Holafly: a SIM card for your travels abroad (+ promo code)

To get a 5% promo code on Holafly’s services, click this link (the promo code will be applied automatically). For the eSIM service, use the promo code TOURDUMONDE5CONTINENTS

Even though our elders didn’t wait for the Internet to travel, we have to admit it’s much (too?) easier today.

To have Internet, you can settle for the Wi-Fi networks you’ll find just about anywhere in hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, …

On our end, we prefer having Internet at all times on our smartphone to, for example:

Book an Uber as soon as we arrive in a country (to avoid getting ripped off by taxis)
Use Google Maps freely (and be able to plan public transport routes)
Check the reviews of the restaurant we’re considering eating at (and avoid tourist traps)
Use Google Translate (especially to translate menus in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean on the spot, …)
Post your best photos on Instagram (or not)
…

In short, we’d struggle to do without Internet.

To have Internet on your smartphone, there are traditionally three solutions

Solution	Benefits	Drawbacks
Use your French SIM card	The simplest, you don’t have to do anything	Risk of costing you a fortune if you haven’t taken a specific plan and roaming isn’t free
Use an international SIM card	A single SIM card gives you Internet in every country in the world	Rates vary by country, but it will never be the most economical option.
Use a local SIM card	Generally the most economical option. It also lets you have a local phone number.	Not necessarily easy to get. There can be long lines at airport shops (they might even be closed if you arrive at the wrong time). Once in town, the language barrier can make buying a SIM card complicated.

If you prefer to plan ahead, there’s a fourth solution. Services like those d’Holafly let you order your SIM card before you even leave while benefiting from optimized rates.

The Holafly SIM card: what is it?

Holafly is a company that has made deals with many phone carriers around the world to offer a SIM card to travelers.

The principle: order the SIM card for the country you’ll be traveling to along with an activation date. Holafly sends you a SIM card by mail. When you arrive at your destination, you just need to put the SIM card in your smartphone, and you’ll have Internet!

Holafly: a ready-to-use SIM card

The Holafly SIM card is designed to avoid any risk of issues. It comes with adapters to fit nano-SIM, micro-SIM and standard SIM formats.

It also comes with an ejection pin, which is really handy since it’s always a hassle when you don’t have one on hand.

Very fast delivery times

Even if you leave it to the last minute, Holafly has you covered.

By default, delivery takes 4 business daysIn that case, delivery is free.

You can opt for delivery within 2 business days for €7.

Or even delivery in 1 business day for €14 (if you order before 3 p.m.).

Holafly: how much does it cost?

Prices vary depending on the country you’re visiting and the length of your stay.

For example, here’s what Holafly offers for China.

For €27, you get 5GB to use over 8 days. Nice bonus: a built-in VPN so you can use WhatsApp, Facebook, or Google services. Which is far from easy to do in China.

For comparison, you can buy at Beijing airport a 10GB card valid for 7 days for the equivalent of €12.50 (but with about an hour’s wait and no VPN included).

With our international SIM card, there’s no time limit on usage, but data costs €25 per GB.

How to check your remaining balance?

It’s very simple: just dial the following code *118*50# and tap the “call” button.

E-SIM: the solution of the future

Few phones are compatible so far, but it’s clearly the way forward: the e-SIM.

Instead of needing to receive a physical SIM card, you just scan the QR code right after purchase. No more waiting time!

Holafly already offers this solution for about twenty countries, and we’ve tested it (check it out here)

Holafly: enjoy a discount code

If you’d like to use Holafly’s services, just click this link, and you’ll automatically get a 5% discount.

You can also use the promo code TOURDUMONDE5CONTINENTS

Holafly: our review

During our trip to Montenegro, Holafly was kind enough to send us a SIM card so we could put their service to the test in real conditions.

The service is very professional since you receive the tracking code along with the letter (sent by DHL) by email.

The packaging is nice.

The SIM card is pre-cut so that it can be used with any type of smartphone. You even get the pin to open the SIM tray.

Installation is very simple since you just need to insert the SIM card into the phone and it activates automatically. You’ll receive an SMS confirming this (little surprise, the SMS is in… Thai ^^).

During our stay in Montenegro, we also ran a speed test.

It’s quite decent: 28 down and 5 up, but not as good as with a local SIM card we bought there (58 down and 14 up).