Staying online while travelling has become a basic expectation for modern travellers, yet the reality continues to fall short. New data from Holafly reveals that the majority of travellers still experience significant issues accessing mobile internet abroad, highlighting a persistent gap between what travellers expect and what they actually experience once they cross borders.
According to findings from the Holafly Global eSIM & Travel Report, 86.7% of travellers report experiencing at least one frustration related to mobile internet access while travelling internationally. These issues range from technical limitations to cost-related concerns, underscoring how common digital disruption remains during trips abroad.
Slow or unreliable internet access is the most frequently reported problem, affecting 57.1% of travellers. Nearly half say they have faced unexpected roaming charges (46.6%) or lost coverage when moving between countries (46.3%). Others point to complicated SIM or eSIM setups (28.9%) and a lack of customer support when problems arise (24.8%). The data confirms that these challenges are not isolated incidents, but widespread experiences across markets.
Cost anxiety continues to play a central role. More than nine in ten travellers (91.6%) say they are at least somewhat aware of roaming charges before travelling, with 57.5% describing themselves as very aware. This high level of awareness reflects long-standing concerns around unpredictable mobile costs, even as international travel becomes more frequent and more digital.
Crucially, access to mobile internet is no longer just a practical issue once travellers arrive — it increasingly shapes decisions before a trip even begins. One in four travellers (25%) say the ability to stay online influences their choice of destination, placing digital access alongside navigation, safety and communication as a core travel consideration.
Taken together, the findings point to a clear expectation gap. Travellers plan their trips assuming they will be able to stay online wherever they go, yet a large majority still encounter barriers ranging from poor performance to unexpected costs. As travel becomes more flexible and increasingly intertwined with daily life, these gaps are becoming harder to ignore.
“Travellers today expect their digital life to move with them,” said Pedro Maiquez, Co-Founder of Holafly. “The data shows that while expectations are high, the experience abroad often doesn’t match. Removing friction around staying online is no longer a nice-to-have — it’s becoming fundamental to how people travel.”
The research suggests that as travellers take longer trips, work remotely and rely more heavily on mobile services abroad, solutions that reduce complexity and uncertainty will play an increasingly important role in shaping travel behaviour.
