Top 20 Things to Spend Your Holiday Savings On (When You Ditch Roaming Fees)
Stop Paying Your Carrier to Travel. Start Living Your Holiday.
Here's a number that should make every Australian traveller wince: $10 a day. That's what most Australian carriers charge for international roaming — and it adds up brutally fast.
A 14-day trip to Europe? $140 gone — just to use your own phone. Japan for 10 days? $100 vanished. Two weeks island-hopping in Southeast Asia? Another $140 down the drain. A week exploring China? $70 wasted before you've even seen the Great Wall.
Now compare that to an AirSims eSIM. A 20GB eSIM plan for your destination typically costs a fraction of what your carrier charges — and you get more data, better speeds, and zero bill shock.
The Real Cost Comparison: Roaming vs AirSims eSIM
Let's break it down by destination for a typical 14-day holiday — solo, as a couple, and as a family of four:
| Destination | Roaming Cost | AirSims eSIM (per person) | Solo Saving | Couple Saving | Family of 4 Saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇺 Europe | $140 pp | ~$25–$35 | ~$105–$115 | ~$210–$230 | ~$420–$460 |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | $140 pp | ~$20–$30 | ~$110–$120 | ~$220–$240 | ~$440–$480 |
| 🌏 SE Asia (7 countries) | $140 pp | ~$20–$30 | ~$110–$120 | ~$220–$240 | ~$440–$480 |
| 🇨🇳 China | $140 pp | ~$25–$35 | ~$105–$115 | ~$210–$230 | ~$420–$460 |
💡 Travelling as a family of four to Japan for two weeks? You could save close to $480 — just by switching to AirSims. That's a day trip, a ryokan night, or a bucket-list experience you'd otherwise skip.
👉 Grab your eSIM now and start saving:
20 Amazing Things to Spend Your Roaming Savings On
We've matched each idea to what a solo traveller, couple, or family of four could realistically do with their savings — so you can see exactly what you're leaving on the table by paying roaming fees.
🍽️ Food & Drink
1. A Michelin-Star (or Michelin-Recommended) Meal
In Japan, a Michelin-recommended ramen or sushi set can cost as little as $20–$40 per person. In Europe, a Bib Gourmand bistro dinner runs $60–$80 for two. In China, a Peking duck banquet at a legendary Beijing restaurant costs $30–$50 per person — and it's worth every yuan. Solo: your eSIM savings cover it entirely. Couple: dinner for two with drinks, sorted. Family of 4: a full Michelin-recommended feast — paid for by what you saved on data.
2. A Wine, Sake or Baijiu Tasting Experience
Bordeaux wine tours, Kyoto sake breweries, Bali rice wine tastings, or a baijiu tasting in a traditional Chinese distillery — these curated experiences run $30–$60 per person. Couples can do a private tasting for two on their savings alone. Families can book a group experience with the kids on a non-alcoholic tour and still have money left over.
3. A Street Food Crawl with a Local Guide
In Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Osaka, or Shanghai's old French Concession, guided street food tours cost $40–$70 per person. Solo: fully covered. Couple: both of you, covered. Family of 4: your $420–$480 in savings funds the whole group — with cash to spare for seconds.
🎭 Experiences & Culture
4. A Private or Small-Group Tour
Skip the crowded bus tour. In Japan, a private rickshaw tour of Kyoto's geisha district runs ~$60–$80. In Europe, a private walking tour of Rome's hidden gems is similar. In China, a private guide to the less-visited sections of the Great Wall (think Jiankou or Mutianyu) costs $60–$100 and is infinitely better than the tourist crowds. Couples can book a private tour just for the two of them. Families can upgrade to a private guide for the whole group — no strangers, no rushing.
5. A Traditional Cultural Class
Sushi-making in Tokyo. Pasta-making in Florence. Batik painting in Bali. Chinese calligraphy or dumpling-making in Beijing or Xi'an. These hands-on classes cost $50–$100 per person. Solo: done. Couple: a shared experience you'll talk about forever. Family of 4: your savings cover everyone — and the kids will love it.
6. A Day Trip to a Hidden Gem
Train to the Cinque Terre from Florence. A ferry to Miyajima Island from Hiroshima. A boat to the Phi Phi Islands from Phuket. A high-speed train from Shanghai to Suzhou — the "Venice of China" — for under $20 return. Day trips like these cost $30–$80 per person. Families travelling on eSIM savings can fund the entire group's day trip — transport, entry, and lunch included.
7. A Spa or Onsen Experience
A traditional Japanese onsen day pass costs $15–$40. A Thai massage in Chiang Mai? $15–$25 for an hour. A hammam in Istanbul? $30–$50. A traditional Chinese foot massage in any major city? $15–$30 for 90 minutes of bliss. Couples can book a couples' spa package. Families can treat everyone to a half-day onsen or spa experience — and still have savings left over.
🏨 Accommodation Upgrades
8. One Night in a Ryokan or Boutique Heritage Stay
A mid-range ryokan with kaiseki dinner and breakfast in Japan runs $100–$200 per person. In Europe, a boutique chateau B&B in the Loire Valley or a trulli in Puglia offers similar magic. In China, a courtyard hotel (siheyuan) in Beijing's hutong district costs $80–$150 per night and puts you inside living history. Couple: your combined savings of $210–$240 cover a full night for two. Family of 4: your $420–$480 in savings makes this bucket-list stay genuinely affordable.
9. Upgrade Your Hotel Room
A city-view room in Bangkok or a canal-view room in Amsterdam can cost just $30–$60 more per night. In Shanghai, upgrading to a Bund-view room at a mid-range hotel is often just $40–$80 extra — and waking up to that skyline is unforgettable. Solo: upgrade every night of your trip. Couple: upgrade your room for the whole holiday. Family of 4: book a suite or connecting rooms instead of squeezing into a standard double.
10. A Night in a Unique Stay
A treehouse in Bali. A cave hotel in Santorini. A capsule hotel in Tokyo. A converted Ming Dynasty courtyard in Pingyao, China. These unique stays often cost the same as a standard hotel but deliver 10x the story. Families saving $420–$480 on data can fund one or two nights in a truly memorable property.
🛍️ Shopping & Souvenirs
11. A Quality Local Souvenir (Not Airport Junk)
A hand-thrown ceramic from a Kyoto pottery studio. A silk scarf from a Florentine market. A hand-carved wooden piece from Ubud. A hand-painted porcelain piece from Jingdezhen, China's "Porcelain Capital." These cost $30–$80 each. Families can buy a meaningful keepsake for every member of the group — funded entirely by what they saved on roaming.
12. Local Fashion or Market Shopping
Tokyo's Shimokitazawa vintage district. Paris's Marais boutiques. Bangkok's Chatuchak Weekend Market. Shanghai's Tianzifang artisan precinct or Beijing's Panjiayuan antique market. Budget $50–$100 per person and you'll come home with pieces you can't find anywhere else. Couples can each shop freely on their combined savings. Families have a serious budget to play with.
🚀 Adventure & Activities
13. A Snorkelling, Diving or Outdoor Adventure
In Thailand, the Philippines, or Indonesia, a half-day snorkelling trip costs $30–$60 per person. A certified dive costs $60–$100. In Europe, a sea kayaking tour along the Amalfi Coast or the Algarve runs $60–$90. Couple: both of you in the water or on the water, covered. Family of 4: your savings fund a full-day adventure for the whole family.
14. A Cooking Class in a Local Home
In Chiang Mai, Hoi An, or Bologna, home-cooking classes with a local family cost $50–$80 per person and include a market visit, cooking, and eating together. In China, a dumpling or hand-pulled noodle class in Xi'an or Chengdu runs $40–$70 and is one of the most fun things you can do with kids. Families saving $420–$480 can book this for all four — it's the most authentic experience money can buy.
15. A Sunrise or Sunset Tour
Watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat. Sunset at Santorini's Oia. Dawn at Mount Fuji's 5th Station. Sunrise over the karst peaks of Zhangjiajie in China — the real-life inspiration for Avatar's floating mountains. Guided sunrise/sunset tours cost $30–$70 per person. Couple: a romantic moment, fully funded by your savings. Family of 4: a memory the kids will never forget — paid for by ditching roaming.
🚂 Getting Around Better
16. A Bullet Train Upgrade
In Japan, a Gran Class seat on the Shinkansen is the most luxurious train experience on earth — upgrade costs $50–$80 per person. In China, the high-speed rail network is equally impressive: upgrade from second to first class on a Beijing–Shanghai bullet train for just $30–$50 per person. In Europe, a first-class Eurostar or TGV seat adds $40–$80 to your ticket. Family of 4: everyone rides in comfort — your savings cover the upgrades across the board.
17. A Private Transfer Instead of a Taxi Queue
Pre-book a private airport transfer in Bangkok, Bali, Tokyo, or Shanghai for $30–$60. In Europe, a private transfer from Rome's Fiumicino airport to the city centre costs $50–$80 — far less stressful than navigating the train with luggage. Families: a private van transfer for four costs $60–$100 — your savings cover it, and you avoid the chaos of taxis with tired kids.
📸 Memories & Moments
18. A Professional Travel Photo Session
Hire a local photographer for 1–2 hours in Paris, Kyoto, Bali, or along the Bund in Shanghai for $80–$150. Solo: stunning portraits, covered. Couple: a romantic shoot in an iconic location. Family of 4: professional family photos in an extraordinary setting — the kind you'll frame and keep forever. All funded by your eSIM savings.
19. A Sunset Cruise or Iconic Boat Experience
A sunset cruise on Ha Long Bay. A longtail boat through Bangkok's canals. A gondola in Venice. A Huangpu River night cruise past Shanghai's glittering skyline — one of the most spectacular urban views on the planet, and tickets cost just $15–$30 per person. Couple: a private gondola or river cruise, covered. Family of 4: your savings fund a private sunset experience for the whole family.
20. A Splurge Cocktail at an Iconic Bar
A cocktail at the New York Bar in Tokyo's Park Hyatt (yes, Lost in Translation). A Negroni at Harry's Bar in Venice. A rooftop drink at a Bangkok sky bar. A cocktail at the glamorous Peace Hotel Jazz Bar on Shanghai's Bund, where the house band has played since the 1930s. These cost $20–$40 each. Solo: treat yourself, multiple times. Couple: a round for two, sorted. Family of 4: cocktails for the adults and mocktails for the kids — your savings cover the whole table.
The Bottom Line: Your Data Shouldn't Cost More Than Your Dinner
Roaming at $10/day is one of the most unnecessary travel expenses you'll ever pay. An AirSims eSIM gives you fast, reliable data — often with more gigabytes than you'll ever use — for a fraction of the cost.
The math is simple. The choice is obvious. And for families and couples, the savings are staggering. The only question is: what will you do with the money you save?
Pick your destination and grab your eSIM before you fly:
- 🇪🇺 Europe eSIM — Browse Plans →
- 🇯🇵 Japan eSIM — Browse Plans →
- 🌏 Southeast Asia eSIM (7 Countries) — Browse Plans →
- 🇨🇳 China eSIM — Browse Plans →
- 🇨🇳🇯🇵🇰🇷 East Asia Bundle (China, Japan & South Korea) — Browse Plans →
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