Hold onto your legacy plans if they include free roaming

[serfty]

The worse part of the Optus $5 per day roaming is that it doesn't let you use it in Countries where the $5 per day roaming doesn't apply.
...

For my part, the worst thing about Optus $5 roaming was it triggering the $5 charge when data was off and no calls/SMS were being received/ made.

I could fix it with long and often frustrating chats with frequent HUACA, etc. Then you had to keep an eye out for the account credit over the next months.

 

[serfty]

I never use roaming. Always cheaper to get a local Sim but I can get calls and text while I’m travelling

This was true but over the last 18 months the proliferation of eSIM providers has changed the game.

A USD30 Eskimo 10GB eSIM has a validity of 2 years. Combined with hotel wifi and other freebies (such a Frewie giving 3 days at no cost when travelling SQ) I have used 4GB in 14 months.

 

[SYD]

For my part, the worst thing about Optus $5 roaming was it triggering the $5 charge when data was off and no calls/SMS were being received/ made.

That was definitely a PITA - especially when it pinged twice within a few minutes…. I wonder if it’s still coughe?

But not roaming at all, is really bad.

We had a week in Uruguay. Optus didn’t connect at all. So couldn’t even receive an SMS. I needed to do some business online banking and couldn’t until we got across to BA.

I suspect if I’d stayed with Optus, I’d similarly would have had zero connectivity at sea on and off for the last few weeks - but amaysim has worked flawlessly.

 

[VPS]

This was true but over the last 18 months the proliferation of eSIM providers has changed the game.

A USD30 Eskimo 10GB eSIM has a validity of 2 years. Combined with hotel wifi and other freebies (such a Frewie giving 3 days at no cost when travelling SQ) I have used 4GB in 14 months.

Good point - I have an ongoing UK eSIM that I need for banking so that normally covers most of Europe and then get others when necessary

 

[DrGear]

Aaaaaand I just got the email from Optus. Welp, no need to continue with them so time to search around for a new provider.

Hooray for capitalism.

 

[SYD]

Aaaaaand I just got the email from Optus. Welp, no need to continue with them so time to search around for a new provider.

Hooray for capitalism.

If you’re travelling OS a lot, I can highly recommend amaysim. It’s the Optus LCC but works well in conjunction with one or more data eSIMs.

The only negative I’m aware of is they don’t support Apple Watch add on.

 

[DrGear]

I'll search round and see what I can find. Thankfully wifi calling exists, so I could probably survive on pocket wifi modules.