How to avoid roaming charges when travelling

Roaming charges are one of the few travel costs that can genuinely blindside you — a normal week of maps, messaging, and social media can turn into a surprisingly large bill if your home carrier's roaming rates apply by the megabyte. The fix isn't complicated, but it does need a bit of planning before you fly, not after you land.

Before you fly

• Check whether your home plan includes any free roaming for your destination — some plans cover certain regions but not others
• If it doesn't, turn off automatic data roaming on your regular SIM so you don't rack up charges without noticing
• Confirm your device supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked, if you're planning to use a travel eSIM
• Compare live BrisqNet plans for your destination and install the eSIM before you travel, while you still have home Wi-Fi
• Download offline maps, translation packs, and any documents you'll need before you lose a familiar connection

During your trip

• Switch on your travel eSIM's data line once you land, and leave your home SIM's data roaming switched off
• Use Wi-Fi where it's available and trustworthy — hotels, cafés, and accommodation — to save your data allowance for when you're out and about
• Check your data usage in-app if you're on a fixed allowance, so you're not caught out near the end of your trip

Why a travel eSIM avoids the problem entirely

The core issue with roaming is that pricing is often opaque until the bill arrives. A travel eSIM flips that — you choose a plan with a defined data allowance and price before you travel, so there's no ambiguity about what a day of normal use will cost you.