The eSIM Lounge Blog
Staying connected abroad
Guides to travel eSIMs: what to buy, how to install it, and how the options compare country by country.
Latest guides
October 17, 2026 1 min read
Will my phone work in Canada? What each US carrier includes in 2026
Most US unlimited plans include Canada at no extra cost, but cheaper plans and prepaid brands often do not, and some cap the data. Carrier by carrier, what you get in Canada, the border-roaming catch, and when a travel eSIM is worth it.
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October 16, 2026 1 min read
Will my phone work in Europe? What US travelers need to know in 2026
Your US phone works in Europe, as long as it is a recent model. What Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile charge there, why calls can fail where data works, free Wi-Fi calls home, the plugs you need, and when a travel eSIM costs less.
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October 16, 2026 1 min read
Northern lights in Iceland: when to go in 2026-27, where to see them and how to read the forecast
The northern lights season in Iceland runs from late August to mid-April. The best months for 2026-27, where to go near Reykjavík and around the island, how to read the Icelandic Met Office forecast, how to photograph the aurora on your phone, and how to stay safe and online on dark winter roads.
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October 16, 2026 1 min read
Carnival in Brazil 2027: Rio's dates, Sambadrome tickets, and Salvador and Recife
Carnival 2027 in Brazil peaks from Saturday 6 to Ash Wednesday 10 February, with Rio's Sambadrome parades on 7, 8 and 9 February. Dates, tickets, the street parties, Salvador and Recife, the e-visa for US citizens, and keeping your phone safe and online.
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October 16, 2026 1 min read
Semana Santa 2027: dates, and where to see Holy Week in Spain, Mexico and Guatemala
Holy Week 2027 runs from Palm Sunday, 21 March, to Easter Sunday, 28 March. When the big processions are, where to see them in Spain, Mexico and Guatemala, what is closed, and how to stay online in the crowds.
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October 16, 2026 1 min read
Will my phone work in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean? Island by island
In Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands your US phone plan works as at home. In the Bahamas, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Aruba it is international roaming: what Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile charge there, and when a travel eSIM costs less.
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October 16, 2026 1 min read
Does the iPhone 17 have a SIM card? Not in the US: what eSIM-only means for travel
An iPhone 17 bought in the US has no SIM card slot, and neither do the iPhone Air or iPhone Duo anywhere. Which models are eSIM-only in which countries, how to check yours, and how to get data abroad when you cannot buy a local SIM card.
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October 16, 2026 1 min read
Is my phone unlocked? How to check, and how to unlock it before you travel
A travel eSIM only works on an unlocked phone. How to check yours in 30 seconds, the 2026 unlock rules at Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, and what to do if it is still locked when you fly.
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October 14, 2026 1 min read
Spain general strike 11 November 2026: flights, trains and what to do
Spain's 24-hour general strike on 11 November 2026, the Renfe strike on 29 October and six Ouigo strike days: what is confirmed, what is not, and your rights.
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