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Heading to the US, Turkey, Thailand or anywhere outside the EU? Using your Irish SIM there can get expensive fast. A travel eSIM is a data plan you download to your phone before you go: no plastic SIM, no shop, and your Irish number stays on your phone for calls and texts. This guide explains when Irish travellers actually need one, what they cost, and the catches to watch for.
Prices checked on 10 November 2026 on each provider’s own website. eSIM prices change often, so always confirm the price before you buy.
The short version
- Travelling in the EU (and Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein)? You usually don’t need an eSIM: EU “roam like at home” rules let you use your Irish plan, within your provider’s fair-use limits.
- Travelling outside the EU (USA, Canada, Turkey, Asia, Middle East): a travel eSIM is usually much cheaper than roaming on an Irish SIM. Check your own provider’s roaming rates first.
- Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked. Most recent iPhones, Samsung Galaxy S and Google Pixel phones do; check your phone’s settings.
- Most travel eSIMs are data only. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other apps work as normal; ordinary calls and texts still go through your Irish SIM (and its roaming charges).
- “Unlimited” has limits: look for daily full-speed caps and hotspot limits.
What a US trip costs (examples)
Here’s what three of the best-known travel eSIM brands charged for the USA when we checked:
| Provider | Plan (USA) | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saily | 1GB / 7 days | €3.49 | Data only. Optional US phone number add-on. Plans start when you land. |
| Saily | 10GB / 30 days | €20.49 | Enough for a 1-2 week trip with maps, WhatsApp and some streaming. |
| Saily | Unlimited / 15 days | €40.99 | Full speed for 5GB a day, then up to 1 Mbps. |
| Airalo | Unlimited / 7 days | €23.50 | Runs mainly on T-Mobile. |
| Airalo | Unlimited / 15 days | €42.50 | |
| Holafly | Unlimited / 7 days | US$27.50 | Shown in US dollars when we checked. Hotspot sharing limited to 1GB a day. |
| Holafly | Unlimited / 15 days | US$50.50 |
For a typical week in the US, 5-10GB is usually plenty for maps, messaging, social media and the odd video call. Heavy streamers or people working remotely may prefer an unlimited plan, but check the daily speed cap first.
When you don’t need a travel eSIM
- EU/EEA countries: Irish mobile plans include roaming in the EU at no extra cost under EU rules, within a fair-use limit set by your provider. Check your plan’s EU data allowance before a long trip.
- The UK: EU roaming rules no longer apply to the UK, but many Irish providers still include it in their roaming. Check your provider’s roaming page before you go.
- Short trips with Wi-Fi everywhere: if you’ll mostly be in a hotel or on a cruise ship, Wi-Fi may be enough.
How to set one up
- Check your phone supports eSIM and isn’t locked to your Irish network.
- Buy the plan in the provider’s app or website and install the eSIM at home, on Wi-Fi, a day or two before you fly. Many plans only start when you arrive.
- When you land, choose the travel eSIM for mobile data and turn data roaming ON for the eSIM but OFF for your Irish SIM, so you don’t pay roaming on both.
- Keep your Irish SIM on if you want to receive calls and texts (bank codes, for example), but remember calls received outside the EU may cost you.
The catches
- Fair use on “unlimited” plans: Saily’s unlimited US plan gives 5GB a day at full speed, then up to 1 Mbps; Holafly limits hotspot sharing to 1GB a day.
- Currency: some providers show or charge in US dollars, and your bank may add a foreign-exchange fee.
- Refunds: refunds are usually limited once a plan is installed or used, so check the destination and dates carefully.
- Phone numbers: most travel eSIMs don’t include a local phone number; Saily sells a US number as an add-on.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my Irish number?
Yes. Your Irish SIM stays in your phone. You use the travel eSIM for mobile data and can still receive calls and texts on your Irish number (roaming charges may apply outside the EU).
Do I need one for a holiday in Spain or France?
Usually not: EU roaming rules let you use your Irish plan in other EU countries. Check your plan’s EU fair-use data limit for long stays.
Which travel eSIM is best?
It depends on your trip. For a short trip with light use, a small data plan is cheapest; for heavy use, compare unlimited plans and their daily speed caps.
Sources (checked 10 November 2026): Saily USA plans, Airalo USA plans, Holafly USA plans. We don’t earn commission from these providers at the moment; if that changes, we’ll say so on this page.