Although holidays are meant for switching off, many of us prefer to stay connected while we’re away – even if just to upload our holiday snaps on Instagram. But using your phone abroad can be expensive.

Following Brexit, British phone users waved goodbye to cheap roaming in the EU with their network providers and vice versa for EU residents visiting the UK.

Depending on where you’re going, the length of your stay, and how much data allowance you need, an e-SIM could instead be the cheapest option.

What is an e-SIM and how do you use one?

An e-SIM (embedded SIM) is a virtual SIM card that you can download onto your phone, either via an app or by scanning a QR code.

There are many e-SIM providers to choose from, some of the most popular being Airalo, Holafly and Buoygues. Several mainstream phone networks such as EE, Orange and Vodafone also sell e-SIMs.

How do I know if my phone can use an e-SIM?

Generally speaking, most smartphones launched after 2018 will have e-SIM capabilities.

This includes Apple iPhones launched in/after 2018 – for example, iPhone X, XR and 11 upwards; Google Pixel phones launched in/after 2018 – such as Google Pixel 2 with Google Fi service and upwards; and Samsung Galaxy phones launched in/after 2020.

E-SIMs can also be used on eligible tablets and smart watches. If you’re unsure, you can check on the manufacturer’s website.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of e-SIMs?

There are many advantages of using an e-SIM when you travel. They are easy to purchase and install, and you get to keep your regular phone number.

You can switch between your usual SIM and e-SIM in your settings to control when you use your data allowance.

Both country-specific and regional e-SIMs (e.g. Spain or EU) are available, offering added flexibility.

On the down side, your e-SIM may only cover data roaming meaning you could end up paying more to make calls and send texts. This could mean it isn’t cost-effective.

What is a data pass and how do you use one?

In some cases, if you’re on a monthly contract with a network provider, data roaming might be included in your plan.

If not, there’s usually the option to purchase a one-off data pass, sometimes known as a data passport, roam abroad pass or travel data pass. This unlocks either your plan’s allowance abroad or an additional capped allowance of calls, texts and data to use overseas.

Like e-SIMS, data passes are virtual and can be purchased via your network’s website or app.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a data pass?

Data passes can be purchased from your usual provider and added to your next monthly bill, making them easy and quick to activate.

As with an e-SIM, you are able to keep the same phone number – but a key advantage is that data passes are more likely to include calls and texts as well as data.

When it comes to data passes, however, there’s less choice compared to e-SIMs, which offer country-specific packages as well as regional, continental and worldwide plans

You may also find that your destination is not covered by the data pass as it depends on where your network has partnerships.

e-SIM vs data pass: Which is cheaper?

When the UK was part of the EU, most providers allowed British phone users to roam in Europe for just £2 (€1.70 based on December 2019 conversion rate) per day and it was almost always the cheapest option. Likewise, EU residents had a good deal when roaming in the UK.

Following Brexit, the price to roam went up on both sides of the Atlantic. But depending on your phone plan and how long you’ll be travelling for, it could still be cheaper than an e-SIM.

To give you an idea, we compared the cost of roaming in Europe for one week below.

It’s crucial to shop around to find the best deal for your needs. And remember, you can always avoid extra costs altogether by turning off your data roaming and just relying on WiFi while you’re away.

Travellers, including British tourists post-Brexit, will soon face a new hurdle when visiting Europe.

Although a launch date has yet to be announced, it’s likely the ETIAS will become official in the first half of 2025.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System will require travellers to complete an online application, provide personal details, answer security questions and pay a €7 fee. This authorisation will be linked to the traveller’s passport and will be valid for three years or until the passport expires.

The ETIAS is separate from the new EU Entry/Exit Scheme which will also affect Brits and launches 10th November.

Flora, a Brit and mother of two young children, is among those affected by the changes.

“Traveling with kids is already challenging, and now we have to deal with extra paperwork,” Flora said. She and her partner Alexander, currently on a staycation in the UK, are frustrated by the new requirements that add complexity to travel plans.

“I was a staunch proponent of remaining in the EU, so it’s just another slightly disappointing hurdle that we’re all having to face in our ability just to feel like we can be freely part of Europe. But it’s a reality of what happened with the Brexit vote back in 2016, I suppose.”

What is ETIAS, and who will have to comply?

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is a new system that non-EU travellers will have to navigate. It is part of the EU’s efforts to improve border security.

Under the new ETIAS rules, travellers from non-EU countries will have to apply before visiting the Schengen Area, which includes most EU countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Most travellers from outside the EU will need to comply with ETIAS, but there are some exceptions. The fee will be waived for children under 18 and adults over 70, although they will still need to apply for authorisation.

Additionally, there will be a grace period of at least six months when ETIAS is first introduced. This will give travellers time to adjust to the new system, but early application is recommended to avoid any travel disruption.

How will ETIAS affect British travellers?

Rob Staines, an independent travel expert, explained the impact of this change for British tourists, saying it is a reality of post-Brexit travel.

“We were asked to be deemed a third country when we left the European Union and this is extra red tape and extra layers of complexity when it comes to travel,” he said.

“But I think if we look in the grand scheme of things, it’s completely acceptable and understandable that the EU wants to strengthen their borders. But unfortunately, that comes at a cost.”

Despite these new measures, Staines believes it won’t deter British travellers from visiting Europe.

“Over 17 million Brits visited Spain last year. It’s our number one holiday destination. I don’t think this small price to pay and this extra layer of bureaucracy is actually really going to put off people traveling. If anything, it could make people want to travel to the EU more because it’s making it a safer place to go. It’s ensuring that people don’t overstay their welcome and it’s a way for the EU to protect their borders.”

“What the UK’s Labour government is doing at the moment is trying to repair those broken relationships that we have and create a better situation after Brexit,” he added.

“It’s one of those situations that we just do have to keep an eye on, but actually, yes, it’s going to make travel harder. It’s going to make travel slightly more expensive for us as well, but we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.”

Rome could soon launch a ticketing system to enter one of its most iconic sites.

Authorities in the Italian capital say they want to start the scheme at the Trevi Fountain as part of ongoing plans to both reduce crowds and promote “sustainable tourism”.

The 18th-century fountain has long been a ‘must visit’ for tourists to the Eternal City, but it is frequently overcrowded and rife with pickpockets.

“Personally I would be in favour of looking at a new form of access, limited and timed, to the Trevi Fountain,” Alessandro Onorato, Rome’s city councillor responsible for tourism, told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

If enforced, it would act as “a [ticket] reservation system – free for Romans and costing a symbolic one euro for tourists”, Onorato added.

Despite that cost, the city’s authorities say the goal of the charge is not to raise money, but to lessen and control crowds, while stopping them from “eating ice cream or pizza on a monument that deserves the proper respect.”

How likely is it that the Trevi Fountain plan will go ahead?

The fountain is one of the most visited attractions in Italy – and the wider world. That means it is frequently packed full of people who struggle to get a glance of the icon, designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi.

While  Onorato is keen to see the ticketing scheme in action, a spokesperson for the municipality told the AFP news agency that the proposal is merely “an initial idea – there is nothing concrete yet”.

“It is a delicate, difficult issue, but sooner or later it must be addressed,” the spokesperson added, “Tourism in Rome, which is reporting record numbers, must be made sustainable for the city and the environment.”

Rome sees on average 35 million visitors each year and that number is set to be higher still in 2025 as the Jubilee, a year-long religious event held in the city and the Vatican, is set to attract millions more.

Where else in Italy charges for entry – or is planning to?

If the Trevi Fountain fee did come into action, it wouldn’t be the first attempt in Italy to control crowds.

Earlier in 2024, Venice trialled a €5 ticket for day visitors arriving during peak periods, with the aim of encouraging people to come at less busy times. The trial had mixed responses from authorities and locals, but is likely to be repeated in 2025’s peak season.

Earlier this week, it was also announced that prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s government is considering raising Italy’s tourist tax to tackle overcrowding in busy cities, including Rome and Florence.

If that goes ahead, visitors staying in local accommodation overnight will have to pay up €25 (£21) a night per person.

That proposal has been met with anger by some leaders in hospitality, with a number suggesting it will damage the industry and put many people off visiting Italy altogether.

In the same vein, Onorato told the Corriere della Sera that authorities in Rome would ideally like to limit the opening of new Bed And Breakfast accommodation and holiday homes in order to reduce the pressure on the city’s historic centre.

Currently, though, they don’t have the power to do so: “Today we can limit the number of restaurants or fast-food outlets in the historic centre, but we cannot prevent the opening of non-hotel facilities.”