First up, we’re with Telstra.

Before travelling, I activated international roaming, which costs $25 for 4GB with a 14-day expiry.

For me, this was mainly about peace of mind. 

As soon as we land, I can:

• use Google Maps (as an example) to get to our accommodation

• contact the hotel if needed

• book a taxi / Uber / Grab (depending on the country)

• search things when something goes wrong at the airport (on this trip — this was SO handy!)

We all know — when English isn’t the main language and the alphabet is completely different, having data straight away is a lifesaver 😅 agree??

It also allows me to set up eSIMs for the teens’ phones (because let’s be honest… they cannot survive without internet 😂).

Usually, I load their eSIMs once we reach the hotel.

But if the airport-to-hotel trip is long (like a 1-hour train ride), I’ll do it during the commute.

Sometimes the roaming pack also comes in handy when: 

• hotel Wi-Fi is slow

• Wi-Fi won’t connect properly

• or you just need data NOW

That said — this option isn’t ideal if you’re travelling on a tight budget.

For us, it was more about convenience over cost. 

Hong Kong (1 night only) 

Because we were only there overnight, we decided: 

• kids + hubby would connect to free Wi-Fi where possible

• my Telstra roaming was used for transport, maps, and searches

Our Hong Kong hotel only allowed 2 devices on Wi-Fi, so the teens won that battle so they could watch shows and stay connected on socials 😂

Japan (10 days)

In the past, we usually bought physical SIM cards at the airport (which worked a treat!). 

This time, we flew Hong Kong → Sapporo, arrived late, couldn’t find physical SIMs, and didn’t withdraw cash or bring Yen. 

👉 Lesson learned: always bring cash in Japan — especially when arriving late.

So, we ended up purchasing Airalo eSIMs: 

• 10 days unlimited data (no cap)

• $52.50 AUD each

Not the cheapest option for families — but very convenient.

Installation was straightforward and we had no connectivity issues at all.

We used the same eSIMs in Sapporo and Tokyo without any problems.

South Korea (Seoul) (9 days) 

We again chose Airalo for convenience: 

• 10 days unlimited data

• $52.50 AUD each

 We did have a few moments where the data dropped in and out, but overall it worked fine.

Teens stayed connected (minimal complaints — win 😂).

Vietnam (transit only) 

Airport Wi-Fi did the job since we were only there for a few hours.

Singapore (10 days) 

For Singapore, I did quite a bit of research and found Klook had the best value for us: 

• 10 days unlimited data (Singtel)

• $36.79 AUD each

 Installing the eSIM took a few re-reads of the instructions (not gonna lie 😅),

but once done — no issues at all.

Great connectivity, no capping, everyone happy.

Bali (less than 18 hours) 

We relied on Wi-Fi only since we were there for less than a day. 

Between: 

• landing close to midnight

• the plane sitting on the tarmac for over an hour

• and flying out again at 10am

 …it just didn’t make sense to buy SIMs.

One thing worth mentioning:

I ended up recharging my international roaming three times on this trip, which definitely added up — another reason this option leans more toward convenience than budget.

Final thoughts 

Overall, this setup wasn’t the most cost-effective option — especially for a family.

But it worked for us because we chose convenience, connection, and less stress.

Sometimes paying a little extra while travelling is worth the peace of mind — especially when moving between multiple countries.

💰 All prices listed are in AUD.

This is our honest feedback based on our trip this time around.

#January2026

Here’s our honest, real-world experience using SIM cards and eSIMs while travelling overseas.

Telstra International Roaming Option:

Airalo option for Japan eSIM

Airalo option for Seoul eSIM