International travel in 2025 is a tricky business. That’s because there’s so much to worry about. Booked your tickets? Now, got to check whether the layover flight you booked requires a transit visa from the connecting country. Applied for the visa for the destination? Need to check if immigration is open 24/7, or you’ll be stuck at the airport at night for hours. The list doesn’t stop. And every time, I forget something, which often means my travel experiences involve running frantically through the airport. Another thing that has caused a lot of headaches is connectivity. Everyone needs a taxi from the airport to the hotel, and for that, you need data. Unfortunately, at most airports, I’ve only seen long queues to get a new SIM, which can sometimes take hours. Beyond that, buying a SIM at the airport is generally more expensive, making the overall experience less than ideal.
Fortunately, there is a solution to this headache, and that’s eSIM. As you may already know, eSIMs are just regular SIMs without the physical card. They function exactly the same and can be used in different countries. With an upcoming Vietnam trip, I decided to finally give eSIMs a go and chose Holafly for this test. These guys offer unlimited data plans in over 200 destinations, with no hidden charges or fuss.
Options
As mentioned, Holafly covers over 200 destinations spanning across North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and even the Caribbean. For all these places, the company provides unlimited data, without a phone number. This means you can browse the web, watch content, and even make calls using apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.
In addition, if you’re planning to visit multiple countries, Holafly also offers regional eSIMs and a global option that provides connectivity in 110+ countries and starts at $9.90 per day. The cost per day decreases with a longer plan. And if you use my code FOSSBYTES, you get a 5% on your eSIM.
Beyond that, if your work requires you to travel to various countries each week, Holafly recently introduced a subscription, called Holafly Plans, with coverage in 160+ destinations. The 25GB plan costs $49.90, the unlimited data plan costs $ 64.90 monthly, and you can cancel the service at any time. It is important to note that this is an introductory price offer, and you can get 10% off for 12 months using the coupon FOSSBYTES.
Holafly’s eSIMs are not transferable, and, like every other eSIM, your phone must be unlocked to use the service. The eSIM does not work with carrier-locked phones, so be sure to check the compatibility before buying. Also, older phones might not have eSIM technology, so check Holafly’s website or app to see if your mobile is compatible. Fortunately, if you do end up purchasing an eSIM and it’s not compatible, Holafly offers a generous 6-month return policy, which also applies if you cancelled your travel plans. Plus, for any help, you can contact the company’s 24/7 multilingual customer support team, with real people, who’d be happy to assist you.
The Setup
To have a pleasant travel experience, I needed to set up the eSIM before the actual flight date. After all, nobody wants to be stuck using the airport wifi to install the eSIM. Fortunately, Holafly’s setup is actually simple. I headed to the Holafly website, searched for Vietnam, and bought a 15-day plan for a total of $50,90. However, you can configure it from 1 to 90 days if you wish.
From there, it was another straightforward journey to install it on my Android device, and there are multiple ways to do so. You can either set up manually, using the QR code or the Holafly app for a one-button install, available for iPhone users with iOS 17.4 or above. I went with the QR code route, and it took just a few minutes.
The Experience
Everything was set up a day before flying, and for the test, I was using my daily driver, the vivo X300 Pro. As soon as my plane touched down at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC, I was instantly connected to the service, with mobile data running. Naturally, the first order of business was to inform my parents since this was my first solo international trip, and they were obviously worried. I sent them a text, and it went pretty smoothly.
Once I got out of the plane, the next item on the list was immigration. If you aren’t already aware, immigration in Vietnam can take hours. However, there’s a fast-track paid service that helps you get past all this nonsense. Since my Vietnamese speaking skills are basically non-existent, I used ChatGPT as my translator, which, thanks to the connection, worked super fine.
After reaching the hotel, it was time to push Holafly’s connection to the limit. For that, I first started downloading the new episodes of Squid Game Season 3. They were done in just a few minutes, and I was also able to track my data usage using the Holafly app. I then ran a series of speed tests. On average, download speeds ranged from 45.6 Mbps to 56 Mbps, while upload speeds reached 39 Mbps. These speeds are pretty fine for just about anyone, since I could do everything from streaming content to playing PUBG with my friends. However, some streaming services like Netflix did not play well with the eSIM, thanks to the weird “this content is not available at your location” error, which I faced a couple of times. I also faced a couple of errors with the Holafly app, which crashed when tracking my data usage.
After spending a few days in Ho Chi Minh City, the next destination on my travel list was Tuy Hoa. I’m the kind of person who likes to stay away from the touristy places, and it seemed like the best of the bunch. I took a train from Saigon to the region. Since Vietnamese trains don’t have Wi-Fi on board, I was relying on the Holafly connection, which, barring a few desolate forest regions, worked really well. There was decent coverage for about 90% of my journey. Even in the super quiet town of Tuy Hoa, the speeds were the same as in the big city, and I had no problems on my few excursions out of the city and into the wild as well.
Verdict
Holafly’s eSIM service is really good for just about anyone, simply because you get unlimited data. Throughout my Vietnam trip, I never worried about finishing my daily data quota, and that’s a very reassuring feeling. Beyond that, you get really solid coverage across almost the entire globe, a simple setup with various options, a global eSIM for frequent travellers, excellent customer support, and a generous 6-month refund policy. Sure, the app can be a bit buggy at times, and some streaming services can freak out, but Holafly is still a fantastic travel companion. If you have a trip coming up, be sure to give it a try, and don’t forget to save some money using my code FOSSBYTES.
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![The Animation Industry Still Hopes for Hollywood’s Full Respect
Years after Guillermo del Toro declared “animation is cinema” at the Oscars, the industry remains a redheaded stepchild of Hollywood. A recent Variety report with several professionals in the industry discuss how animation’s perceived in the west. At the same time it’s viewed as a “babysitter” medium mainly meant for entertaining kids, it’s been a reliable moneymaker for decades. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is currently 2026’s only movie to make over billion, while Inside Out 2 and Zootopia 2 have been big hits for Disney. But as one animator told the outlet, the success has also been “frustrating” to see: a studio will brag about an animated film’s financial and awards success, then “turn to people who’ve worked here forever and say, ‘We don’t need you anymore.’” While Pixar president Jim Morris rightfully noted animation’s “propping up a lot of studios right now,” chief creative officer Pete Docter had a different view. He said animation can’t not be considered “films for kids” when most of said films are “funny, goofy, [and] a little bit like babysitter material. We could step our game up [as an industry].” However, Docter doesn’t expound on what “stepping up” would entail, and it’s worth acknowledging Pixar’s backtracking on more specific themes and perspectives in recent years—and his views on such walk backs. Alternatively, Laika’s solution is making people see their movies as simply movies. Chief marketing officer David Burke told Variety the Wildwood studio doesn’t actively sell their films as animated, instead trusting “[our] audience to find our movies, irrespective of the medium. They defy categorization.” Granted, this may also be due to the studio having a number of live-action projects in development, but Burke’s general point stands: to avoid stigma, animated movies can (and should) be promoted like they’re just regular movies.
For those interested in animation, a true sign of the medium’s respect would be if an animated movie won “Best Feature” at the Oscars. That’s a tall order, and an idea professionals are split on. Morris wants animation employees to be eligible come Oscar voting time, while Jorge Gutiérrez believes live-action movies have a natural edge and “too many Academy members” automatically treat animated fare as something to endure.
You can read the full story here for more insight on what Hollywood’s animation arm is thinking. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Animation #Industry #Hopes #Hollywoods #Full #RespectAnimation,disney,Pixar,The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,Zootopia 2](https://i1.wp.com/gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Super-Mario-Galaxy-flying-1280x853.jpg?ssl=1 "The Animation Industry Still Hopes for Hollywood’s Full Respect
Years after Guillermo del Toro declared “animation is cinema” at the Oscars, the industry remains a redheaded stepchild of Hollywood. A recent Variety report with several professionals in the industry discuss how animation’s perceived in the west. At the same time it’s viewed as a “babysitter” medium mainly meant for entertaining kids, it’s been a reliable moneymaker for decades. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is currently 2026’s only movie to make over billion, while Inside Out 2 and Zootopia 2 have been big hits for Disney. But as one animator told the outlet, the success has also been “frustrating” to see: a studio will brag about an animated film’s financial and awards success, then “turn to people who’ve worked here forever and say, ‘We don’t need you anymore.’” While Pixar president Jim Morris rightfully noted animation’s “propping up a lot of studios right now,” chief creative officer Pete Docter had a different view. He said animation can’t not be considered “films for kids” when most of said films are “funny, goofy, [and] a little bit like babysitter material. We could step our game up [as an industry].” However, Docter doesn’t expound on what “stepping up” would entail, and it’s worth acknowledging Pixar’s backtracking on more specific themes and perspectives in recent years—and his views on such walk backs. Alternatively, Laika’s solution is making people see their movies as simply movies. Chief marketing officer David Burke told Variety the Wildwood studio doesn’t actively sell their films as animated, instead trusting “[our] audience to find our movies, irrespective of the medium. They defy categorization.” Granted, this may also be due to the studio having a number of live-action projects in development, but Burke’s general point stands: to avoid stigma, animated movies can (and should) be promoted like they’re just regular movies.
For those interested in animation, a true sign of the medium’s respect would be if an animated movie won “Best Feature” at the Oscars. That’s a tall order, and an idea professionals are split on. Morris wants animation employees to be eligible come Oscar voting time, while Jorge Gutiérrez believes live-action movies have a natural edge and “too many Academy members” automatically treat animated fare as something to endure.
You can read the full story here for more insight on what Hollywood’s animation arm is thinking. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Animation #Industry #Hopes #Hollywoods #Full #RespectAnimation,disney,Pixar,The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,Zootopia 2")
![The Animation Industry Still Hopes for Hollywood’s Full Respect
Years after Guillermo del Toro declared “animation is cinema” at the Oscars, the industry remains a redheaded stepchild of Hollywood. A recent Variety report with several professionals in the industry discuss how animation’s perceived in the west. At the same time it’s viewed as a “babysitter” medium mainly meant for entertaining kids, it’s been a reliable moneymaker for decades. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is currently 2026’s only movie to make over $1 billion, while Inside Out 2 and Zootopia 2 have been big hits for Disney. But as one animator told the outlet, the success has also been “frustrating” to see: a studio will brag about an animated film’s financial and awards success, then “turn to people who’ve worked here forever and say, ‘We don’t need you anymore.’” While Pixar president Jim Morris rightfully noted animation’s “propping up a lot of studios right now,” chief creative officer Pete Docter had a different view. He said animation can’t not be considered “films for kids” when most of said films are “funny, goofy, [and] a little bit like babysitter material. We could step our game up [as an industry].” However, Docter doesn’t expound on what “stepping up” would entail, and it’s worth acknowledging Pixar’s backtracking on more specific themes and perspectives in recent years—and his views on such walk backs. Alternatively, Laika’s solution is making people see their movies as simply movies. Chief marketing officer David Burke told Variety the Wildwood studio doesn’t actively sell their films as animated, instead trusting “[our] audience to find our movies, irrespective of the medium. They defy categorization.” Granted, this may also be due to the studio having a number of live-action projects in development, but Burke’s general point stands: to avoid stigma, animated movies can (and should) be promoted like they’re just regular movies.
For those interested in animation, a true sign of the medium’s respect would be if an animated movie won “Best Feature” at the Oscars. That’s a tall order, and an idea professionals are split on. Morris wants animation employees to be eligible come Oscar voting time, while Jorge Gutiérrez believes live-action movies have a natural edge and “too many Academy members” automatically treat animated fare as something to endure.
You can read the full story here for more insight on what Hollywood’s animation arm is thinking. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Animation #Industry #Hopes #Hollywoods #Full #RespectAnimation,disney,Pixar,The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,Zootopia 2](https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Super-Mario-Galaxy-flying-1280x853.jpg "The Animation Industry Still Hopes for Hollywood’s Full Respect
Years after Guillermo del Toro declared “animation is cinema” at the Oscars, the industry remains a redheaded stepchild of Hollywood. A recent Variety report with several professionals in the industry discuss how animation’s perceived in the west. At the same time it’s viewed as a “babysitter” medium mainly meant for entertaining kids, it’s been a reliable moneymaker for decades. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is currently 2026’s only movie to make over $1 billion, while Inside Out 2 and Zootopia 2 have been big hits for Disney. But as one animator told the outlet, the success has also been “frustrating” to see: a studio will brag about an animated film’s financial and awards success, then “turn to people who’ve worked here forever and say, ‘We don’t need you anymore.’” While Pixar president Jim Morris rightfully noted animation’s “propping up a lot of studios right now,” chief creative officer Pete Docter had a different view. He said animation can’t not be considered “films for kids” when most of said films are “funny, goofy, [and] a little bit like babysitter material. We could step our game up [as an industry].” However, Docter doesn’t expound on what “stepping up” would entail, and it’s worth acknowledging Pixar’s backtracking on more specific themes and perspectives in recent years—and his views on such walk backs. Alternatively, Laika’s solution is making people see their movies as simply movies. Chief marketing officer David Burke told Variety the Wildwood studio doesn’t actively sell their films as animated, instead trusting “[our] audience to find our movies, irrespective of the medium. They defy categorization.” Granted, this may also be due to the studio having a number of live-action projects in development, but Burke’s general point stands: to avoid stigma, animated movies can (and should) be promoted like they’re just regular movies.
For those interested in animation, a true sign of the medium’s respect would be if an animated movie won “Best Feature” at the Oscars. That’s a tall order, and an idea professionals are split on. Morris wants animation employees to be eligible come Oscar voting time, while Jorge Gutiérrez believes live-action movies have a natural edge and “too many Academy members” automatically treat animated fare as something to endure.
You can read the full story here for more insight on what Hollywood’s animation arm is thinking. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Animation #Industry #Hopes #Hollywoods #Full #RespectAnimation,disney,Pixar,The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,Zootopia 2")
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