Baltics – Phone Travel Wiz

Planning on visiting Europe soon and want to see Estonia too? Good choice. Estonia is a Baltic state together with Latvia and Lithuania. Some refer to the Baltic states as Northern Europe, while others say they are part of Northern Europe. What everyone can agree with is that Estonia is a relatively cheap travel destination in Europe. It is also a cozy country with a lot of nature (if you go out of Tallinn, of course). Another thing that Estonia is famous for is the ridiculously cheap mobile data rates. It is incredible. You may have read my Buying a SIM Card in Estonia Guide where I briefly introduce the Estonian operators and talk about their prices. One of the operators may have intrigued you, so you decided to read my Elisa review, Super by Telia review, and/or Tele2 review. If you have done so, then you are already knowledgable about the telecom situation in Estonia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20bkq_TG9WU Even if you have gone through all those articles, it may still be difficult to decide which operator is the best. What if you are on a budget and do not want to spend a lot of money on data? What if you are about speeds and would be willing to pay a premium for that? What if you plan on using your Estonian SIM card in the EU to take advantage of free roaming? All these questions are difficult to answer when considering the operators separately. Therefore, I have created this Estonian Ultimate Comparison, where I take everything I know about the operators into consideration, compare them, and test them against specific variables. Based on all these results, it will be easier to determine which operator is the best for specific situations. With that being said, welcome to the quest to find the best Estonian prepaid SIM card for you. Let's get started. Telecom Providers in Estonia Estonia has 3 telecom providers: Telia Estonia, Elisa Estonia, and Tele2 Estonia. All operators have 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE networks. Also, each operator has 2 prepaid brands. The differences between the two are usually the price of the SIM card and the prices you pay for the packages. What are the sub-brands of each operator? Elisa: Elisa & Zen (youth-focused)Telia: Super & SimpelTele2: Tele2 & Smart (budget brand) Tele2 also sells a data-only SIM cards. As a result, you can choose from 7 SIM cards when visiting Estonia. What is the best Estonian prepaid SIM card? Elisa is, on average, the fastest Estonian operatorSuper is the cheapest operator in terms of data offered for money spent (€10 or less)Tele2 is the best for those who use a lot of data and do not mind spending more than €10Simpel is the best for EU roaming There is much more you need to know about these operators, so read along to find the best SIM card for your situation. That is me holding Estonian SIM cards Best Estonian Prepaid SIM Card Video Comparison Want to watch the video version of this Estonia SIM card comparison instead? You can! Check this video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_JMtBgSizs What Frequencies are used in Estonia? Estonia uses standard European frequencies and bands, which are also actively used in Asia. The frequencies are: 2G: 900 MHz and 1800 MHz3G: 900 MHz and 2100 MHz4G/LTE: 800 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2600 MHz on Bands 3, 7, and 20 (and 2100 MHz and 23 MHz on Bands 1 and 30 for Tele2) To learn whether your device supports these frequencies or not, go to this site to find out. As always, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator. How do I Buy a SIM card in Estonia? You can buy a SIM card at the official stores of the operators, in various supermarkets, and in kiosks called R-Kiosks. Estonians call SIM cards Kõnekaart. I had no problem speaking English to any of the salespersons in Tallinn. However, your experience may differ if you decide to buy your SIM card in a different town. Either way, you can just say SIM card + brand name, and they will give your SIM card. They, however, may not be able to assist you on how to activate it. Luckily, all the starter packs come with manuals in English, Estonian, and Russian. You may not be able to get a sub-brand SIM card at the official stores, though. For example, the Tele2 store in the Viru Mall in Tallinn only sold Tele2 SIM cards, not the Smart ones. If you look young enough, the salesperson at Elisa may ask you whether you want a Zen SIM card or not (Elisa’s youth-focused brand). I am not sure if you can get both the Super and Simpel SIM cards at Telia stores. When I tried buying a SIM card in the Telia store in the Viru Mall, I was told to go to the R-Kiosk across the store. I was later informed that if you top-up at an official Telia store, they will charge you a €1 administration fee. As a result, I got myself a Telia (Super) SIM card at an R-Kiosk. If you fly into Tallinn Airport, you can buy your SIM card at the R-Kiosk at the airport. They sell Tele2 and Super SIM cards there. Both are excellent choices, but you may want to go into town if you wish to buy a different SIM card. Do note that in Estonia, you do not have to register your personal details to use a SIM card. As a result, you can buy your SIM card without a passport. Once it has been activated, you are ready to go. How much do SIM cards cost in Estonia? The prices of Estonian SIM cards are criminally cheap compared to many countries around the world. A Telia Super SIM card costs €1 and comes with 50 MB and €1 in credit.A Telia Simpel SIM card costs €2.95 and comes with 50 MB and €2.95 in credit.An Elisa SIM card costs €1 and comes with €1 in credit.An Elisa Zen SIM card costs €3 and comes with €3 in credit.A Tele2 SIM card costs €4 and comes 3 GB, 300 minutes, and 30 SMS.A Tele2 Smart SIM card costs €1 and comes with 250 MB and €1 in credit.A Tele2 Data-only SIM card costs €4 and comes with 5 GB for 1 week. The cheapest Estonian SIM cards will cost you €1. Most of them will come with €1 in credit, but Tele2’s Smart SIM card will give you 250 MB in addition to €1 credit. The most you will pay for an Estonian SIM card is €4, a Tele2 SIM card, which will come with 3 GB, 300 minutes, and 30 SMS, or the Tele2 data-only SIM card that gets you 5 GB. I wish more operators around the world were as generous as Estonian operators. How do I Activate my Estonian SIM card? The activation procedure of each operator differs slightly. Activating an Elisa SIM card You need to activate your SIM card before you can top-up your card. A SIM card has to be activated by calling someone. In this case, I called the Elisa customer service line at 6 600 600 and ended the call as soon as I was connected. Activating a Super SIM card You can activate your Super SIM card by calling any (Estonian) number. The R-Kiosk salesperson recommended me to dial the Telia customer service number at 7010 1104, but you can also call the Super information line at 123. Activating a Tele2 SIM card Your Tele2 SIM card should be activated upon purchase. If you buy your SIM card at a Tele2 store, as I did, then the salesperson will activate the SIM card for you. I think the same applies when buying a SIM card at an R-Kiosk. They will scan the card, and it should be activated immediately. You will get a text message, in Estonian, welcoming you and listing your Tele2 phone number. How and Where can I Top Up my Estonian SIM card? You can buy top-up vouchers in official stores, supermarkets, or R-Kiosks. Europeans can do SEPA transfers, but it can take before such a transfer will be processed (and it is not clear whether the operators accept non-Estonian transfers or not). Online top-ups can only be done with Estonian bank accounts, unfortunately. When you get your recharge voucher, the instructions on how to redeem the voucher will be listed on the voucher. You usually have to dial a USSD code with your voucher code, text the voucher code to a certain number, or redeem it online. A Super top-up voucher I used. What packages do Estonian operators offer? Every sub-brand has their own packages. However, with Smart, you can purchase regular Tele2 plans while having a Smart SIM card. Let’s see what each brand has to offer to us. Super Packages Super has several combo packs and data-only packs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnEAJJT6284 Super Combo Packs The following Super combo packs are available. The data allowance can only be used in Estonia. All plans are valid for 30 days: €2: 2 GB, unlimited calls to Super numbers, and 100 SMS. Activation: Super App€3: 5 GB, 130 minutes, and 500 SMS. Activation: Top up at least €3 (auto-activation)€6: 4 GB, unlimited calls to Super numbers, 75 minutes to other Estonian numbers, and 200 SMS. Activation: Super App€8: 5 GB, 130 minutes, and 500 SMS. Activation: Top up at least €8 (auto-activation)€12: 5 GB, unlimited calls to Super numbers, 200 minutes to other Estonian numbers, and 600 SMS. Activation: Super App There is also the Super X plan. Super X is advertised as the plan for travelers. It costs €3 and comes with unlimited calls and messages in Estonia and the EU. For data, you will pay €0.002 per MB and €1 per 500 MB. After that, you will not pay anything more for the remainder of the day. Super Data-only Packs If you only want data, then you can get one of the following monthly Telia data packs: PriceDataActivation (dial)€1250 MB*147*250#€21 GB*147*1#€33 GB*147*3#€55 GB*147*5#€810 GB*147*10# You activate a plan by dialing the USSD code. Besides Super X, Super plans do not come with an EU data allowance. Simpel Packages Simpel has 2 combo plans and 5 data-only plans. Simpel Combo Packs Simpel has 2 combo plans that last for 30 days. Unlike Super, they do come with an EU data allowance. PriceDataEU Data CapOn-net MinutesOff-net minutesOn-net SMSLocal SMSActivation (dial)€41 GB1 GB3000 minutesNone3000None*599*4#€94 GB3.34 GBUnlimited600 minutes600 SMS*600 SMS**599*9# * 600 SMS is not separate. For both on-net and off-net use. You activate a plan by dialing the USSD code. Simpel Data-only Packs Below are Simpel’s 5 data-only packs. They come with an EU data allowance and are valid for 30 days. PriceDataEU Data CapActivation (dial)€1250 MB250 MB*147*250#€21 GB0.8 GB*147*1#€33 GB1.5 GB*147*3#€55 GB1.9 GB*147*5#€810 GB3 GB*147*10# You activate a plan by dialing the USSD code. Elisa Packages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N8nOqB3JIA Elisa has 3 combo plans to choose from and 6 data-only plans. Be aware that none of Elisa’s plans come with an EU data allowance. However, when I was in the Netherlands and tried my Elisa SIM card there, I managed to roam. I am not sure why and how, but it worked. However, it is not something that should be relied upon. Elisa does sell roaming plans if you are interested in those. Elisa Combo Packages The following monthly Elisa combo packs are available: PriceDataOn-net MinutesOff-net MinutesInternational Minutes*SMSActivation (call)€3NoneUnlimited3 hoursNoneNone95003€61 GBUnlimited6 hoursNone100 SMS95006€95 GBUnlimited9 hours1 hour100 SMS95009 * 100 minutes from Estonia to other EU numbers and Russian numbers. You activate a plan by calling the activation service number. Elisa Data-only Packages If you only need data, then the following 6 Elisa data packs may be of interest: PriceDataValidityActivation (text 95000)€1500 MB1 dayNET4G1€52 GB7 daysNET4G7€78 GB30 daysNET4G30€715 GB*30 daysNET4G30L€1012 GB30 daysNET30€2025 GB30 daysNET4G30XL * Speed throttled at 2 Mbps. You activate a plan by texting the activation code to 95000. Zen Packages Zen has 4 combo plans and 6 data-only plans. Like Elisa, the data allowance is for local use only, but Zen does sell roaming packages. Zen Combo Packages The following 4 monthly Zen combo packs are available for purchase: PriceDataOn-net MinutesOff-net minutesSMSActivation (call)€4250 MBUnlimited400 minutesNone95004€51 GBUnlimited500 minutes300 SMS95005€85 GBUnlimited600 minutes600 SMS95008€1515 GBUnlimitedUnlimited600 SMS95015 You activate a plan by calling the activation service number. Zen Data-only Packages If you are only interested in speeds, then the Zen internet passes are available: PriceDataValidityActivation (text 95000)€1500 MB1 dayNET4G1€52 GB7 daysNET4G7€78 GB30 daysNET4G30€715 GB*30 daysNET10**€1012 GB30 daysNET4G30L€2025 GB30 daysNET4G30XL * Speed throttled at 2 Mbps.** Text the activation code to 15300 instead of 95000 You activate a plan by texting the activation code to 95000 (or 15300). Tele2 & Smart Packages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXP8o6xtd5Y Regardless of whether you buy a Tele2 or Smart SIM card, the following packages are available to both Tele2 and Smart customers. You can choose from 3 combo plans and 4 data-only plans. Tele2 & Smart Combo Packages You can add one of these 3 combo packs: PriceDataMinutesSMSActivation (text 95002)€43 GB300 minutes300 SMSKH395€76 GB1000 minutes1000 SMSKH695€1012 GB1000 minutes1000 SMSKH995 You activate a plan by texting the activation code to 95002. Tele2 & Smart Data-only Packages Only need data? Then these 4 Tele2 data packs may be for you: PriceDataActivation (text 95002)€21 GBD195€55 GBD495€87 GBD795€20UnlimitedDALL You activate a plan by texting the activation code to 95002. Tele2 data-only SIM card The Tele2 data-only SIM card has 3 data plans: PriceDataValidityActivation (text 95002)€3.505 GB7 daysDATA5€9.5015 GB30 daysDATA15€1530 GB30 daysDATAXL You activate a plan by texting the activation code to 95002. Do note that some sub-brands charge you €0.03 or €0.05 to activate a plan through text. I like to round numbers to the nearest 0, meaning that €1.95 becomes €2. If the price I listed is a round number, assume it end with .95 or .45. As a result, you do not have to top-up €2.05 to activate the “€2” plan, for example, as you will be charged €1.95 + €0.05 = €2 instead. What is the Best Estonian SIM Card? Now that you know everything there is to know about the 7 Estonian SIM cards, it is time to check which one is the best for your situation. The Best Estonian SIM Card for Budget Travel You are traveling in Estonia and are on a budget. You do not want to spend a lot of money on mobile data in Estonia. Which SIM card will be the best? The answer changes depending on how much you are willing to spend on data. Spending €1 In many countries, wanting to spend €1 would get you nothing, not even a SIM card. However, in Estonia, you can get some sweet deals for just €1. In these scenarios, the price of the SIM card is included. For €1, you can get: A Telia Super SIM card costs €1 and comes with 50 MB and €1 in credit.An Elisa SIM card costs €1 and comes with €1 in credit.A Tele2 Smart SIM card costs €1 and comes with 250 MB and €1 in credit. Just seeing this would make you think that a Smart SIM card would be the best. Well, not so fast. Super: the standard data rate is €1 for 200 MB (daily cap). After that, speeds will be reduced to 2G speeds (32 Kbps)Elisa: the standard data rate is €1 for 200 MBSmart: the standard data rate is €0.04 per MB. For €1, you would get 25 MB. For €1, you can get: 50 MB + 200 MB = 250 MB with Super200 MB with Elisa250 MB + 25 MB = 275 MB with Smart Smart still looks like the best option, but something is missing. Super will give you 1 GB for free if you download the Super app and confirm your email address. This brings Super’s total from 250 MB to 250 MB + 1 GB (1024 MB) to 1274 MB. Super will be the best SIM card if you only want to spend €1 on data. Spending €5 With €5, you have access to all starter packs that come with an allowance. Elisa: €1 - €1 credit.Super: €1 - 50 MB and €1 credit.Smart: €1 - 250 MB and €1 credit.Simpel: €2.95 - 50 MB and €2.95 credit.Zen: €3 - €3 credit.Tele2: €4 - 3 GB, 300 minutes, and 30 SMS.Tele2 Data-only: €4 - 5 GB. With this information, let’s see what you will get when you buy the most expensive plan you can buy. The data allowance will be prioritized. For example, if a combo plan costs €4 and gives 1 GB while a data-only plan costs €3 and offers 3 GB, the data-only plan will be chosen. SIM CardPlan PriceData AllowanceElisa€52 GBSuper€55 GBSmart€55 GBSimpel€55 GBZen€52 GBTele2--Tele2 Data-only-- With a budget of only €5, you would not be able to buy a plan with Tele2. With Elisa, Simpel, and Zen, you can only buy a 500 MB plan that lasts us 1 day. So if you only want to spend €5, this is whatyoue are able to get: Elisa: 2 GB (or 2048 MB)Zen: 2 GB (or 2048 MB)Tele2: 3 GB (or 3072 MB)Tele2 data-only: 5 GB (or 5120 MB)Simpel: 5 GB + 50 MB = 5140 MBSmart: 5 GB + 250 MB = 5370 MBSuper: 5 GB + 50 MB + 1 GB = 6194 MB Super is the best SIM card if you only want to spend €5 on data. Spending €10 Your SIM card selection has not changed. Let’s see what plans you can buy for €10. SIM CardPlan PriceData AllowanceFree DataTotal MBSuper€810 GB1074 MB11 314 MBSimpel€810 GB50 MB10 290 MBElisa€1012 GB-12 288 MBZen€1012 GB-12 288 MBTele2€1012 GB3 GB15 360 MBTele2 Data-only€9.5015 GB5 GB20 480 MBSmart€1012 GB250 MB12 308 MB The Tele2 Data-only SIM card is the best SIM card if you only want to spend €10 on data. Spending €20 Your SIM card selection has not changed. I will save you all the calculations because Tele2 offers unlimited data for €20. Therefore, Tele2 automatically becomes the best SIM card if you only want to spend €20 on data. The Best Estonian SIM Card for Speed When I was in Estonia, I tried out the Elisa, Super, and the Tele2 Data-only SIM card. Zen, Simpel, and Smart would get the same speeds as Elisa, Super, and Tele2, respectively, because all these prepaid brands are directly owned by the operators and are not MVNOs. Thus, there is no difference in speed between them. I did 3 speed test with each SIM card: one at my Airbnb in the Old Town of Tallinn, one in the Viru Mall where I bought the SIM cards, and one at Tallinn Airport. Elisa Elisa in the Old town of Tallinn Elisa in the Viru Mall in Tallinn Elisa at Tallinn Airport Telia Super in the Old town of Tallinn Super in theViru Mall in Tallinn Super at Tallinn Airport Tele2 Tele 2 in the Old town of Tallinn Tele 2 in the Viru Mall in Tallinn Tele 2 at Tallinn Airport Protect your internet traffic with a VPN, such as NordVPN. I have been using NordVPN for years, and you can get up to 70% off your subscription if you get yours today! The Fastest Operator in Terms of Absolute Download Speed I got the fastest download speed, 238 Mbps, with Elisa in the Old Town of Tallinn. The Fastest Operator in Terms of Average Download Speed With Elisa, I managed to get the fastest average download speed of 115 Mbps throughout Tallinn. The Average Download Speed Ranked Elisa: 115 MbpsSuper: 82 MbpsTele2: 63 Mbps The Fastest Operator in Terms of Absolute Upload Speed I got the fastest upload speed, 49 Mbps, with Elisa in the Old Town of Tallinn. The Fastest Operator in Terms of Average Upload Speed With Elisa, I managed to get the fastest average upload speed of 34 Mbps throughout Tallinn. The Average Upload Speed Ranked Elisa: 34 MbpsTele2: 32 MbpsSuper: 20 Mbps So, Who is the Fastest? With these results, you would think that Elisa is the fastest operator. If you are staying in Tallinn, that probably will be the case. Do remember, though, that speeds can be influenced by many factors, such as the network load, the device you use, and your location. When I was in the Viru mall, I got relatively slow speeds with all operators. The Old Town of Tallinn is where I got the best speeds. Your speeds will definitely be slower if you decide to go to rural Estonia, where there are fewer antennas and more trees that are interfering with the signal. So even though I got these speeds when I was in Tallinn, these speeds cannot be guaranteed. However, it is safe to assume that you will get the best speeds with Elisa in Estonia. The Best Estonian SIM Card for Going off the Beaten Track Not everyone travel likes to just be in big cities. Instead, some go on road trips to explore the country. Therefore, knowing the coverage of each operator is important. Otherwise, you would not be able to post your experiences online, which would be a shame. None of the Estonian operators have a map of their nationwide coverage on their sites (at least, I was not able to find them). All of them claim they cover at least 97% of the population, meaning that you should be okay with all of them. I used npref.com to get some insights into which operator has the best coverage. However, their maps look a bit off for Estonia compared to other countries. Either way, it is interesting to take a look. Elisa Coverage Map Telia Coverage Map Tele2 Coverage Map Based on these maps, it is hard to say which operator has the best coverage, as they differ a lot. However, Edward, my Airbnb host when I went to Tallinn, told me that the coverage with all operators is practically the same. Unless you go to extreme rural Estonia, one operator may be better than the other. Still, you would have to go deep down in forests for that to happen. As a result, the coverage with all Estonian operators is excellent throughout Estonia. The Best Estonian SIM Card for EU Roaming Normally, you are better off buying a SIM card in each destination you go to. However, as of 2017, the roam like at home regulation became effective in the European Union (EU), meaning that operators in the EU cannot charge roaming rates anymore or are required to give an EU roaming allowance. Because data rates are so low in Estonia, Estonian operators were given the option to opt-out from this scheme. They did, meaning that they are not required to provide those with an Estonian SIM card free roaming allowance. Instead, some operators have a Fair-use data roaming policy, sell roaming packages, or allow you to roam for relatively low rates. For this section, we will only look at the EU data inclusions, not roaming packages, because we do not want to spend more money on roaming. Only Simpel and Super, both by Telia, offer free EU roaming. All of Simpel’s plans, Combo Packs and Data-only packs, come with an EU cap ranging from 250 MB to 3.34 GB. Super has the Super X plan for €3 and comes with unlimited calls and messages in Estonia and the EU. For data, you will pay €0.002 per MB and €1 per 500 MB. After that, you will not pay anything more for the remainder of the day. I would say that any of Simpel’s plans are the best for EU roaming because you do not have to pay anything extra while roaming. However, you can use much more data with Super X when abroad. If you use 1 GB a day for 1 week, you would be out of data with Simpel’s combo plan that gives the most EU data, 3.34 GB, on the 4th day. With Super X, you would pay only €1 for the first 500 MB and nothing more for the remainder of the day, so you could use 1 GB a day for a full week with Super X. So with careful planning, the Super X may be the best Estonian SIM card for EU roaming. The Best Overall Estonian SIM Card With all this data, it is much easier to conclude which operator is the best than solely looking at the SIM card price, their coverage, and the speeds you get with the operators. All those factors influence the perception of what the best is. Some travelers want to get the most out of their money spent, while others care about the good quality of service. However, you have noticed that it is difficult to say which operator is the best in Estonia because all operators won to some extent. Elisa is the fastest operator, Super (Telia) is the best for those on a budget, Tele2 is the best for heavy data users, and Simpel (Telia) is the best for EU roaming. As Telia with Super and Simpel won 2 categories, you would say that Telia is the best operator, but that would be too simple. Instead, you have to take your preferences into consideration and choose the one that suits your needs. Estonia may be one of the few countries where there is no clear best SIM card. All of them have their pros and cons. I can, however, say that Estonian operators offer a lot for the low prices that they offer, which is something operators around the world can learn from. Best International SIM cards for Estonia Even though buying local SIM cards is often the cheapest way to stay connected while abroad, some travelers prefer to buy international SIM cards so that they do not have to pay expensive roaming bills while being reachable on one phone number. There are many international SIM cards out there covering Estonia, but there are a few 3 I would recommend for Estonia. Orange Europe SIM Card Orange is a French telecom operator that is active in many parts around the world, including Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. They have 2 travel SIM cards, which are the Orange Smart Comfort S for $30 and the Orange Smart Comfort X for $50. Orange Smart Comfort S comes with: 8 GB30 minutes from Europe to everywhere else in the world200 SMSA French phone number (+33)The ability to top-upThe ability to tether (mobile hotspot) The Orange Smart Comfort X gives you: 20 GB120 minutes from Europe to everywhere else in the world1000 SMSA French phone number (+33)The ability to top-upThe ability to tether (mobile hotspot) The Orange SIM cards are valid for 1 year, but the perks are valid for 14 days. Luckily, you can top-up your SIM card if you want to. Orange SIM cards cover, including Estonia, the following 49 destinations: AndorraAzoresAland IslandsGermanyAustriaBalearic IslandsBelgiumBulgariaCanary IslandsCyprusCorfuCreteThe CycladesCroatiaCzech RepublicDenmark EstoniaFaroe IslandsFinlandFranceGibraltarGreeceGuernseyHungaryIrelandIcelandIsle of ManItalyJerseyLatviaLiechtensteinLithuania LuxembourgMadeiraMaltaNorwayThe NetherlandsPolandRhodesRomaniaSan MarinoSardiniaSicilySlovakiaSpainSwitzerlandSwedenUnited KingdomVatican City 3 Smart SIM cards 3 Hutchison is an international telecom operator active in various countries in Europe and Asia. The 3 Smart SIM cards are issued by 3 UK and come with a UK number (+44). They come in 4 variants: SIM CardPriceDataCalls*SMS*Credit Validity3 Smart Silver$3010 GBUnlimitedUnlimited30 days3 Smart Gold$4012 GBUnlimitedUnlimited30 days3 Smart Platinum$6012 GBNoneNone1 year3 Smart Platinum X$8024 GBNoneNone2 years * From Europe to European numbers All 3 Smart SIM cards can, including Estonia, be used in the following 49 destinations: AustriaAzoresBalearic IslandsBelgiumBulgariaCanary IslandsCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceFrench GuineaGermanyGibraltar GreeceGuadeloupeGuernseyHungaryIcelandIrelandIsle of ManItalyJerseyLatviaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMadeiraMaltaMartinique MayotteThe NetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalReunionRomaniaSaint BarthelemySaint MartinSan MarinoSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUnited KingdomVatican City Recharging these SIM cards is only possible with cards registered to a UK address our 3 UK top-up vouchers. Surfroam Surfroam is my to-go international SIM card that acts as a bridge between me arriving in a new destination and before buying a local SIM card. Often, airport WIFI is slow, and the SIM cards offered at the airports are overpriced (not in Estonia, though). Surfroam is a data-only SIM card. You get a UK number (+44) and can receive SMS, but you cannot call or text. The SIM card will not expire as long as you top up once a year. The Surfroam SIM card is free, but you have to top-up at least €15 (or €20 for the eSIM variant) upon purchase. Depending on where you are, you pay a minimum of €0.01 per MB (or slightly more than €10 per GB), which is cheaper than data packages in various countries around the world. In Estonia, you will pay €0.01 per MB when using your Surfroam SIM card on the Elisa, Telia, and Tele2 networks. Surfroam has agreements with operators in more than 200 destinations around the world, including Estonia, which means that it will always have your back. Best Mobile Hotspots for Estonia Mobile hotspots, also known as Pocket WIFI, are useful for those traveling to Estonia as a group or family. Buying data packages for everyone can add up quickly, which is why mobile hotspots can be a good alternative. Just like international SIM cards, many companies are offering mobile hotspots, but there are 3 companies I would recommend for Estonia. Skyroam Skyroam is a popular portable hotspot because they rent their Skyroam hotspot with unlimited data from $6 a day, and up to 10 devices can be connected to the hotspot. It works in more than 130 countries. In Australia, you will pay $9 per day for unlimited high-speed data if you rent it, which is incredible. You can also buy the Skyroam Solis Lite for $120 or the Skyroam Solis X for $180, and purchase country passes from $9 a day or global passes for $99 a month. Both devices offer fast and secure WIFI speeds and allow you to connect to 10 devices. The Solis X also has a remote camera, speaker, microphone, Bluetooth, and a Smart Assistant. Pretty cool. Travelwifi Travelwifi offers unlimited data with their Teppy Pocket WIFI device. You can rent Teppy from $7 a day, and browse the web in more than 130 destinations around the world. Travelwifi also allows you to buy add-ons, such as calling and texting internationally or use in-flight WIFI. Travelwifi has several tiers for Estonia: Adventure: $8/day – 1 GB per dayEscape: $9/day – 5 GB per dayVoyage: $12/day – Unlimited data Want to use Teppy throughout Europe? Then the following applies: Adventure: $8/day: 1 GB per dayRegional Escape: $10/day: 3 GB per dayRegional Voyage: $12/day: 8 GB per day You can also buy Teppy in red, blue, or green for $150 and buy country or global passes when traveling. Vision Global WIfi Vision Global WIFI is another mobile hotspot provider. With over 14 million happy customers, Vision Global has a good reputation among travelers. Vision Global hotspots cover more than 130 destinations around the world, including Estonia. Their service comes in 3 variants: Unlimited 4G Basic: $6/day - 500 MB high-speed data per day, then unlimited normal speedUnlimited 4G Advanced: $8/day - 1 GB high-speed data per day, then unlimited normal speedUnlimited 4G Max: $12/day - Unlimited high-speed data every day The prices drop if you plan on using a Vision Global device for more than two weeks. You can also choose the Europe Multi-Country profile, which allows you to use your device across Europe. What is next? Looking for the best companies and gadgets to enhance your travel experience? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! Save money on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises, and accommodation. Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too! Book Your Flight for Estonia It is time to book your flight. Find cheap flights with AirWander so that you can add free or cheap stopovers in destinations you have not considered yet before going to Estonia. If you are not ready to take off yet, set up flight alerts with Airfarewatchdog, and they will notify you once ticket prices to Estonia drop. Travel by Train within Europe with InterRail or EURail Although low-cost carriers are a big thing in Europe, they are not the best way to experience Europe. Everyone knows that the European railway system is awesome. InterRail/EURail makes it much easier to explore Europe by train by having one ticket for participating countries instead of having to buy multiple tickets per country. InterRail is for European citizens and EURail is for non-European citizens. Book Your Accommodation for Estonia I am a huge fan of Airbnb because it allows me to live with a local or get a local place for myself. Staying in someone’s house or apartment feels much different than being in a ho(s)tel, especially in Estonia. At least, that is how I see it. Moreover, Airbnb can often be much cheaper than staying in an Estonian hotel. I recommend staying with Edvard in the Old Town of Tallinn. His apartment is close to the city, is cozy, yet spacious, and it is one of the cheaper places out there! Use this link to €34 off your first trip with Airbnb! Get Your Travel Insurance for Estonia You will regret not having travel insurance once you actually need it and “forgot” to get it. Nowadays, travel insurance is cheap and comprehensive unlike back in the days. World Nomads is by far the best travel insurance for adventurous travelers like yourself. You can even get insured WHILE already traveling in Estonia, which is not something many insurance companies allow you to do. Get a Travel Debit Card Travel Cheques are outdated. Paying with your credit card or debit card can be expensive because of all the exchange commissions banks charge you. TransferWise allows you to convert your main currency to Euros for a small fee (up to 8 times less than with your bank!) Getting a Transferwise Borderless account is FREE, so you will get an instant return on your investment. Enjoy your trip!