I remember arriving in Medellín, Colombia, last year. After a long, delayed flight from Mexico, I was completely drained. I landed in the middle of the night, and whilst I was dying to explore the vegan food scene in El Poblado as soon as possible, I had a much more pressing issue.
The co-living space I’d booked promised “high-speed WiFi”. But the moment I checked in, the connection was pretty much non-existent.
With a packed schedule of meetings starting first thing in the morning and a heavy fog of jet lag setting in, I was stuck. I didn’t have the energy to wander the streets of a brand-new city hunting for a work-friendly cafe. I needed a connection immediately, without the extortionate roaming fees.
This experience highlighted every remote worker’s biggest fear: being offline when it matters most. It led me to search for a more reliable way to stay connected.
In this post, I’ll explore whether an eSIM is the secret weapon for remote work. This guide is sponsored by Holafly, and I’m sharing my honest experience using their service to see if it can truly replace traditional Wi-Fi whilst on the road.
The difficulties of remote work
Working from abroad sounds like the ultimate dream. But for those of us who actually have to be productive, reality is often more about signal hunting than sightseeing.
Finding a trendy vegan cafe is a highlight of my day, but that joy vanishes if the Wi-Fi is too slow to load a simple spreadsheet. These technical barriers turn a productive afternoon into a stressful race against a dropping connection.
The connectivity hurdles of working from the road:
- Unpredictable internet speeds in co-living spaces, coffee shops, or rentals that were advertised as being remote-work friendly (much more common than you’d think).
- The exorbitant daily roaming charges from your local phone provider can lead to a very unpleasant surprise on your monthly bill.
- Security vulnerabilities when you are forced to use open public networks to access sensitive client documents or bank accounts.
- The physical inconvenience of finding a local shop to buy a plastic SIM card and then trying not to lose your home card whilst switching them over.
- Data caps on standard travel SIMs that can suddenly cut you off in the middle of an important video call when you least expect it.
Can an eSIM solve these problems?
When I first started looking into alternatives to local SIM cards and public WiFi networks, the major solution being an eSIM, I was slightly sceptical about whether the technology could handle my professional workload. I usually need a very stable connection for video calls and managing my blog, so something more substantial than a basic holiday data plan.
But before we go into the effectiveness of an eSIM for remote work, let me take you through what an eSIM actually is.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is essentially a digital version of the physical SIM card you usually slot into your phone. Instead of hunting for a local shop to buy a local SIM card, you simply download the SIM to your device. With the Holafly eSIM, you can either download it from their website or their phone app, and use the QR code, activation link, or manual settings to install and activate it.
Here are some of the features of an eSIM:
- Instant activation as soon as you land in a new country.
- The ability to store multiple data profiles for different regions on one phone.
- No need to carry around a tiny metal tool to open your SIM tray whilst travelling.
- You can keep your home SIM active for important texts whilst using the eSIM for data.
Is an eSIM reliable enough for remote work?
Reliability is the most important factor when you work remotely, and thus, your income depends on being online. I have found that as long as you are in an area with a decent 4G or 5G signal, the speeds are often more consistent than the patchy Wi-Fi you find in many rentals.
Whilst an eSIM is a fantastic tool, it is important to remember that it is still tied to local network towers. If you are heading into very rural areas or deep into a national park, you might still experience some dead zones.
Before going into more detail about using Holafly’s eSIM for remote work (section below), here is an overview of how an eSIM can be useful:
- It provides a vital backup for when your accommodation’s Wi-Fi inevitably fails.
- The connection is often more secure than using an open public network in a cafe.
- Most providers partner with the largest local networks to ensure the best possible coverage.
- You can easily check your data usage in real-time to avoid any sudden disconnections.
Here is a handy comparison between using a local SIM, public WiFi and a Holafly eSIM:
| Feature | Local physical SIM | Public Wi-Fi | Holafly eSIM |
| Setup time | 1-2 hours (finding shop) | Instant | 2 minutes |
| Security | High | Low (risky) | High |
| Data limit | Usually capped | Varies | Unlimited data (with daily speed caps) |
| Reliability | Good | Depends on where | Mostly great |
My experience using Holafly
Holafly is one of the top eSIM providers, and what sets them apart from the rest is their unlimited data offering. Their main offering is a flexible day-by-day unlimited data plan in over 200+ destinations (including both country-specific and regional eSIMs). These plans include a daily hotspot allowance.
However, for remote workers, I recommend Holafly Plans, a monthly subscription with two tiers, Light and Unlimited. The Unlimited Plan includes an unlimited amount of daily hotspot data (vital for remote work), global connection, unlimited data, and a local phone number to receive SMS. Whilst their Light Plan comes with 25GB each month.
When you are tethering a laptop for a few hours of work, you can easily burn through several gigabytes, so having the unlimited safety net of the Unlimited Holafly Plan is a massive weight off your shoulders.
Use my discount code to get 10% off Holafly Plans for the first 12 months: MYVEGANTRAVELS
You can find out more about the brand in my full Holafly review. Here is how the Holafly eSIM fared when using it for remote work in Colombia:
Getting set up in minutes
The setup process was refreshingly simple, even with my brain feeling slightly scrambled from the long flight. I received a QR code in my email immediately after purchasing the plan on their website.
- I scanned the code whilst still at the airport using the free terminal Wi-Fi.
- It took a matter of minutes for the new data profile to appear in my phone settings.
- I labelled it “Colombia”, so I wouldn’t get it confused with my UK SIM.
- Once I reached the coliving space, I simply toggled on “Data Roaming” for the eSIM, and I was online.
When using Holafly Plans, their new international data plans, which operate as a monthly or yearly subscription, the setup is even easier. All you need to do is download the one eSIM, and you’ll be able to access data in over 160 destinations across the world. So if you are a frequent traveller like me, you will find this particularly handy!
Make sure to use my discount code at checkout to get 10% off Holafly Plans for the first 12 months: MYVEGANTRAVELS 
Working from the Medellín mountains
Medellín is famous for its hills, and I was worried that being tucked away in a residential area might mean a weak signal. However, Holafly connects to the Movistar and Claro networks, which are the two biggest providers in Colombia.
I spent most of my first morning using my phone as a personal hotspot for my Mac. I was pleasantly surprised that I could manage video calls on Zoom without dropping out. But that wasn’t all:
- The download speeds were consistently fast enough for me to upload high-resolution photos for a new blog post.
- I could stream music in the background whilst working without any buffering or lag.
- The connection stayed stable even during a tropical afternoon downpour, which often knocks out local Wi-Fi.
- Their 24/7 customer support is available via WhatsApp, their website, or their app, which gave me peace of mind.
Things to consider
Whilst the unlimited data aspect of Holafly is a massive advantage, it is important to understand how these plans work in a professional context. Local networks, which eSIMs like Holafly use, have a Fair Usage Policy to ensure the network stays stable for everyone. This means that if you use an exceptionally large amount of data in a short window, you might notice your speeds being capped temporarily.
Because of this, I realised that I needed to be strategic with my daily tasks to make the most of my internet connection whilst working from the coliving space. I found it best to prioritise my high-intensity work first. Here are some things that I found useful:
- Save your most data-heavy tasks for the start of your day to ensure you have the best possible bandwidth.
- Switch to lower-intensity tasks like writing or emails if you notice a slight dip in speed later in the afternoon.
- Use the eSIM as a reliable bridge between Wi-Fi sessions rather than trying to run your entire 40-hour week solely on a mobile signal.
- Keep a power bank handy, as using your phone as a hotspot for your laptop will drain your battery much faster than usual.
Verdict: Can you rely on an eSIM?
After testing the Holafly eSIM during my time in Medellín, my answer is yes, though with one small caveat. Whilst an eSIM may not entirely replace the high-speed fibre Wi-Fi you find in top-tier coworking spaces, it is an absolute lifesaver for the “in-between” moments. It provides a level of security and peace of mind that I didn’t realise I was missing until I had it.
I no longer have to stress about arriving at a new coliving space only to find the connection is down, or wandering the streets looking for a cafe whilst lugging around my laptop. Having unlimited data in my pocket allowed me to focus on my work and my travel experiences rather than constantly troubleshooting my internet connection.
Even better is their new Holafly Plans international data subscription, which ensures I have access to the internet in over 160 destinations across the world without switching eSIMs or topping up data!
If you are a nomad who values freedom and wants to avoid wasting time hunting for decent WiFi, I would certainly suggest giving Holafly a try for your next trip. It transformed what was going to be a tricky experience in Colombia into a pretty smooth one, leaving me with plenty of time to go out and find the best vegan dishes that Medellín had to offer!
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