I trialled Holafly eSIM in China and this is my verdict

Staying connected while travelling is more complicated in China, but is HolaFly the solution you’re looking for?

When I found myself unexpectedly travelling to China recently, almost my first thought was ‘How will I stay connected’ while I’m away? Having a phone in hand and the internet at our fingertips seems non-negotiable with travel now. God forbid the possibility of even temporarily being without that all-encompassing digital security blanket we’ve become so reliant on.

Questions rained down: how will I access the internet, how do I avoid surprise roaming fees, can I use my email account, and more.

Travelling to China made those questions more complicated. Say hello to the Great Firewall of China, an extensive system of controls that regulates (censors) internet activity within the country. That means many sites are banned, as well as many popular apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Google services, including Gmail. Two weeks without family chats and social media? What’s a modern girl supposed to do?

Options

eSIM activation on a mobile phone screen — An eSIM is one a few ways to stay connected while travelling China. (Credit: Getty Images/ Prykhodov)

Apart from going cold turkey (really, anyone up for that?), here are your choices: rely on free wi-fi, buy a local SIM card, sign up for global roaming, download a reliable VPN (virtual private network) app to work around the firewall or get an eSIM. For access to your usual apps in China, you’ll need either of the last two options.

When Holafly, newly operating in Australia, offered me an eSIM to trial, it seemed like a good solution. What’s an eSIM, you ask? It works like a regular SIM but without the physical card. Instead, you buy an eSIM online for the country and duration you need, then load it onto your phone with the provided QR or activation code that’s emailed to you.

Different brands have varying pricing and data offerings, but the real advantage for me was that the Holafly eSIM comes with a built-in VPN. One less bit of technology to deal with, and reliable access to sites and apps otherwise blocked when using local connections in China.

Note: China restricts access to eSIM cards, which means they need to be purchased and loaded before you go.

Call me paranoid, but I also had cybersecurity front of mind, so I was pleased to totally avoid local wi-fi entirely and to use my own VPN instead.

Pros and cons

To use a Holafly eSIM, your phone must be both compatible and unlocked. Most newer phones are fine, but check on Holafly’s website for compatibility.

Pros

Unlimited-style data plans – ideal for heavy users or anyone who doesn’t want to monitor gigabytes.
Built-in VPN – this was the key benefit for me travelling to China, and it worked consistently throughout my trip and allowed access to all apps and sites I wanted.
500 MB of tethering – that’s the process of sharing your mobile data connection with other devices as a portable wi-fi hotspot. Handy if you’re travelling with multiple devices.
Keep your own number – no need to swap SIMs.

Cons

Fair Usage Policies apply – while the plans are marketed as unlimited, speeds may be reduced after extremely high use (I never reached that point), even if you can keep browsing.
No local phone number – which means you can’t make local calls or send texts unless using data-based apps like WhatsApp. If making calls is important to you, this one’s not for you.
A little pricier than basic eSIM options, but the VPN inclusion justifies it for China.

Installation and ease of use

A screenshot of eSIM steps on Holafly's website. — A screenshot of eSIM steps on Holafly’s website.

After purchasing, comprehensive step-by-step instructions are sent, designed for beginners, with a link to an explanatory video guide. Even though the video promises “all you have to do is click a button" to install, you actually have to press a hell of a lot more than that to follow the installation process.

While I admit I’m not the most tech-savvy person in the room, I found it confusing when the instructions didn’t align exactly with what my phone screen was showing, making me unsure whether everything was toggled on and off correctly in settings. You also need to make sure you toggle everything off correctly when you get home. It took me a week to work out why I was being left out of group messages.

Holafly’s companion app is basic but useful for checking instructions and contacting support.

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Support

Holafly offers 24/7 support via online chat or messaging. It’s AI-driven, which means answers are competent but sometimes slow and repetitive. I tested it out on arrival in China to make sure I had everything set up correctly. I’m pleased to report I did. You can escalate to a human with some persistence. There’s email support as well, but no phone option. Multiple language choices are available.

Performance

Coverage across China was solid in my experience, using a mix of 5G and 3G depending on region. I usually saw download speeds in the mid-30 Mbps range, which was perfectly adequate for maps, messaging, browsing and video calls.

Holafly complies with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and international regulations to keep user data secure, and provides end-to-end data encryption.

Pricing

Holafly offers flat-fee unlimited data for the number of days you need. Pricing varies by country and how long you need the eSIM for. The longer the package, the lower the daily cost. My plan for China was $79 for 15 days, about $5.30 a day, not the cheapest option on the market but similar to many global roaming plans.

Holafly offers eSIMs to over 200 destinations across Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America and South America. You can access their eSIMs through the company’s website and mobile app.

For frequent travellers, Holafly has just announced a new permanent eSIM with a monthly subscription (cancellable at any time) covering more than 160 countries.

Verdict

For China – or any country with restricted internet access – Holafly is a reliable, fuss-free way to stay connected to the apps and services you depend on, without dealing with separate VPNs or the risks of public wi-fi. It’s not the cheapest eSIM, but for simplicity, security and unlimited data, it worked well for me.

However you choose to keep connected on the go, if you’re travelling to a country with restrictions like China, make sure you’ve got it sorted before you leave home.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.