I Just Found a Free Travel Hack to Save Time and Money on International Trips

Understanding eSIM and Its Benefits for Travelers

Traveling around the world for a year and a half has given me countless experiences, but one of my favorite money-saving strategies is using an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM card that allows you to access mobile networks without needing a physical SIM card. This means I don't have to worry about expensive roaming charges from my US provider or purchasing local SIM cards every time I enter a new country.

When I discovered that GigSky, an eSIM provider, was offering eligible Visa cardholders a complimentary 15-day worldwide data plan, I was intrigued. This offer wasn’t widely discussed in the credit card rewards space, and I hadn’t heard of GigSky before. I wanted to see if this would be a useful free benefit or just a two-week disaster.

What You Need to Know About the GigSky Visa Offer

From now until November 15, 2027, eligible Visa Signature and Visa Infinite cardholders can receive a complimentary global mobile data plan through GigSky. This plan provides access to mobile data in over 175 countries.

Visa Signature cardholders get a 1GB plan valid for 15 days, while Visa Infinite cardholders receive a 3GB/15-day plan. After the complimentary plan expires, users also get ongoing discounts: 20% off for Visa Signature and 30% off for Visa Infinite. The offer can be redeemed once per calendar year.

To take advantage of the offer, users must add their card as the default payment method in the GigSky app.

Eligible Cards for the Offer

All US Visa Signature and Visa Infinite cards are eligible for this offer. Additionally, select Visa cards issued in Canada and Latin America are also included. Some popular Visa Signature cards include:

• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Popular Visa Infinite cards include:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

My Experience Claiming and Using the Free GigSky eSIM

I started by visiting the official offer page to read through the details. I also noticed that GigSky offers a free 100MB trial eSIM for everyone, no Visa card required. If you don’t qualify for the Visa offer, this could still be a useful option.

After reviewing the terms and conditions, I downloaded the GigSky app to claim the offer. On the app's home page, I found a link to check my eligibility for the Visa offer. Clicking on it prompted me to enter my card number, which confirmed my eligibility for a 1GB/15-day complimentary data plan and a 20% discount on paid plans.

Creating an account and adding my Chase Sapphire Preferred card as the default payment method was straightforward. The app then provided a link to redeem the offer tied to my specific card. I selected the complimentary plan, confirmed the order total was $0, and checked out.

Setting Up the eSIM

Setting up the eSIM was surprisingly easy. I found my new eSIM under the "My Plans" tab in the GigSky app. According to the terms, the eSIM had up to one year to activate after redemption.

Clicking the "Install eSIM" link initiated the download, which took about a minute. My phone then prompted me to choose a new primary SIM card (as I use a dual-SIM phone) and restart. Unlike other eSIM providers I’ve used, this process was seamless.

After restarting my phone, the eSIM didn’t immediately connect to the network, which was normal. It took a few minutes for the connection to stabilize. Once connected, I set the primary eSIM for mobile data to GigSky and turned on my data. I was online and ready to go.

Using the eSIM

I used the eSIM for the full 15 days of the complimentary plan. My experience was mostly positive, with only a few hiccups along the way.

I was in Hanoi, Vietnam, when I downloaded the eSIM, and it worked perfectly the first day. Speeds were mostly 4G/LTE or 5G, and I could access mobile data without issues. Web pages, Google Maps, and even occasional videos loaded quickly.

The GigSky app allowed me to track my remaining time and data. There was also an option to purchase additional plans, with the 20% Visa Signature discount reflected in the prices.

However, a few days into the plan, my data suddenly stopped working. My phone showed a connection to an "H" network, which is a type of 3G network. Although technically connected, web pages wouldn’t load. After returning to my hotel, I checked the app and confirmed my plan was active with plenty of data left.

For the next two days, my data connection was spotty, sometimes working and sometimes not. I tried turning the eSIM on and off, restarting my phone, and toggling airplane mode, but couldn’t find a reliable fix. Eventually, the connection stabilized, and I was able to access data consistently again. I never figured out the exact issue, but I've experienced similar problems with other eSIMs, so I don’t think it’s unique to GigSky.

I traveled to Cat Ba, an island on the coast of Vietnam, during the second half of my 15-day plan. I was worried about the signal there, but everything worked perfectly. I consistently had 4G/LTE or 5G data and never had trouble connecting to the internet when needed.

The Offer’s End

I paid close attention when my complimentary plan expired, just in case it turned into an auto-renewing subscription. However, the terms and conditions indicated that this wasn’t the case. When my plan ended, that was it. I could no longer access data despite the eSIM being on my phone, and I received a notification each time I tried. I wasn’t automatically enrolled in a new, paid plan, and my credit card was never charged.

I could still view my original plan details in the app and choose to purchase a new plan if desired.

Would I Recommend the GigSky eSIM?

eSIMs are invaluable for international travelers, and I’m glad Visa has partnered with GigSky to provide this benefit. While it may not be the most monetarily valuable perk from my Chase Sapphire Preferred card — a 1GB worldwide data plan like this normally retails for $20 through GigSky — it’s definitely one of the more practical ones.

If you travel internationally, the complimentary plan can help cut down on one extra cost while allowing convenient internet access wherever you go. GigSky’s service is as good as any other eSIM I’ve used, and I appreciate the variety of options they offer, including data plans in over 175 countries and cruise packages.

One downside of GigSky is the cost. Their prices are on the higher end of the eSIM market and significantly more expensive than the provider I previously used (EscapeSIM). Because of this, I ended up not renewing my GigSky plan. I would definitely recommend the complimentary plan to any eligible Visa cardholders heading abroad for a short vacation. However, if your data needs or travel timeline require buying a paid plan beyond the trial, I suggest comparing costs among multiple providers before committing to any one.