Try an e-sim or choose an operator that has home-from-home roaming, and turn off data on a cruise
UK travellers can face big phone bills after returning from an overseas holiday.
Since the end of the Brexit transition period, operators are not obligated to guarantee surcharge-free roaming across the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes EU states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
Many major UK mobile operators now have a daily “roaming” charge for customers to make phone calls, text, and use mobile data while in the EU. These charges are typically around £2–3 per day and may require you to opt in to avoid higher bills. Customers who go over their allowances while outside the UK can incur further charges.
Higher costs apply if you use your phone outside of the EU or EEA. If you plan to use your phone while overseas, be sure to check your operator’s charges and what is included in your contract.
Turning off roaming and voicemail, sticking to Wifi, and downloading anything you need before travel can all help to avoid a high bill or needing to pay a daily data charge while you are overseas. Another option is to purchase an e-sim that includes data for use in the country you are visiting, or to buy a Wi-fi hotspot.
What do operators charge for using your phone in the EU?
Three out of four of the major mobile operators have daily charges for roaming (use of mobile data). You typically need to opt into a roaming plan to avoid being charged per phone call, text, and 500MB of data.
EE charges £2.59 a day for customers on a contract and £2.50 a day (£10 for seven days) for pay-as-you-go.
O2 does not charge customers for roaming in the EU, nor does Tesco Mobile until 2026, or Asda Mobile, Giffgaff, iD Mobile, Lebara, Lycamobile, Smarty, or Superdrug Mobile.
Three includes roaming for Europe and countries outside Europe on some plans. It restricts this to 12GB of data, and you cannot use tethering (using your phone as a Wifi hotspot for another device) while overseas. Buying a data passport can offer more access.
Vodafone charges pay-monthly customers £2 per day for data roaming in 49 European destinations, and £6 per day for worldwide destinations. Ireland, the Isle of Man, Iceland, and Norway are included at no extra cost, as if you were using data in the UK. Rules vary for other customer plans.
Sky Mobile charges £2 a day for roaming passport plus, which includes 55 destinations.
Talk Mobile puts countries into different zones that have their own price plans.
Voxi has charges for a day or for a set number of days.
Several operators that charge for roaming outside of the UK have a “fair usage” policy where you can only use a set amount of data at the price you would pay in the UK.
What is an e-sim, and how do I use one?
Turkey has restrictions on the use of e-sims (Photo: bojanstory/Getty)
An e-sim – the digital version of the sim card in your phone – allows you to buy data for use in another country, in several countries, or globally. You can purchase e-sims online and switch to the e-sim when you arrive at your destination. They are most useful outside the EU, where daily roaming costs tend to be higher, and compatible with many smartphones.
E-sims are just for mobile data, your usual sim can be used to make calls and to text – although check the charges for this.
Most major providers offer e-sims, but there are other companies selling e-sims, such as Airalo, Amigo, and Holafly.
Note that some countries may have rules around the use of e-sims. Turkey, for example, has recently restricted access to some e-sims within the country. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises checking with your provider before travelling to Turkey.
Airalo said that customers travelling to Turkey can still use their e-sims, but that they will need to buy and install their e-sim before travel. It added that customers should top up their data before it runs out to ensure the e-sim continues to work in Turkey.
What is a Wifi hotspot, and how can I use it?
A Wifi hotspot can be a mobile phone or another physical device that provides an internet network that you can connect your phone, computer, or tablet to. Hotspots use 4G or 5G and, as such, rely on data. Check the charges for use of a Wifi hotspot while abroad.
Why you should be careful with data use on cruises
Using 4G or 5G on a boat or ship while at sea comes with maritime roaming charges. Ships use satellite communications, rather than mobile networks, and bills can be high. Avoid charges by switching your phone to airplane mode – or turning off data roaming – and using the ship’s Wifi, although this may also come with a cost.
What about outside of the EEA?
Most network providers have another package for use of mobile data outside the EU/EEA. Even 02, which offers EU roaming on a home-from-home basis, only includes data roaming outside the EU on a different plan.