Landing in the Netherlands without a working phone is a special kind of stress, and Jetpac’s travel eSIMs promise to fix that for a few euros before you even board.
If you’re a fellow international, you’re probably familiar with the struggle. You get through immigration at Schiphol and weave your way through hundreds of tired, sweaty travellers, desperately trying to get your mobile to connect to the public Wi-Fi.
A travel eSIM claims to avoid that hassle, offering you speedier, hassle-free connectivity. But how accurate is that claim, really?
To decide, we took a closer look at Jetpac, a Singapore-based eSIM provider that’s been gaining traction with travellers heading to (or through) Europe, to see if it lives up to the hype.
What’s a travel eSIM?
First things first: let’s dive into what an eSIM actually is and why it’s a fast favourite of many international travellers.
An eSIM (also known as an embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card built directly into your phone’s software, rather than a physical chip you pop in and out.
You install it by scanning a QR code or downloading it through an app, and, for many providers, it connects to a local network the moment you land.
That means no more hunting down airport SIM kiosks and no more fumbling with tiny plastic SIM cards (potentially losing your regular SIM card in the process).
READ MORE | What can you actually take in your hand luggage? A guide for flying from Dutch airports
As a team of internationals who are familiar with the mad rush at Schiphol, we’ve found eSIMs a genuinely useful upgrade.
Why we opted for Jetpac’s travel eSIMs
While Jetpac is a relatively new face in the eSIM space, it’s grown fast thanks to one standout feature: free airport lounge access if your flight gets delayed.
In addition to covering 200+ destinations worldwide, Jetpac’s plans also include a 33-country European regional plan that covers the Netherlands.
Plans start from as little as USD 1 (you can think of it as a little taster pack!), making them super accessible for anyone visiting Amsterdam for a long weekend or hopping between several European countries on one trip.
We wanted to see how Jetpac’s Netherlands eSIMs hold up in practice, especially for the kind of internationals and short-stay visitors who make up a big chunk of our readership.
Here’s what Jetpac gets right for travellers
Free lounge access when your flight’s delayed
We’re pleasantly surprised that plans come with a nifty feature called Smart Delay.
Register your flight in the Jetpac app before departure, and if it’s delayed by an hour or more, you get a free lounge voucher for you and up to five travel companions, delivered straight to the app.
Your key apps keep working, even after your data runs out
Once you’ve burned through your data allowance, most eSIMs simply cut you off.
However, Jetpac keeps a handful of essential apps, including WhatsApp, Google Maps, and Uber, running for free even at zero balance.
You’ll pay very little for short trips
One of Jetpac’s most accessible plans starts at around USD 7 for 3GB over four days. It’s perfect for a long weekend, especially if the Netherlands is just one stop on your travel itinerary.
Prefer a regional plan for Europe instead? While a 30-day plan starts from just USD 16 for 5GB, you can also double up and buy two 7-day plans starting at USD 12 each — perfect if your itinerary runs shorter than a month.
You can easily share data with your travel partners
eSIM providers can be nitpicky about who you share your data with (and how many GBs they use!), but Jetpac keeps things refreshingly simple.
You’ve got access to unlimited hotspot and tethering with no extra fees, so you can freely share your connection with a secondary device or your travel companion’s mobile phone.
You can actually make voice calls, too
Data-only eSIMs are great… until you need to ring your hotel or cab, and they don’t have a WhatsApp number.
Jetpac sells separate prepaid voice packs, starting at USD 1.99 for five minutes of talk time, valid for 30 days and 50+ countries. You dial straight from the app using a temporary number, so you don’t need a data plan to use it.
And here are some sticking points
You won’t get texts or a real phone number
Like many travel eSIMs, Jetpac’s plans are data-only for the Netherlands and Europe. If someone needs to reach you by traditional call or SMS, you’ll need to rely on apps like WhatsApp or iMessage instead.
However, if you’re in a pinch, Jetpac does offer calling bundles in their app. They’re valid for outgoing calls to 50+ countries, starting from just USD 1.99 for 5 minutes.
Your phone has to be eSIM-compatible
Sadly, not every device supports eSIM technology.
Thankfully, Jetpac offers a compatibility check before you buy. Just insert the name of your device in the field, and the website will tell you if your mobile is eSIM-compatible.
So, are Jetpac’s travel eSIMs worth it?
For short trips to the Netherlands or through Europe, Jetpac is a solid, low-cost option.
We also quite like the peace of mind that comes with SmartDelay and connectivity for essentials like WhatsApp and Google Maps — even when your data bundle has run dry.
While Jetpac may not replace a traditional SIM card for calling or getting a local number, it’s an excellent travel eSIM for browsing, navigation, and staying in touch.
Have you tried Jetpac before? Share your experience in the comments below.