Internet on your travels: Is Airalo the cheapest eSIM?

During a month traveling in Indonesia, one of my greatest needs was a reliable and inexpensive internet connection. For this trip, I chose Airalo as my eSIM provider.mainly due to the economic rates and flexibility to recharge data if it was used up, had already tested Holafly's eSIM and I was delighted, but this time because of my budget and type of trip I decided to try Airalo.

This option allowed me to explore the islands without worrying about overspending on mobile data, although it required constant monitoring of data consumption to avoid being disconnected unexpectedly. Here I will share with you in detail my experience with Airaloevaluating both its advantages and possible disadvantages.

Before I start telling you about my experience, I am going to explain some basic concepts that you probably don't know. Airalo is one of the first eSIM stores in the world. which offers access to more than 200 countries with affordable data plans. And in case you don't know it yet, an eSIM is a digital SIM which is installed directly on a compatible mobile device, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards. This means that you can purchase, download and manage international data plans without having to change your traditional SIM card..

From my experience with Airalo in Indonesia I can highlight benefits and some limitations:

Advantages:

• Ease of UseFrom purchase to recharge, the process is simple and technically uncomplicated.
• Economics and Expense ControlOne of Airalo's main advantages is its focus on economy. Airalo plans are noticeably cheaper compared to international roaming rates or even many local SIM card options. For example, in Indonesia, an Airalo data plan can cost as little as a few dollars for several gigabytes, which is ideal if you're traveling on a tight budget and know in advance that you don't consume a lot of data.

These limited data plans also help control spending because you know exactly how much you are paying and how much data you have left. Being able to predict this makes it easier to manage travel costs, especially during extended stays as was my case.

Disadvantages:

• Constant Vigilance: The need to monitor data consumption and recharge frequently is a drawback, especially if you prefer not to worry about data limits (For these cases you can count on eSIMs like Holafly's which is much better suited).

Purchase my Airalo eSIM was a simple process. Before arriving in Indonesia, I visited the Airalo website, selected the data plan for Indonesia, and completed the purchase. Immediately after, I received an email with a QR code and a detailed installation guide. Upon landing in Denpasar, I simply activated my phone, scanned the QR code, and within minutes I was connected. The eSIM activated seamlessly and I was online instantly, ready to begin my adventure in Indonesia.

During my stay in Indonesia, Airalo's eSIM became my primary means of connection. I used data for everything, but mainly for GPS navigation on excursions around Bali. However, having a limited data plan meant that I had to always keep an eye on my data consumption

Airalo offers a user interface where you can easily monitor your data usage. While this helped me manage my usage, it also added the task of having to recharge the eSIM on a regular basis. Whenever my data was about to run out, I needed to pause my activities to purchase and apply a recharge through the Airalo website, which was simple, but required an internet connection to access. I have to say that on more than one occasion I had to find a local wifi location to top them up, as I kept forgetting to check the app.

While services like Holafly offer the convenience of unlimited data plans, they are somewhat higher. For example, an unlimited data plan for one month in Indonesia could cost between $40 to $90 with other providers, while I spent approximately 30 USD in total with Airalo.adjusting the surcharges according to my consumption.

Another very important point to consider if you are considering buying a SIM card with Airalo is your data consumption. Depending on the trip, you may be more interested in an eSIM with unlimited data if your consumption is usually high and you plan to use social networks, that is why I I chose Holafly for my trip to Switzerland.. In addition, from holafly you can get a 5% discount with the code "MIRADASNOMADAS" or by clicking on this link:

Feature	Airalo	Holafly	GigSky
Coverage	200+ countries	200+ destinations	190+ countries
Plans Offered	By country, regional and global	By country, regional and global	By country, regional and global
Data Cost	From 4.5€ for 1 GB	From 6€ for unlimited data	From 5€ for 1 GB
Duration	7 days to 90 days	1 day to 90 days	1 day to 30 days
Unlimited Data	No	Yes	No
Ease of Use	High	High	High
Ideal For	Budget and long-term travel	Short or medium-term travel	Short or medium-term travel

Recharging the eSIM with Airalo in Indonesia was a process I had to go through several times. The process is intuitive and can be completed in a few steps:

1. Account LoginFirst, you connect to your account on the Airalo website using any available internet connection.
2. Select PlanYou navigate to the recharge section and select the appropriate data plan according to your estimated consumption for the following days.
3. Make Payment: You complete the payment using your usual payment methods. The recharge was applied instantly after payment.
4. Confirmation and Activation: After purchase, you receive an email confirmation and the data is automatically activated on my device, with no additional intervention required.

To avoid the surprise of running out of data, I implemented some practical strategies during my stay:

• Establish Consumption Alerts: I set up automatic alerts on my cell phone to receive notifications when my data consumption reached 75%, 90% and 100% of my limit (You can do it from the Airalo app).
• Efficient Use of Data: I opted to use data only when necessary and took advantage of free Wi-Fi connections whenever possible, especially for large downloads, social networking or video calls.
• Regular Review of the Airalo Portal: I frequently accessed the Airalo portal to review the detail of my data consumption, which helped me plan future recharges and adjust my daily data usage.

Based on my experience, Airalo is ideal for:

• Travelers on a Limited Budget: You want to control your spending and are willing to actively manage your data usage.
• Technically Adept Travelers: You don't mind monitoring and adjusting your data consumption regularly.
• Short or Medium Stay TravelersFor trips of short duration, where the balance between cost and convenience is a priority.

After a month of using Airalo in Indonesia, I can say that I was satisfied with the experience. Airalo's eSIM offers good value for money and suited my travel needs well. However, it is crucial to be prepared to actively manage data usage to avoid running out of service at critical times. If you're looking for an affordable option and are diligent about managing your data and don't spend a lot, Airalo is perfect for you. If this is not your case or you are not sure how much data you are going to spend, I would strongly recommend you to try Holafly's eSIM.is a little more expensive, but without a doubt offers the best connection and unlimited data at the best price.

Making this decision is important, if you buy an eSIM with Airalo and constantly spend data, it can be much more expensive than you originally planned.

• Can I use Airalo on any device? Airalo is compatible with any device that supports eSIM. To check this you must access your mobile device's settings, go to Network and Internet and find the option to add the eSIM.
• What happens if I run out of data? You must recharge through the Airalo portal, making sure you have some internet connection to do so or be connected to a wifi network.
• Is Airalo always the cheapest option? It depends on usage and country, but it is generally one of the cheapest options for international mobile data.