On the road
How to call from abroad without it costing a fortune
Calling over data is almost free, and calling on your usual line may not be. What to use in each case, local numbers included.
Nerea Aguilar 6 min Photo by Hulki Okan Tabak on Unsplash With data sorted, the other half of the problem is left: calls. And there it pays to keep three situations apart, because they are constantly confused and each one is billed differently.
The three situations
| What you want to do | How it works out best |
|---|---|
| Talk to someone back home | A call over a messaging app, which runs on data |
| Call a local number in the country | With plan minutes if it has them, or through the internet alternative |
| Be reachable on your own number | Your usual line, switched on and with data off |
Talking to home: always over data
A voice call over WhatsApp, Telegram or similar uses between 0.3 and 0.5 MB per minute, so around 20 or 30 MB per hour of conversation. With any data plan that is negligible.
A video call goes up to 3 or 5 MB per minute, so half an hour is more than 100 MB. Still manageable, but worth counting if your plan is small.
Calling a number in the country you are in
This is the awkward one: booking a restaurant with no website, calling a taxi, warning the flat you will be late. There are three ways out.
- If your travel plan includes minutes, use them. Not every destination has plans with voice, so check the sheet before you buy.
- See whether the business is on WhatsApp. In many countries that is the usual customer channel, more so than the phone.
- Ask your accommodation to call for you. Most places are happy to, and it solves the language problem at the same time.
Receiving calls on your own number
Within the European Union, receiving calls costs nothing extra. Outside it, it may cost depending on your tariff, and it is your operator who charges it, nothing to do with the eSIM you are carrying.
If you want to avoid it entirely, the way out is to ask whoever needs to reach you to write over a messaging app, and keep the line for what matters.
How to check exactly what your operator charges is in what your operator charges outside the EU.
Call forwarding, with care
Forwarding your number to another one can look like a good idea and usually works out expensive: forwarding is paid by whoever sets it up, and from abroad it is billed as an international call. If you are going to use it, check the terms with your operator first.
And emergency calls
They always work, from any phone with coverage, active line or not, wherever you are. In the European Union the number is 112, and in many other countries it works too or forwards to the local service.
That is why switching your usual line off entirely during a trip is not a good idea.
Frequently asked questions
How do I call home from abroad without overpaying?
Over a messaging app, which runs on data: a voice call uses 20 to 30 MB per hour, so with any data plan it is negligible.
Am I charged for receiving calls abroad?
Within the European Union, no. Outside it may cost depending on your tariff, and it is your usual operator who charges it, not the eSIM.
Can I call a local number with a data eSIM?
Only if the plan includes minutes, and not every destination offers them. As an alternative, many businesses answer on WhatsApp, or your accommodation can call for you.
How much does a video call use?
Between 3 and 5 MB per minute, so around 100 to 150 MB in half an hour.
Does 112 work abroad?
Yes, from any phone with coverage and even without an active line. In the European Union it is the common emergency number.
