EU Roaming in 2026: Fair use limits & when to choose a travel SIM vs a standard 30‑Day SIM
posted 6th January 2026
EU Roaming in 2026: Stay Connected, Stress-Free
With most UK networks tightening their roaming rules, many travellers are discovering that their everyday SIM simply isn’t built for long trips or heavy data use abroad. That’s where Simcredible’s flexible 30‑day SIMs come in.
This guide breaks down:
- When your standard 30‑day SIM is enough for EU travel
- When you should upgrade to a dedicated EU travel SIM
- The differences between Simcredible’s three main EU travel packages
- How to choose the right option for your trip
Do standard 30‑Day SIMcredible plans include roaming?
Yes - Our Vodafone and O2 tariffs include free roaming. O2 up to 35GB within the EU and Vodafone up to 25GB in 81 countries.
Great for:
- Short city breaks
- Long weekends
- Light‑to‑moderate data use abroad
- Occasional business trips
These plans are perfect if you’re only away for a few days and won’t exceed typical fair use limits.
But here’s the catch:
Fair use caps apply,and if you’re travelling for longer or using lots of data (maps, hotspotting, video calls, streaming), you may hit those limits quickly.
That’s when a dedicated travel SIM becomes the smarter choice.
When your standard SIM isn’t enough: signs you need a Travel SIM
You should consider switching to a travel‑specific SIMcredible plan if:
You’re travelling for more than 1-2 weeks
- Fair use limits on standard plans often aren’t designed for long stays.
You expect to use lots of data abroad
- Navigation, social media, video calls, and hotspotting can burn through roaming allowances.
You’re visiting multiple EU countries
- Travel SIMs are optimised for multi‑country use with consistent coverage.
You want predictable costs
- No daily roaming fees. No surprise surcharges.
Because Simcredible uses contract-free 30‑day rolling plans, you can simply switch to a travel SIM for the month you’re away - then switch back to your everyday plan when you return.
Simcredible’s EU Travel SIM Options
BOOST: 35GB
Roam across Europe and key French overseas territories with 35GB of data. Ideal for city breaks without mid-trip slowdowns.
Great for short trips, city breaks, light data use
FLEX: 50GB
Stay connected across Europe with 50GB of data and no fair use limits. Perfect for streaming, maps, and messaging on week-long trips.
Great for medium-length trips
PRO (100GB)
Covers the EU, EEA, UK, Gibraltar, and French overseas territories. Offers 100GB of data for extended trips with stable coverage and no fair use restrictions.
Great for longer stays, remote working and student travel
ULTRA: 300GB
Roam freely across Europe with 300GB of data and zero fair use limits. Perfect for work, streaming, and multiple devices on long stays.
Great for heavy data users, digital nomads, long-term travellers
How to Choose the Right SIM for Your Trip
For short EU breaks, your standard 30‑day SIMcredible plan usually does the job - and you can simply add a 1GB Travel Top‑Up if you need a little extra roaming. For anything longer or more data‑heavy, switch to a Travel SIM for that month:
- 1–2 week holidays: Standard SIM + Top‑Up for light use, or a Short Stay Travel SIM for heavier use
- Multi‑country trips or backpacking: Short Stay Travel SIM
- 3+ week stays or remote work abroad: Long‑Stay Travel SIM
Because every plan lasts just 30 days, you can swap between them as your travel needs change.
Why Simcredible’s 30‑Day Flexibility Matters
Unlike traditional networks, Simcredible doesn’t lock you into long contracts. Every plan - standard or travel - lasts just 30 days.
That means you can:
- Use your standard SIM at home
- Switch to a travel SIM for the month you’re abroad
- Switch back when you return
- Change again for your next trip
This flexibility is one of Simcredible’s biggest advantages, and it’s explained in more detail here:
Final Thoughts: The smart way to roam in the EU in 2026
EU roaming is still easy - but only if you choose the right SIM for your trip length and data needs.
Simcredible makes it simple:
- Standard 30‑day SIMs for everyday use and short trips
- Dedicated EU travel SIMs for longer stays, multi‑country travel, and heavy data use
And because everything is 30 days, you can switch plans whenever your travel plans change.
If you want predictable pricing, generous data, and stress‑free roaming, Simcredible’s travel SIM range is one of the best options for 2026.