You arrive in another country and quickly realise that your mobile provider charges excessive roaming fees just to stay connected. It’s a situation many travelers have experienced at least once. While buying a local SIM card can solve the problem, it’s far from ideal if you want to remain reachable on your usual phone number, avoid wasting time on arrival or travel through many different countries. And while you could choose to rely on public Wi-Fi networks, they are far from safe. There is, however, a surprisingly convenient solution that many people still aren’t aware of. And although my Icelandic data allowance works across Europe, traveling to places such as Greenland or Patagonia requires a different solution.
For years now, eSIMs have been one of the most practical tools in my photography travel setup, with Saily as my preferred provider. Because I regularly meet participants on my photo workshops who face the same connectivity challenges, I decided to share my thoughts on eSIMs and why they are one of the simplest ways to remove friction from that experience. Let’s get started!
Disclaimer: When you make a purchase using the link in this article, I may earn a small commission from Saily. That said, all opinions in this article are my own and I would not be recommending Saily if I were not actively using it myself.
When traveling to Antarctica, for example, I get an eSIM that allows me to get cellular connectivity in every region I am traveling through. This allows me to stay on top of any travel plan changes that occur while I am on a flight.
Why Staying Connected Matters During Photo Workshops & Expeditions
While there is definitely appeal in being disconnected when traveling in remote places, there is also a practical advantage. When you’re part of one of my photo workshops, or photo expeditions, staying connected is mainly about being part of the group. For example, for every single photo workshop I host, I create a WhatsApp group. This group is active ahead of the photo workshops and is used primarily for sharing images and asking questions. It’s how updates are shared, meeting points are confirmed, and plans are adjusted as weather conditions change. In remote destinations, reliable mobile data helps you stay in sync with everyone else, avoid confusion, and focus on photography rather than logistics.
During my photo workshops, Whatsapp is an invaluable tool. We use it to communicate before, after and during the workshop about important updates, changes to the plans, and more. It’s therefore important to stay connected.
How eSIMs Simplify Traveling, Even in Remote Locations
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital version of a traditional SIM card that’s built directly into your phone, tablet, or smartwatch. Instead of inserting a physical card, you simply activite a digital mobile data plan by installing it through an app. This makes it easy to add a temporary travel data plan, or use local data abroad without changing SIM cards.
eSIMs remove many of the common frustrations of traveling for photography, whether you’re heading to Iceland, Greenland, or any other place globally. Instead of searching for local SIM cards, dealing with language barriers, and losing time on arrival, you can activate mobile data digitally before you leave or as soon as you land. That means you’re connected from the start, without disrupting the flow of the trip. This can be super handy in case something came up while you were in the air and has saved my travels multiple times already.
For example in Iceland and Greenland, eSIMs are by far the simplest way to stay connected and avoid excessive roaming fees. This is especially true in Greenland, where it’s sometimes impossible to find a place to buy a local SIM to begin with. Staying connected allows you to stay updated on transport logistics, weather updates and any other kind of critical information. This of course, also applies when traveling globally, making eSIMs a reliable solution across borders and continents. By using an eSIM provider such as Saily helps keep this part of your journey straightforward.
An eSIM is essentially an electronic SIM card that gets added to your phone in addition to your already existing SIM card. When active, it adds an extra connectivity bar in your status meny. Some phones even support up to 10 different eSIMs.
Why I Chose Saily As My Preferred eSIM Provider
After using a few different eSIM providers, while traveling for photography workshops, Saily became my preferred choice. While most of these eSIM applications provide similar experiences, I have found Saily to be the easiest to use for a variety of reasons. The setup of your eSIM is straightforward and be done anywhere – even before you travel – and it works reliably across multiple countries. One of the main advantages I have found is that I can use one single eSIM for multiple countries, combining multiple data allowance packages. With some other eSIM applications, I had to get different eSIMs for different countries which quickly became confusing.
Additionally, because Saily is affiliated with NordVPN, it also allows you to simulate your location to be elsewhere (for example your home country), has a built-in adblocker and protects your web traffic. All of this combined makes for a great package that allows you to travel stress-free. I want connectivity to just work, simply & reliably, and that’s exactly what Saily does for me.
Get 5% Discount On Your Next Saily Plan
If you want to use Saily, you can use discount code JVNPHOTO5 to get an additional 5% discount on whichever data plan you decide to use.
Saily is an excellent and easy-to-use eSIM application that allows you to get local cellular data plans wherever you travel to – saving you tons of money in roaming costs.
Conclusion
When you’re joining a photo workshop or expedition, anything that simplifies travel is worth considering. eSIMs won’t solve every connectivity challenge, but they remove a lot of unnecessary friction. By using a reliable provider like Saily, staying connected with the group becomes easier. This in turn allows you to focus on the experience, the conditions, and the photography itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are a few frequently asked questions to get you the most important information at a glance.
Should You Use An eSIM When Joining A Photo Workshop Abroad?
Yes. An eSIM allows you to stay connected immediately, without wasting time setting up a local SIM card. It also helps avoid excessive data roaming fees charged by your mobile network provider.
Do eSIMs Work In Remote Destinations Like Greenland And Iceland?
Yes, they do! In Iceland, they work pretty much everywhere. In Greenland, they work well in towns and populated areas. Coverage is limited elsewhere, but eSIMs are often the most practical option available.
Are eSIMs Useful For Antarctica Photo Expeditions?
While there is no cellular network in Antarctica, eSIMs are useful while traveling to the starting point of your expedition and when traveling home. They, of course, don’t replace satellite communication.
Why Choose Saily For Photo Travel?
Saily is easy to set up, works across borders, and removes unnecessary complexity during international travel.
Discover Jeroen’s Photo Workshops in Iceland, Greenland & Beyond
Ready to take your photography to the next level? Join me, Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove, on unforgettable photo workshops in Iceland, Greenland, Antarctica and other exciting destinations. Whether your passion is wildlife photography, bird photography, landscape adventures, or mastering drone photography, each workshop is designed to give you hands-on guidance in some of the world’s most spectacular locations.
From puffins in the midnight sun to Arctic foxes in the wild, from glaciers and volcanoes to dramatic coastlines seen by drone – these journeys are more than workshops; they’re once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Group sizes are kept small, ensuring personal mentoring and plenty of shooting opportunities.
Looking for something specific? Check out Jeroen’s…
- Wildlife & Bird Photography Workshops (Puffins, Arctic Foxes)
- Drone Photography Workshops
- Photo Workshops in Iceland
- Photo Workshops in Greenland
- Photo Workshops in Antarctica
Spots are limited – secure your place today!
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