Short answer
Buy a plan that covers every day of your stay before you fly, install it at home on Wi-Fi, and switch it on when you land. Count days, not nights: a 7-night trip runs over 8 calendar days, so a 7-day plan can run out before you fly home. For maps, messaging and some browsing, 3 GB is enough for a week for most people. A week-long plan with at least 3 GB costs $6.00 to $14.00, depending on the island.
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Which eSIM should I buy for my island?
The cards above show the cheapest verified plan with at least 3 GB that lasts 7 to 15 days, for each island. They suit most one-week trips. If you need more data or a longer plan, each island’s page compares every plan by price, data and length: Bermuda, Bahamas, Cozumel, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St. Maarten, Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Dominican Republic and Roatán.
Staying in Bermuda? Our guides to local SIM cards and Wi-Fi cover the island in more detail.
Is an eSIM cheaper than roaming for a week?
Usually, by a wide margin. AT&T’s International Day Pass charges $12/day per line whenever you use your phone abroad, so a week costs about $84 (AT&T); Verizon’s TravelPass costs the same on every island here except Mexico. A week-long eSIM costs $6.00 to $14.00 for the whole trip.
Your home plan may already cover you: many AT&T and Verizon unlimited plans include Mexico, which covers Cozumel, and T-Mobile’s T-Mix More and Loaded plans (and the older Experience plans) include some data on every island here. Do I need an eSIM? has the details for each carrier.
What should I do before I fly?
- Check your phone. It has to support eSIM and be unlocked (two quick checks).
- Check your home plan, as above.
- Buy and install the eSIM at home, on Wi-Fi, a day or two before you leave (how to install it). Leave it switched off for data until you land.
- Check when the plan starts. Most start on first connection on the island, but some start the moment you install them. On a long trip, that can cost you a day or two of a plan you’ve paid for.
How long a plan should I buy?
Plans are sold by days, mostly 7, 10, 15 or 30. Count from the day you land to the day you fly home, both included:
| Your stay | Plan length |
|---|---|
| Up to 5 nights | 7 days |
| 6 or 7 nights | 10 days (7 days if you can do without data on the way home) |
| 8 to 14 nights | 15 days |
| 15 nights or more | 30 days |
If you run out of data or days, most providers let you buy more in their app. Some plans don’t expire at all: you pay for the data and use it until it’s gone. The comparison lists those as “No expiry”. On a stay of a month or more, a local SIM can also be worth a look, if your phone has a free SIM slot.
How much data do I need for a week?
| How you use your phone | Data for a week |
|---|---|
| Maps, messaging, a few photos and some browsing, with Wi-Fi where you stay | 3 GB |
| Social media with video, video calls, or no Wi-Fi where you stay | 5 to 10 GB |
| Streaming, working from a laptop or sharing the connection | Unlimited |
The cheapest unlimited plan of five days or more costs $18.50 to $59.90, depending on the island. Some unlimited plans slow down after a set amount each day, so read the plan details. Need a hotspot for a laptop or a second phone? Not every plan allows it: use the “Hotspot allowed” filter in the comparison.
Two people travelling together each need their own plan. Sharing one phone’s hotspot works on plans that allow it, but drains that phone’s battery and data.
What do I do when I land?
- Keep data roaming off on your home line before the plane lands, or stay in Airplane Mode until you’re ready. Your phone connects to a local network as soon as you touch down, and your home carrier can start a daily charge.
- Turn on the eSIM line, make it your line for mobile data, and turn on data roaming for the eSIM. Travel eSIMs always roam, even on the island they’re sold for. The install guide has the exact settings for iPhone, Pixel and Samsung.
- If it won’t connect, turn Airplane Mode on for ten seconds and off again, then check the troubleshooting steps. Airport or hotel Wi-Fi lets you reach the provider’s support chat.
Your home SIM stays in the phone, so WhatsApp, iMessage and FaceTime keep working with your number over the eSIM’s data. Ordinary calls and texts to your home number go through your carrier and can be charged as roaming.
Can one eSIM cover several islands?
A plan for one country only works in that country. Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire are separate destinations, each with its own plans, so a trip around the ABC islands needs a plan for each one or a regional plan that lists all three. On St. Maarten, the French side (Saint-Martin) may need a plan that lists it too. A Mexico plan for Cozumel also works on the mainland, in Playa del Carmen and Cancún.
For several countries, a global eSIM saves installing one plan per island. Check that every country on your trip is in its coverage list. Arriving by cruise ship instead? See our Caribbean cruise eSIM guide.
Common questions
What’s the best eSIM for a Caribbean vacation?
For a one-week stay, a plan with at least 3 GB that lasts 7 to 15 days, bought for the island you’re visiting. The cheapest verified one costs $6.00 to $14.00, depending on the island. If you’ll stream or work, look at unlimited plans instead.
Will a 7-day plan last a 7-night trip?
Not always. Seven nights run over eight calendar days, and the plan’s clock starts when it first connects (or, for some plans, when you install it). If you land in the afternoon and fly home in the evening, a 7-day plan runs out before you leave. If you need data on your last day, buy the next length up.
Should I buy the eSIM before I leave or when I land?
Before you leave. You need a working connection to download and install it, and it’s easier on your home Wi-Fi than at the airport. If the plan starts counting on installation, install it as close to your departure as you can.
Can I add more data if I run out?
With most providers, yes: buy a top-up or a second plan in their app. Check the provider’s page before you buy if this matters to you.
Is a local SIM cheaper for a long stay?
Sometimes, for a month or more. You need a phone with a free SIM slot and time to find a shop on arrival. Do I need an eSIM? compares the options.
Do I need an eSIM if my hotel has Wi-Fi?
Only if you want data away from the hotel: maps, taxis, messages on the beach or on an excursion. Hotel Wi-Fi alone works if you’re happy to be offline when you’re out.