The Best eSIM for Asia: Holafly Review

Last month, I tested an eSIM from Holafly for my trip to South Korea. During my trip, I was looking to see what the data usage was like, the internet speed and connectivity, and the ease of use. This is my review of using Holafly as my preferred eSIM when traveling in Asia.

Truthfully, I’ve become a bit of a lazy traveler when it comes to optimizing for cost and cellular data usage. I spend about 6-7 months internationally each year, with the habit of paying for the abroad data plans with my American carrier. It’s costly, running almost $10-20 a day more, and then needing to pay extra when I’ve used all of my 5G data allowance, so I’m not on a slow 4G plan.

On this trip to Asia, I visited South Korea, so I tested out an eSIM from Holafly for this sponsored post to review and share my thoughts on their eSIMS. I was looking to see how good the eSIM was, if it was fast, and if it had reliable connectivity. Before my trip, I followed Holafly’s clear and easy steps for installing the eSIM and popped it on when I arrived at Incheon Airport.

Short on time and want to cut to the chase? This is it:

Holafly’s eSIM was super fast, I had unlimited data + internet access, and it cost less than half of what I normally spend. I don’t know why I haven’t been using this more often before. They even gave me a 5% discount coupon to share — the code is BONTRAVELER if you’re interested in getting a Holafly eSIM.

Using Holafly eSIMS for Asia travel is something I will be doing from now on, and I love that you can buy a regional SIM vs. a single country which I share more about below. Read on for more of my review about Holafly, using the eSIM, and more below!

The Best eSIM for Asia Travel

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eSIM Introduction and Basics

Let’s start with the basics if you’re considering an eSIM for the first time!

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card that is built directly into a device rather than being a physical SIM card. Remember the old days when you had to go to a local store to purchase a physical SIM? No more! It allows users to activate a mobile phone plan without the need for a traditional SIM card.

How Does an eSIM Work?

eSIMs essentially let you use data on your phone while traveling without needing to change your SIM card. You just scan a special code purchased from a carrier like Holafly, and it quickly gives you access to mobile data in another country, making it easy to stay connected. Just follow the installation steps, switch your mobile data to the eSIM upon arrival, and be good to go.

What to Know Before Purchasing an eSIM

• Device Compatibility — Make sure your phone or device supports eSIM technology. Not all phones or devices are eSIM-compatible, so check if yours can use it.
• Carrier Support — Ensure that your carrier or the carrier you want to use supports eSIM. Some carriers may not offer eSIM services, so you’ll need to verify this before buying.
• Plan Details — Understand the data plan and coverage offered by the eSIM provider, especially if you’re traveling internationally. Different plans have different data limits and speeds, this is important to consider.
• Installation and Activation Process — Be prepared to follow the activation steps, which may involve scanning a QR code or entering settings manually. Ensure you have access to the required activation information.
• Multiple Profiles — eSIMs can store multiple carrier profiles, but check if your device allows switching between them easily or if it limits how many profiles you can use.

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How I Tested the Holafly eSIM

For my 7-night trip to South Korea, I used a country-specific Holafly eSIM. In the past, I would eat the roaming charges on my carrier at around $20/day, which for a 7-day trip would be nearly $140. Instead, I tried out Holafly (as part of this partnership), and that eSIM cost around $36 for the entire trip.

The things I was most concerned about were connectivity, speed, and data allowance. I kept a close eye on these things as I needed good connectivity when traveling for work.

With my current provider, after I use a certain amount of data, it times me out to 4G speed instead of 5G, which is super cumbersome when traveling. For South Korea, I pre-purchased the Holafly eSIM and had it installed and ready to go on arrival, simply switching my data carrier to the eSIM when I landed at the airport. I had immediate coverage that was stable and fast.

To cut to the point — I don’t know why I have been using my carrier instead of getting an eSIM. I had unlimited and fast data for my entire trip. Even when my friend’s data timed out on her American carrier (it was so slow, too), mine still had connectivity at a fast 5G speed in South Korea. That, truthfully, would have been me, too, if I had used my American carrier as we were using our phones all day to navigate Seoul. Plus, Holafly offers hotspot capabilities in over 200 destinations, so I could have even shared my connection if needed.

Holafly has unlimited 5G data plans, which is a must if you’re using Google Maps and any other platform all day when exploring abroad. I never had to worry about how much data I was using as Holafly offers unlimited data plans.

In South Korea because of Holafy, I had a phone that had great internet speeds, never was downgraded to 4G because of usage, and it was under half the cost of my usual international data plan. A total win for me as someone who travels internationally every month.

The one catch? You just need to set it up before you depart (you can install it at your destination too, but need a stable internet connection to do it) and follow their very clear steps for turning it on. It’s something that I will be planning for now for international travel. I was very impressed with how seamless the entire process was.

Travel Tip: If you’re wanting to get a Holafly eSIM for an upcoming trip, use my code BONTRAVELER for 5% discount coupon.

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What to Know About Holafly eSIMS

Pricing and Data Packages

The Holafly eSIMS are available for over 200 destinations around the world, all of which are unlimited data plans. It’s a big win if you have ever checked out other eSIMS that have you choose how much data you want (not the math I want to personally do or decide on). You can customize your plan by selecting only the number of days you need—directly on the website—so you’re not overpaying. This applies to destinations like South Korea, where prices for unlimited data plans start at $20.90 for 5 days, $29.90 for 7 days, and $36.90 for 10 days. Plans are categorized by duration and region/country in the app, and while some options may require purchasing extra days, the affordability makes it a non-issue.

Where it Works: Region vs Country

It’s set by region or can be for a single country. As an example, if you’re traveling to multiple countries within Asia, you could purchase an “Asia eSIM” that will work across its included countries. The price is slightly more expensive than a single eSIM for just South Korea. However, the math adds up if you’re traveling from Japan to South Korea and need connectivity for both.

Note: The Asia regional eSIM includes Japan, China, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Taiwan, Pakistan, Cambodia, Macau, and Laos. 

How an Holafly eSIM Works

Here’s how Holafly eSIM works in 5 simple steps:

1. Purchase a Plan — Choose and buy a Holafly eSIM plan based on your travel destination before you depart.
2. Receive QR Code — After purchasing, you’ll receive a QR code via email or the Holafly app or WhatsApp that is used to install the eSIM.
3. Install the eSIM — Use your phone to scan the QR code provided by Holafly. This will start installing the eSIM profile onto your device. You can also add the eSIM manually or use the one-button install for iOS 17.4 or above.
4. Activate the eSIM and Stay Connected — Turn on your eSIM upon arrival when you get to your destination. Enjoy using mobile data and having an internet connection for browsing, apps, and more, while still keeping your original phone number for calls and texts.

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Is Holafly Worth It?

An eSIM offers ease for travelers. It’s more cost-effective and reliable, and the ability to group by region with unlimited data single-handedly sets Holafly apart from other eSIMs. It’s something well worth taking the time to do before your trip and, in my opinion, a must for any international travel.

You’ll need connectivity to navigate any of these countries, specifically when you’re looking at Google Maps, using taxi apps in South Korea/Japan, and more. Long gone are the days of paper maps and books; you have a phone that gives you access to it all. It just requires an internet connection.

I was super impressed with how easy Holafly was to use and appreciated the fast speeds and connectivity. The best part? You can contact the customer support team 24/7 for help if you’re having any issues.

Stay connected with an Holafly eSIM—unlimited data, easy setup, and total peace of mind while you travel. Grab yours now and get 5% off with code BONTRAVELER or use my link!

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