How to Avoid Optus Roaming Charges on Your Next Trip

To avoid Optus roaming charges, you should disable data roaming on your primary SIM and use a travel eSIM for your internet needs. This simple switch allows you to bypass the $10 daily fee while connecting directly to local networks at your destination for a fraction of the cost. By installing an eSIM before you leave Sydney or Auckland, you can land with data already active and ready to use.

The Optus Roaming Trap: Why It Costs So Much

If you are an Optus customer in Australia, you have likely encountered the 'International Roaming' notification the moment your plane touches down in a foreign country. For most postpaid customers, Optus automatically triggers a $10 daily roaming bolt-on. While this provides you with a small chunk of data, the costs mount up incredibly fast. For a standard two-week holiday to Bali or Thailand, you are looking at an extra $140 on your phone bill just for the privilege of using your phone. For families traveling with multiple devices, this can easily balloon into hundreds of dollars that could have been spent on experiences, meals, or better accommodation.

What many travelers don't realize is that these daily charges are often for 'throttled' or deprioritized data. When you roam through your home carrier, your data often has to travel all the way back to Australia and then back to your destination, which causes significant lag (latency). This is why your Google Maps might feel sluggish even when you have full bars of signal in the middle of London or Tokyo.

Why a Travel eSIM is the Smarter Move

A travel eSIM is a digital version of a physical SIM card that allows you to download a data plan directly to your phone. Because it is digital, you don't have to find a tiny paperclip and swap out your Australian SIM card at the airport. You keep your Australian SIM in your phone to receive important text messages (like bank 2FA codes), but you route all your expensive data usage through a local provider via AussieRoam.

Our plans are 'data only,' meaning they do not come with a local phone number. However, in the age of WhatsApp, Messenger, and iMessage, a traditional phone number is rarely needed. You can still make 'calls' through these apps using your eSIM data. This approach is not only cheaper but often provides a much more stable connection because you are treated as a local subscriber on the network.

Comparison: Optus Roaming vs. AussieRoam eSIM

Feature	Optus International Roaming	AussieRoam Travel eSIM
Daily Cost	$10 per day	One-off plan cost
Network	Roaming (Higher latency)	Local (Lower latency)
Setup	Automatic (Expensive)	Simple digital download
Control	Hard to track usage	Pre-paid, no overages
Flexibility	Limited to Optus zones	Works in 190+ countries

Destination Deep Dives: Staying Connected Locally

Bali and Indonesia (dest:as-20)

Bali is the top destination for Aussies, but it is also a place where roaming charges can bite. Optus roaming in Indonesia often connects to Telkomsel or Indosat, but at a premium. If you are heading to the beaches of Uluwatu or the jungles of Ubud, having a direct connection to these local towers is essential. With an eSIM, you land at Ngurah Rai International Airport, turn on your secondary line, and you are instantly connected. This is perfect for ordering a Gojek or Grab to get to your hotel without hunting for 'free' airport Wi-Fi that never actually works.

Thailand (dest:th)

Whether you are heading for the Best Rooftop Bars in Bangkok or the beaches of Phuket, Thailand has some of the fastest mobile networks in Southeast Asia. Carriers like AIS and DTAC offer incredible coverage. Using a travel eSIM ensures you aren't paying the $10 Optus tax every day you spend island hopping. In rural areas or on smaller islands, local network priority is the difference between having GPS and being lost.

Japan (dest:jp)

Japan is a high-tech paradise, but its physical SIM card market for tourists is notoriously difficult to navigate, often requiring passport registration at a kiosk. By using an eSIM, you bypass the paperwork. You will connect to networks like Softbank or Docomo, which provide seamless coverage from the subways of Shinjuku to the shrines of Kyoto. Having reliable data is a lifesaver for navigating the complex Japanese train system via Google Maps.

The UK and Europe (dest:gb) (dest:eu-42)

For those embarking on a classic European summer or a trip to London, roaming charges are the ultimate budget killer. While Europeans enjoy 'roam like at home' benefits, those benefits do not extend to Australian SIM cards. If you are crossing borders—say, taking the Eurostar from London to Paris—your AussieRoam eSIM will automatically switch to the strongest local provider (like Vodafone, Orange, or EE) without you needing to do a thing.

Step-by-Step: How to Install Your eSIM

Before you head to the airport, the first step is to check if your phone is compatible. Most iPhones from the XS/XR onwards and most modern Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones are ready to go.

Once you've confirmed your device is ready, follow this step-by-step setup guide to get started:

1. Purchase your plan: Choose your destination and data amount on the AussieRoam website.
2. Scan the QR Code: You will receive a QR code via email. Go to your phone's 'Cellular' or 'Mobile Data' settings and select 'Add eSIM.'
3. Label your SIMs: Label your Optus SIM as 'Primary' and your AussieRoam eSIM as 'Travel' or 'Data.'
4. Set Data Switching: This is the most important part. Set your 'Mobile Data' to use the Travel eSIM. Ensure 'Allow Mobile Data Switching' is turned OFF to prevent your phone from accidentally using Optus data.
5. Land and Connect: When you land, simply turn on the Travel eSIM line in your settings. It will find the local network within a minute.

How Much Data Do You Actually Need?

To avoid any surprises, it helps to know how much data your favorite activities consume. Since our plans are data only, you want to make sure you have enough for the duration of your trip.

• Google Maps: Navigation is relatively light, using about 5MB per hour of active use. However, downloading 'Offline Maps' before you leave is a great way to save data.
• Social Media: Instagram and TikTok are data hogs. Scrolling for an hour can easily chew through 500MB to 1GB of data due to high-definition video.
• Messaging: WhatsApp and iMessage use almost negligible amounts of data for text, but sending videos or making video calls will use significantly more.
• Streaming: Watching Netflix or YouTube in HD will consume about 2GB to 3GB per hour. We recommend doing your heavy downloading on hotel Wi-Fi.

If you are also planning a trans-Tasman trip, check out our guide on the Best eSIM for New Zealand Travel to see how to stay connected between Sydney and Auckland.

Coverage Realities: City vs. Rural

In major cities like London, Tokyo, or Bangkok, you can expect 5G or 4G LTE speeds that rival what you get at home in Australia. However, when you head into the Scottish Highlands, the Japanese Alps, or the remote islands of Indonesia, coverage can vary. Because AussieRoam connects to the major local telcos rather than a single roaming partner, you often get better reach than a standard roaming SIM. If one tower is down, your phone is more likely to find another local signal that a roaming SIM might be barred from using.

The bottom line

Paying $10 a day for Optus roaming charges is an unnecessary expense for the modern traveler. By switching to a travel eSIM from AussieRoam, you gain the freedom of local data without the bill shock. You keep your Australian number for emergencies while enjoying the fast, reliable internet of the country you are actually in. It is the smartest way to ensure your travel budget goes toward experiences, not telco fees. Install your eSIM at the airport, and by the time you've cleared immigration, you'll be online and ready to explore.