Travel Guides
What to know before you order: which connectivity option suits you, how many GB you need, why "unlimited" isn't quite unlimited, and what to do if setup goes wrong.
Japan Shopping Coupons: Stack Discounts on Top of Tax-Free
Tax-free is only the baseline. BIC CAMERA, Don Quijote, Matsumoto Kiyoshi and other tourist favourites all offer digital coupons that stack on top of the 10% tax exemption. Here is where to get them, how to use them, and what to watch out for.
Do Mainland China Travel SIMs Need a VPN? Why Roaming Data Reaches Google Directly
Many travellers assume they need a VPN to use Google and WhatsApp in mainland China. Travel SIMs bought in Hong Kong are roaming plans — data exits through an overseas gateway, so those services generally work directly. Here is how it works, what to check before buying, and how to choose for short Greater Bay Area trips.
Choosing a Thailand Travel SIM: Networks, Days and Island Caveats
Bangkok weekend or a Bangkok–Chiang Mai–Phuket grand tour? Thailand has plenty of SIM options. This guide covers the network environment, buying before you fly versus on arrival, how many GB you need, and what to watch for on the islands.
Choosing a Singapore Travel SIM: Short-Trip Sizing and the SG–MY–TH Question
Singapore trips are usually short, so the trick is matching days and not over-buying. This guide covers Singapore's network environment, sizing for short trips, and whether an SG–MY–TH itinerary needs one SIM or three.
Choosing a Malaysia Travel SIM: West vs East Malaysia and the SG Combo
Kuala Lumpur, Penang, or diving in Sabah? West and East Malaysia differ in coverage. This guide covers Malaysia's carriers, the city-versus-island gap, how many GB you need, and how to buy for a Singapore–Malaysia combined trip.
How to Choose a Taiwan SIM Card: Networks, Days, and Practical Tips
Taiwan is a destination Hong Kong travellers fly to even for a weekend, and it has plenty of SIM plan choices. This guide covers Taiwan's three major carriers, how trip length maps to plan length, how much data is enough, and how to choose between eSIM and a physical SIM.
How to Choose a Korea SIM Card: Networks, Days, and Data Explained
Korea trips are often packed with shopping, food, and fan-meeting stops, which puts real demand on your data. This guide covers South Korea's three major carriers, how to match plan length to your trip, how much data is enough, and the best way to pick for a short trip.
Visiting Several European Countries on One Trip? How to Choose a SIM Plan
European trips often cover several countries in one go — France, Italy, Switzerland all on the same itinerary. This guide covers how to pick a plan that works across multiple countries, and when a single-country plan makes more sense than a multi-country one.
eSIM or Physical SIM Card? Choosing Between the Two Formats
This isn't about eSIM vs Pocket Wi-Fi vs roaming — it's about the two card formats for the same thing (a travel SIM plan): eSIM vs a physical SIM card. Which phones support eSIM, how delivery and installation differ, and what to do if your phone doesn't support it.
Pre-Trip SIM Checklist: Everything to Sort Out in One Minute
From installing your eSIM to keeping your order number handy, to confirming your phone is compatible — this guide lays out everything to do before you fly in checklist form, so you're online the moment you land instead of scrambling last minute.
Installing an eSIM and Activating It Are Two Different Things
Many people assume the day count starts the moment they scan the QR code. In fact, “installing” and “using” are two separate steps. This guide explains the difference between installing and activating an eSIM, and why installing it in Hong Kong before you fly is the safest approach.
eSIM, Pocket Wi-Fi, or Carrier Roaming? How to Choose Your Travel Internet
There are three ways to get online abroad: buy a travel eSIM, rent a pocket Wi-Fi, or turn on roaming with your home carrier. This guide compares the cost structure, convenience, and risks of each, and tells you which one fits which kind of traveller.
Daily Allowance vs Total Data Pool: Which Type of SIM Suits Your Trip
“1GB a day” and “10GB over 7 days” look similar on paper, but they work very differently in practice. This guide breaks down the two allowance types, which trip shapes each one suits, and how to roughly estimate how much data you'll need.
What “Unlimited Data” SIM Cards Actually Mean
Almost every travel SIM plan labelled “unlimited” has a full-speed cap, after which it throttles down and keeps going. This guide shows you how to find that threshold in the plan details, and whether the throttled speed is actually usable.
How to Choose a Japan SIM Card: Networks, Days, and Price Explained
Japan is Hong Kong travellers' most common destination, and it has the widest choice of SIM plans too. This guide covers the differences between Japan's three major networks, how trip length maps to plan length, how much data is actually enough, and what to watch for in rural areas and remote islands.
eSIM Won't Install or Won't Connect? Every Cause, Explained
From a QR code that won't scan, to a “Could Not Add Cellular Plan” error, to installing it and getting zero signal — this guide walks through the causes in the order they tend to show up, with the actual settings path on both iPhone and Android.