing beside the baggage carousel trying to decipher roaming charges, hunt down public Wi-Fi or find somewhere selling a local SIM card.
But there’s a phone feature that could get you online in less than a minute, and there’s a good chance you’ve never used it.
It’s called an eSIM, and travel connectivity company Holafly is offering them with unlimited data across more than 200 destinations. There’s no plastic card to collect, no tiny SIM tray to attack with a paperclip and no need to surrender your usual WhatsApp number.
You buy the appropriate plan before travelling, receive the eSIM instantly by email or WhatsApp and install it using a QR code, manual setup or one-tap installation on compatible iPhones running iOS 17.4 or later.
That means your holiday internet can be ready before you’ve even packed your suitcase. You can check whether your phone is compatible and see the available destinations here.
The clever feature you might not notice at first
The most interesting part of Holafly’s latest offering isn’t necessarily the unlimited data.
Its new “Always On” benefit is designed for the moment your carefully organised travel plans begin to unravel. Once you’ve installed a Holafly eSIM, you automatically receive 1GB of backup data every month, with no further action required.
That could be enough to open a map, message your accommodation, check a booking or contact someone on WhatsApp when another plan has expired or your travel dates unexpectedly change.
It’s the sort of feature you may not think about until you suddenly need it, which is generally when airport Wi-Fi decides it would rather not cooperate.
You can find out how Holafly’s Always On backup data works here.
Unlimited data without changing your WhatsApp number
Holafly offers unlimited-data eSIMs in more than 200 destinations, giving travellers an alternative to paying their mobile network’s roaming charges or rationing a small data allowance.
The service is intended for navigation, messaging, uploading holiday photos, streaming and everyday browsing. Your normal SIM remains in the phone, so you can keep your existing number and continue using the same WhatsApp account.
Holafly says there are no hidden fees, so the price displayed for the chosen plan is what you pay. However, it’s still worth comparing the plan with any roaming package included by your UK network, particularly for a shorter trip.
Remember that the Holafly plan handles mobile data. Using your normal SIM for calls, texts or roaming data may still result in charges from your usual provider, so check its settings before you travel.
Plans that cover more than one country
The service becomes particularly interesting if your trip involves several borders. Holafly now offers 11 regional eSIMs covering areas including Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, Oceania, Eastern Europe and the Balkans. There are also combined plans for China, Hong Kong and Macau, plus a Global eSIM covering 113 destinations.
This means you may be able to use one eSIM throughout a multi-country holiday instead of buying a fresh plan at every stop. You can explore the regional and global options here.
The refreshed Holafly app lets users check phone compatibility, install and manage eSIMs and monitor their plans in one place. Human support is also available around the clock through WhatsApp and website chat, which may be reassuring if the setup goes awry several time zones away from home.
Holafly says it has now sold more than 10 million eSIMs and holds a 4.5 Trustpilot rating from over 57,000 reviews. The company has operated since 2017 and now focuses exclusively on digital eSIMs rather than producing disposable plastic cards.
Is it worth checking before your next holiday?
An eSIM won’t make the airport queue move faster, stop your suitcase being sent to another continent or prevent someone reclining their seat into your kneecaps.
But it could remove one surprisingly common travel headache.
If your phone supports the technology, Holafly lets you arrange your connection before leaving home, keep your regular number and get online shortly after landing. The monthly backup data adds another useful safety net if your plans change.
Before paying your network’s roaming rate or searching for a physical SIM at the airport, it’s worth checking what an eSIM would cost for your destination.
You can check your phone, compare the available plans and arrange your holiday data by clicking here.
With the housing market continuing to shift in many parts of the UK, homeowners often choose to start by getting an up-to-date view of what their property could be worth. Estate agent Purplebricks offers a free, no-obligation valuation carried out by a local property expert familiar with current prices and demand in the area 📊.
The appointment typically includes an assessment of the property’s likely market value along with guidance on pricing and presentation if the owner decides to sell 💷. Valuations can be arranged online in just a few minutes by choosing a convenient appointment time and requesting a visit from a local property specialist.
👉 Book a free property valuation with Purplebricks here.