My Trip at a Glance
On my recent three months trip to Thailand I had a chance to test out a number of internet options – thanks to carrying multiple phones, a pocket WiFi and having a local phone plan I kept active over the years. Having lived in the country for 15 years I was familiar with the connectivity landscape but I wanted to figure out how more recent things like travel eSIMs and pocket WiFi devices measured up to my old school solution of just getting a local SIM card.
This time around I also had two kids (age 2 and 5) in tow and was not only spending time in Bangkok and its surroundings but would also head up to Nan and the Laotian border. A good opportunity to see what works best for having internet on the go.
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The Solutions I Tested
- WiFiDASH Pocket WiFi: Portable hotspot device shipped before departure.
- Airalo eSIM: Digital SIM installed on my phone.
- GigSky eSIM: Premium eSIM alternative.
- Local Thai SIM: DTAC (now True), my existing, postpaid Thai number.
Quick Decision Guide
- Solo leisure traveler? → Airalo eSIM or GigSky eSIM
- Family with kids? → WiFiDASH (30% discount with code ‘ExpatDen‘)
- Digital Nomad? → Local SIM card (e.g. DTAC)
- Need business-level reliability? → WiFiDASH + local or travel eSIM
My Real-World Experiences
WiFiDASH Pocket WiFi: Reliable for Families & Multiple Devices
The WiFiDASH device quickly proved its worth:
- Multi-Device Convenience: With two kids and multiple devices, connecting everything to our own portable WiFi saved me a lot of headache by not having to constantly fix WiFi logins, time-outs and other interruptions.
- Instant Connectivity: Receiving the device before departure meant zero downtime from touchdown to departure. WiFiDASH sends you their pocket wifi to your home address (and thus is currently only available to people with a shipping address in the U.S.)
- Network Reliability: WiFiDASH seamlessly switched carriers when my DTAC SIM signal dropped out, especially noticeable in remote places like Nan province (sent the kids to school there for a month – wild – but that’s a different story).
- Crisis Management: WiFiDASH saved me during hotel WiFi issues – ranging from no WiFi in the lobby (and not being able to check in without the reservation number for some weird reason) to hotel-wide WiFi outages (which happened twice)
- Door-to-Door Convenience: Receiving the WiFiDASH before departure meant I was connected immediately upon arrival, and returning it was as simple as dropping the device into a pre-labeled FedEx envelope when I got home.
Minor annoyance: Occasionally, WiFiDASH would use a French IP, prompting websites to assume I wanted to have everything show up in French. Easily fixed (clicking the ‘change language’ link), but worth noting.
Find out more: WiFiDASH Review: The Best Pocket WiFi for US Travelers Abroad?
Airalo eSIM: Convenient but with a Learning Curve
Airalo’s digital SIM was convenient – when it worked. It’s great for tech-savvy solo travelers or short-term trips, but I encountered reliability issues:
- Check-in Nightmare: A family member was stuck in a hotel lobby unable to check in due to a sudden Airalo eSIM failure. We resolved it by reinstalling the eSIM, but it was stressful.
- Technical Setup: Requires a compatible unlocked phone, and users must feel comfortable troubleshooting digital SIM settings.
- No Daily Limit: Airalo doesn’t have a daily limit if you buy a plan with a limited amount of traffic (as opposed to an unlimited plan). I thought that was obvious, but not all providers follow that (see GigSky below).
- Fast Connection: While I didn’t do speed tests, I was using internet heavily and never noticed slow-downs or slower connections compared to other alternatives.
I kind of expected Airalo being slower than GigSky (see below), but that wasn’t the case – it’s just as fast in my experience. What was worse though was a complete lack of technical support and a sudden outage. Probably fine if you’re just on a vacation trip, but if you rely on your internet for important stuff, there are plenty of alternatives for a few dollars more.
GigSky eSIM: Premium, with Limitations
GigSky positioned itself as a premium eSIM provider. Thus I was surprised when I encountered its daily data cap of 2.7GB, which wasn’t prominently disclosed. Updating apps and downloading offline content depleted the limit quickly, leaving me unexpectedly offline. A cautionary reminder to always verify daily limits.
Unlike Airalo (which only has limits for unlimited plans), GigSky seems to have daily limits for ALL plans. I bought a 10 GB plan, but because I used more than 2.7 GB in a single day, my internet got cut off. Of course GigSky will say that it’ll just ‘slow down’, but the speed rendered the internet connection unusable for absolutely everything including messaging. So cut-off is the right term in my mind.
Find out more: An In-Depth Review of GigSky eSIM: Should You Use it in Thailand?
DTAC (now True) Local Thai SIM: Best Long-term Value
My Thai SIM (from DTAC, now True) delivered the most consistent, cost-effective solution. If you’re planning a longer stay in one country, local Thai SIM cards are still unbeatable for value and reliability.
I got 8x the traffic (80 GB rather than 10 GB) than with any of the travel eSIMs for the same price. No daily limits and it even came with a local phone number which can be useful to register for local apps and set up local accounts.
Downside is that it requires you to go buy a SIM card if you don’t have one, go through the identity verification process and have an unlocked (or second) phone to use it.
You don’t see this option recommended a lot, because bloggers receive no commission for recommending this solution. It is however my favorite solution for long-term travel and I’ll continue to get a local SIM card if I’m staying for more than three weeks.
Security Considerations when using WiFi
For some – whether for business reasons or because you plan on using online banking – security can play a big role in deciding on what solution to use, and there are definitely significant differences.
- Hotel and Public WiFi: Most vulnerable, use cautiously. This is probably the most concerning part if you plan on relying on local, public WiFi: You have no idea how secure it is.
- Personal Hotspot (Tethering): Most secure, especially crucial for business travelers and data-sensitive activities.
- Personal Hotspot (Pocket WiFi): Nearly as safe as tethering but a lot safer than public WiFis. I trust my iPhone more than I trust a Pocket WiFi to offer secure communications, but I trust my Pocket WiFi A LOT more than any public network.
Key Lessons Learned
- Always Have a Backup Connection: Hotel WiFi can fail unexpectedly.
- Check Daily Data Limits: “Unlimited” isn’t always unlimited.
- Device Compatibility is Crucial: Ensure your phone supports eSIMs and is unlocked.
- Technical Comfort Matters: eSIMs require comfort with troubleshooting.
- Pre-download Essentials: Keep critical travel details available offline to avoid connectivity disasters.
Quick Internet Solutions Comparison
| Feature | WiFiDASH | Airalo/GigSky | Local Thai SIM (DTAC/True) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Difficulty | Low (preconfigured) | Medium (digital install) | Medium (local purchase) |
| Best for Families | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Daily Data Limits | 3GB | 2.7GB (GigSky) | Unlimited (varies by plan) |
| Multi-device Friendly | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ (unless tethered) |
| Cost Efficiency (Short trips) | Good | Good | Poor (setup hassle) |
| Cost Efficiency (Long-Term) | Fair | Fair | Excellent |
| Technical Ease | High | Medium | Medium |
| Network Switching | Automatic | Manual | None |
| Convenience | High | Medium | Low (initial setup) |
Final Thoughts
For a short vacation trip, any of the travel eSIMs (Airalo, GigSky, etc.) will work – none of them are brilliant, but the convenience is hard to beat (short of getting a good roaming deal from your existing carrier). The biggest benefit of eSIMs in my mind is knowing those are an option – rather than requiring you to sign up for an expensive plan with your home phone carrier that includes 5GB of roaming abroad. Just make sure to have a backup (e.g. Airport WiFi, Hotel WiFi) for moments where you can’t afford to lose connection.
Having experienced connectivity challenges firsthand, I’d recommend WiFiDASH Pocket WiFi for traveling as a family/group, don’t have an unlocked phone or if you want to ensure you’ll always have WiFi. Use this link with the ExpatDen coupon code to get a 30% discount from WiFiDASH.
For single-country, extended stays, nothing beats a local SIM card. I use DTAC/True in Thailand because they always have the most generous data allowances, but realistically speaking, there isn’t that much of a difference between the major carriers in Thailand.
