Traveling to UK from Ontario - What to use for Roaming?

[JONMILLS]

Anyone have any recommendations for using my phone in the UK as public mobile only does roaming for usa.

I've heard of e-sims not sure how they work.

I've used in the past a sim card i got on amazon but was a bit of a hassle and with postal strikes waiting on stuff is behind

Any ideas? Companies you recommend? Prices?

I need it for around 9 days.

[MadDog927]

eSIMs are great if your phone supports them. I have a Pixel 6 Pro which can take a physical SIM, but can also download virtual SIM files. In my phone's settings, I can turn on the SIM for the country I'm visiting, and then switch back when I get home.eSIMs

[hTideGnow]

hi @coliarny here is the whitelist 

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/on/get-help/articles/volte

[coliarny]

oh my can you explain the VoLtE whitelist? So frustrating that my whole family that uses non pm plans all have full use of their phones and I just can't seem to get it together.

[hTideGnow]

hi @coliarny the voice call problem is related with VOLTE.  You need to have a phone on PM's VoLTE whitelist to have voice service in US as US has decommissioned the 3G network 

[coliarny]

Just want to add that you also need to change your network to the local network. I found that out traveling to the US and i could text but not make phone calls. I hadn't changed the network, so I know for next time.  And I also agree with the airalo (eim) for data. Just download the app and it's very easy and affordable.

[hTideGnow]

yes, that is travel esim and only gives you data, no voice call or text

but you can use VoIP app like Fongo and TextNow for text and voice with the data

[JONMILLS]

Does Airalo give you data?

[JONMILLS]

Oh thats a good idea for that but i need to be able to have data to use my maps

[Rastin]

You could use WhatsApp or text now If wifi is available. 

[hTideGnow]

hi @JONMILLS 

yes, PM has no roaming in UK

best travel esim is Airalo

or you can check local data sim.  Three and Lebara are both good