Sim Local eSIM + Discount Code (Tried & Tested) 2024

Looking for a great eSIM for your next trip? My Sim Local review looks at price, reliability and coverage, plus I’ve got a handy discount code for you!

This blog post contains affiliate links where I may earn a small commission to support this blog (at no extra cost to you).

Once I have flights booked, hotels arranged and an itinerary in place, there’s one other key element I think about. Data service. With data roaming now cripplingly expensive (and let’s face it, Brexit didn’t help us Brits!) the most economic option is to organise an eSIM.

I’ve used eSIMs in several countries now, including Vietnam, Thailand, France, Spain, the USA and Canada. They’re amazing! I’ve been impressed with the service and convenience. They’re easy to install and allow you to get online from the moment you land. Long gone are the days of buying overpriced physical sim cards when you reach a destination!

Data is a lifeline when travelling! You’re able to access live updates, navigate using maps as well as staying connected with friends and family. When I started my travels, it wasn’t possible to be connected everywhere, but now I’m used to it, I’d struggle to travel without on-the-go information.

On my recent trip to the Florida Keys, I tested out the service offered by Sim Local, one of the top-rated eSIM providers. In this post, I’ll share my thoughts on setting up the eSIM, using it abroad, the prices and a few other details.

A quick introduction to Sim Local

Sim Local offer coverage in more than 140 destinations. Everywhere from Chad and Chile, to Turkey and Vietnam. If you’re travelling somewhere, this company is likely to offer an eSIM to keep you connected!

As well as organising an electronic sim for a specific country, Sim Local also offers regional eSIMs. For example, you could order an eSIM which covers all of Europe, so you can hop from country to country without having to buy a new plan. There’s even a Global eSIM, which works pretty much anywhere in the world where there’s a data service.

The plans are from local operators, so you’ll connect to stable networks when you’re abroad.

Oh, and in case all of this is gibberish to you, an eSIM is an electronic sim. It’s virtual. You download the data to your phone, but you don’t need to insert a physical sim card to your phone.  

Most eSIM companies offer data plans, so don’t expect to have a phone number for calls or texts. If you need that, you’ll need to find a plan that comes with a phone number. Personally, I don’t need that as I can use WhatsApp for calls / messages.

It’s a familiar brand too. I’ve spotted the name in Heathrow Airport several times before, and once I started using my Sim Local eSIM, I noticed the name more and more!

Setting up my Sim Local eSIM to use in the USA

I spent a week travelling around the Florida Keys. For this trip, I was working on a content campaign and would need to stay connected throughout. It was imperative I had a data connection 24/7.

I paid for my Sim Local eSIM for the USA a few days before travelling. There were plenty of options of data plans, from 1GB to 20GB, or even for unlimited data. I decided 5GB would be sufficient as it wasn’t a long trip.

I paid for the plan and received an email confirmation with details on how to activate my plan. This was very straightforward and done with the click of a button. There’s also an option to install it using Sim Local’s own app, but I didn’t find this necessary.

A few important notes about setting up your Sim Local eSIM:

• You must enable data roaming on your eSIM settings after you install the plan.
• You can only download the eSIM to a device once and should not delete it until you’ve completed your trip.

I set up my eSIM the day before I travelled, but didn’t turn it on. Once I was in the airport about to fly, I turned off my UK sim card so that it didn’t attempt to connect when I landed (and incur costly fees). Once I landed, I simply toggled the eSIM to ‘on’ in my data settings and my phone was connected to a US network.

Using my Sim Local eSIM in the USA

I was really impressed with the coverage and speed when I was travelling around the Florida Keys. I used my data immediately to plan our driving route from Miami Airport to Key Largo. I also WhatsApped my family to say I’d landed safely. A few hours later and I was using my phone to organise a take away delivery and to upload a few photos to social media!

The brand says they organise local plans at local prices, which means your network will switch according to the best coverage in the area you are in, rather than slogging away with slow connections.

Even when we were in the middle of the ocean on a boat trip, I had full reception. I was really impressed with the coverage. This may not always be the case for more remote areas, but the data speeds were fast and stable in the Florida Keys.

Are Sim Local eSIMs value for money?

The eSIM world is extremely competitive. I’ve used several different operators on my travels, but I’ve found Sim Local’s deals to be some of the best around.

5GB of data in the USA costs just $14 (£10.60), and lasts for 30 days. As a quick comparison, Airolo (one of Sim Local’s main competitors) charge £13 for the same deal.

Similarly, with Sim Local, a 50GB eSIM covering Europe costs $59 (£45). Meanwhile, Airolo’s is priced at £78.50! That’s a vast difference!

I forgot to check how much data I used in the USA, but it’s safe to say, I didn’t reach the 5GB limit on my seven-day trip.

Oh, and to make these deals even more reasonable, I’ve bagged you a 10% off deal! Just pop the code WANDERLUST in when you reach the checkout.

Using Sim Local’s customer support

One big benefit of buying a Sim Local eSIM is that they have excellent customer support. Obviously, you hope you won’t need any help, but if it’s the first time you’re setting up an eSIM, you might need a little assistance. For example, some smartphones require different settings.

As I have a Google Pixel, I needed to add in one little extra bit of information in order to activate my eSIM in Florida. The customer service team were online and able to help solve my issue immediately.

Would I recommend Sim Local?

After my experience in Florida, I’d definitely order a Sim Local eSIM for future trips! I thought the prices were great, coverage was excellent and it was really easy to set up.

If you’re travelling soon and looking to order an eSIM for your trip, don’t forget I’ve managed to sort you 10% off your order. Follow this link and enter the discount code WANDERLUST at the checkout!

I hope you’ve found my review helpful. Happy travels!