Category: Local Availability

Posts on local availability of SIM cards for travelers in each country.

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China SIM Cards For Travelers To China

Buying China SIM cards in China is difficult for travelers due to language barriers, national roaming charges, the lack of International calling on most cards and the sometimes high cost to call India. Beware also of the occasional scams!

 

General Availability
SIM Cards in China
SIM Cards in China

Most Chinese SIM cards are regional, which means if you travel to a different province you’ll pay higher rates, so try to buy a SIM card in the province where you’ll be spending the most time. SIM card information related to Beijing will be discussed below.

SIM Cards are sold everywhere in Beijing. You can buy a SIM card right at the airport. Alternatively, they are available in departmental stores, bookstores, post office, and sometimes on the street. The value of the card is stated clearly on the card, and that’s how much they sell it for. You might get a SIM card from a retail store on street, but you still have to go to the service point of the carrier for official registration and activation before using it.

 

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Italy SIM Cards For Travelers To Italy

Buying an Italy SIM card is relatively easy for travelers to Italy, and there are packs available that include some free calls to India. After the pack however, you may end up paying high rates to call India. Also, these SIM cards are not useful if you intend to travel to multiple countries

Availability of Italy SIM card
SIM Cards at Fiumicino
SIM Cards at Fiumicino

Italian sim cards are available at Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy. It has a Vodafone shop, at Area B, T1 Departures Mezzanine Floor and TIM shop at T1 – Boarding Area B. At branded shops you will pay the original price. You can get them in the shops of the providers where they will be registered as well. Top-ups can be bought at many more places like tobacconists(blue-‘n-white / black-‘n-white “T” signs), supermarkets, newsagents and even bars or coffeeshops

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Australia SIM Cards For Travelers To Australia

Buying Australia SIM cards in Australia is easy for travelers, but beware of per call connection charges of some SIM cards.

Registration

Visitors who come to Australia for a holiday and purchase a prepaid SIM card will need registration. You require your passport for registration.

General Availability of Australia SIM card
Vodafone at Sydney airport
Vodafone at Sydney airport

Australian SIM Cards can be obtained from phone shops at most airports such as Melbourne airport, Optus is located in T2 Arrivals, ground level, whereas at Sydney airport Vodafone  kiosk is located at T1 International (Arrivals) near exit A. Australian SIM Cards can also be obtained from a supermarket and online from mobile network provider’s website. Try to get your SIM card in a branded store of the provider at airports where you pay the original price.

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Singapore SIM Cards For Travelers To Singapore

Prepaid Singapore SIM cards are easily available for tourists at Singapore both at the airport as well as in town, but you need to watch out for being overcharged.

General Availability of Singapore SIM cards

Airport
Singtel at Airport
Singtel at Airport

Singapore prepaid SIM cards are available at the Changi International Airport at the 7-Eleven convenience store which operates 24 hours at the Departure Transit Lounge of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, Departure Check-in Hall at Budget Terminal. But they maybe overpriced at airport.

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Thailand SIM Cards For Travelers To Thailand

Prepaid Thailand SIM cards are easily available for tourists to Thailand both at the airport as well as in town.

General Availability of Thailand SIM cards

Airport
DTAC at Airport
DTAC at Airport

At the airport, outside of the International gates, there are kiosks for DTAC (blue colour), AIS (Green colour) and True Move (Red colour). Try to get your SIM card in a branded store of the provider, at airports or in malls or in 7-Eleven kiosks where you pay the original price. Many independent sellers will only sell you the SIM with a surcharge like a tourist SIM of 299 THB for 399 THB.

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Malaysia SIM Cards For Travelers To Malaysia

Malaysia SIM cards are easily available to tourists in Malaysia, right at the airport, but you may have to choose from a confusing array of providers.

General Availability of Malaysia SIM cards

The good news is that prepaid SIM cards are easily available in Malaysia for tourists right at the airport from an array of carriers and MVNOs. All you need is your passport and your local address.

The bad news is that the increasing number of options are confusing travelers. We hope to reduce the confusion via this post.

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UK SIM cards For Travelers To The UK

UK SIM cards are easily available to tourists in the UK, with low cost calling to India. However, you may want to buy them in town rather than at the airport.

General Availability of UK SIM cards
Look for this image
Look for this image

The good news is that prepaid SIM cards are easily available for tourists, and there is no document of identity and address needed to buy them.

Where?

They are available at the airport but they are cheaper to buy from the town rather than from vending machines at the airport. In town they are available at general stores, news agents, grocery stores and even at petrol stations. Look for this image for a SIM card.
You can also order a free Pay As You Go SIM card through the internet before you arrive in the UK. Unfortunately you’ll need to provide a UK-based address for the SIM card to be sent to as SIM card providers do not ship abroad