When you travel across India you're never going to stay in one area for long. Whether you're taking the golden triangle you will be traveling from Delhi to Agra then Jaipur within days. Or if you're visiting Himachal you will travel from shimla to manali which can take hours due to distances between towns. Your phone becomes very helpful throughout the trip. From finding your way to the next destination and translating menus, to checking into hotels or simply letting your family know how your day is going.
This kind of constant connectivity would have been hard to come by ten years ago. Traveling to India, you would have most likely purchased data once you arrived. It's now more of a must when traveling and planned ahead of time, similar to your flight, rental car, and hotel. Below we will discuss why data has become so prevalent and the best options when traveling around India.
Holidaying in one city? You can survive with hotel wifi. A road trip around India, on the other hand, usually isn't. There will be times on the way from Delhi to Agra or through the mountains to Manali when you will need a phone to navigate to the next destination, speak to your driver, or find out when that fort opens. When traveling in India it's best to have a data plan that will allow you to do all of this and save yourself valuable time.
Another benefit is having a mobile plan that allows calls and data. If you're traveling by private car, you may need to contact someone during your trip. Perhaps your itinerary changes and you need to contact your hotel. Having a data plan that works for both calling and browsing can make life a lot easier.
Usually people will default to their home carriers. Roaming abroad is the easiest option, however, you may find yourself racking up huge bills from roaming charges. Especially when using maps on the phone for hours on end.
Using a SIM from India is another option that most people know about. This can save you money when buying data. You will need to go through the process of buying one though. They typically ask for some sort of ID, passport photo and other documents at the store or kiosk. Once you're at the airport trying to get this done, you'll wish you had a different solution.
Apps allow you to use eSIMs while traveling. As there is no physical sim card to buy, you can purchase a plan and activate it on the phone before you even get to your destination. You can also continue to use a regular line to make calls while having another profile active for data. This allows you to not have to worry about finding a sim card while you're traveling. There are many apps to choose from if you're interested in an eSIM for India. All these apps do the same thing but have different methods to activate and manage profiles. eSIM Plus is one of those apps and there are others to compare it to as well.
Since India is a large country, there are a few things to consider when choosing a data plan:
Connectivity isn't just for maps and messaging, it's also useful for paying for things while in India. Using digital payments through UPI has become very common all over the country whether it's paying an entry fee at a fort or buying something at a market. You will find yourself wanting to use it at a small dhaba if they offer the option to. Always having your data on when making these payments will come in handy.
If you tend to have most of your money in cash when traveling, this is something to note. Having data on the phone will allow you to pay for most things and save time. Just as data helps you find a way, it's also useful for everyday purchases like these.
These little things can make a big impact on a trip. If you download a connectivity app from an official app store, you'll avoid sketchy or fake versions. Another tip is to check the privacy policy of the app you're using for a data plan. Just know what you're sharing with them.
Never share or post your QR code for your esim online. This QR code will give access to that data plan. When on hotel or public Wi-Fi, avoid doing anything sensitive, like online banking. Once you're on a trusted network, hotel's private Wi-Fi, for example — it's a better time to do those tasks. If you're sharing your location with family back home or with your driver, know which app you're using and for how long. If you're sending it to your family back home or to your driver, know what app you're sending it through and for how long.
All these steps are easy to do before you leave on a trip. Think of it as one more thing to do when preparing for a trip. It can save you from some minor issues while traveling.
eSIM support is starting to expand into tablets and some wearable devices. It can be used for longer trips and have all your devices connected while on vacation. The activation process should keep getting simpler too, with fewer steps needed before you even leave home.
Maybe having internet access available when booking travel-related services. You could sign up for a data plan when booking a rental car.Which would benefit travelers by giving them more time to explore what they're traveling to. Instead of worrying about how they'll stay connected on their trip. They can spend that time at the Taj Mahal or Golden Temple in Amritsar.
When traveling around India, staying connected has become just as important as flights, cars, and hotels. There are so many things to consider when deciding to roam, use a sim or E-sim app. By looking at journeys through India, you can make a better-informed decision. If you're traveling through mountainous areas with limited service on a private car tour, remember that you only have a set number of days to make plans work. Add in using UPI everywhere, and it's no wonder staying connected is key. Once you take these tips into account, you can spend more time enjoying India.
