Guide
Winter 2026–2027: long-stay data in Thailand, Bali and Vietnam
Wintering in Thailand, Bali, Vietnam or Sri Lanka in 2026–2027? How to keep mobile data running for months, work from a laptop and keep your home number for bank codes.
For a winter 2026–2027 stay in Thailand, Bali, Vietnam or Sri Lanka, the most practical setup is two lines: an eSIM for the country, installed at home and topped up as the winter goes on, plus your home SIM for banks and text codes. A local SIM is worth it when you need a local number or use a huge amount of data, but it comes with passport registration and, in some countries, IMEI rules. Check visa rules and length-of-stay conditions for the 2026–2027 season separately before you travel.
How is internet on a long winter stay different from a vacation?
Internet on a long winter stay is different from a vacation because you need it every day for months, not for two weeks. People wintering in Hikkaduwa, Canggu or Chiang Mai work remotely, order taxis and food through apps, and video call home. Guesthouses and cafés almost all have Wi-Fi, but the quality varies wildly: one place handles a video call fine, the one next door can barely load your email.
That’s why on a long stay mobile data becomes your main connection and Wi-Fi becomes the extra. This leads to three practical questions: how to extend your plan without reinstalling the eSIM, how to share data with a laptop, and how to keep your home number for banks. All three can be sorted out before you fly.
How to extend mobile data for months without a new eSIM
On a long stay, it’s easier to extend your data by topping up than by buying a new eSIM every month. A MoreSim plan tops up right in the Telegram bot: the profile stays the same and there’s nothing to reinstall. That matters on the road, where you may not have stable Wi-Fi at hand to install a new profile.
- Open the eSIM card in your account or in the @moresim_bot bot’s app.
- Check how much is left on your current plan.
- Tap “Top up data” and choose one of the options offered — the button is there if top-ups are available for that plan.
- Pay by bank card or SBP, which currently work with cards issued in Russia (Telegram Stars aren’t accepted for top-ups) — the profile on your phone stays as it is.
MoreSim plans are data-only, with no phone number, and none of them are unlimited at full speed. Data amounts and validity for Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam or Sri Lanka are on each country’s catalog page. Pro tip: if you’re torn between two data sizes, take the smaller one with a longer validity. If you run out early, you can top up in the bot, and you won’t be left with unused gigabytes at the end of the winter.
Working remotely on a long stay: how to share data with your laptop
You can share data from an eSIM with your laptop through Personal Hotspot or tethering, just like with a regular SIM: the hotspot uses whichever line is set for mobile data. Whether tethering is allowed, and whether it has limits, is stated in the plan details — check that before you buy, not on your first working day in Bali.
If the hotspot won’t turn on with the eSIM or your laptop can’t see it, check which line is selected for mobile data and follow the steps in our guide “eSIM hotspot not working”. For long work calls, a coworking space or a rental with proven Wi-Fi is more reliable, with mobile data as your backup.
Travel eSIM or local SIM for a long stay: which to choose?
A local SIM for a long winter stay pays off if you need a local number for couriers, rentals and local apps, or if you use a lot of data. A travel eSIM wins on convenience: it installs at home, tops up without a store visit and keeps your home number in the phone. Many long-stayers combine the two: an eSIM for the first days while they look for a place, then a local SIM once they’ve settled in.
| Country | Local SIM | What to watch out for | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | At the airport and carrier stores, with your passport and a face check | Thai press reports that tourist SIMs last no more than 60 days; weaker signal on small islands and ferry crossings | “eSIM for Thailand” |
| Bali, Indonesia | At the airport, carrier stores and small shops, with your passport | A phone used with a local SIM needs IMEI registration: at the carrier store for stays up to 90 days, through customs for longer | “Internet in Bali and Indonesia” |
| Vietnam | At airports and carrier stores, with your passport; since April 2026 new numbers also need a face check | Coverage drops in northern Phu Quoc, on the islands off Nha Trang and in the Sa Pa mountains | “Internet in Vietnam for tourists” |
| Sri Lanka | In the arrivals hall and carrier stores, with your passport | According to the regulator, TRCSL, IMEI registration since 2025 doesn’t apply to phones tourists bring in; dead spots in the hills, on the train to Ella and on safari | “Internet in Sri Lanka” |
A full cost comparison — including getting to the store, replacing the SIM and registration — is in our guide “eSIM vs local SIM in Asia: which costs less”. Rule of thumb: don’t compare the price per gigabyte, compare the whole season.
Two lines: your home number for banks and an eSIM for data
On a long stay abroad it’s worth keeping your home SIM in the phone, because that’s where text codes from your bank, government services and online shops arrive. A MoreSim eSIM works as a second line: data runs through the country plan, while calls and texts come to your usual number, as long as your carrier supports that while roaming.
- In your cellular settings, select the eSIM for mobile data.
- Turn off mobile data on your home SIM so your data doesn’t go through your home carrier; keep the line itself on for bank texts.
- Ask your carrier what incoming texts cost while roaming and how your number is handled during a long absence.
- If you’re planning to add a local SIM, check how many lines your phone can run at once: it depends on the model.
If you move between countries over the winter, your phone can end up with several eSIMs. Give each one a clear label — “Thailand”, “Bali”, “Home” — so you don’t pick the wrong line for data. Switch off the previous country’s profile instead of deleting it: a deleted eSIM profile usually can’t be reinstalled from the same QR code. If that happens, contact support first rather than buying a new plan.
Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, Sri Lanka: where does coverage get weak?
Coverage on a winter stay gets weak on the road, not in towns: on ferry crossings, in the mountains and on remote beaches. No plan adds cell towers where there aren’t any, so trips outside your area are worth preparing for offline.
- Thailand — in towns on Phuket and Koh Samui coverage is usually solid; on small islands, in national parks and at piers it’s weaker.
- Bali — the network works well in tourist areas; it gets tricky in the mountains, on the water and on Nusa Penida, the Gili Islands and Lombok.
- Vietnam — mobile data is fast in cities, but drops outside the Phu Quoc resort area, on boats to the islands and in the Sa Pa mountains.
- Sri Lanka — no surprises on the coast, but expect long dead spots on the train through the tea plantations, on the winding roads near Nuwara Eliya and in Yala National Park.
Single-country plans only work in that country. If your Sri Lanka winter continues in the Maldives or India, you’ll need a separate plan for the next country. Install it in advance over Wi-Fi: it only starts counting on first connection in the new country.
Connectivity checklist before you fly out for the winter
Your connection for the winter takes six steps to set up before you fly, from checking the phone to your home number’s roaming terms.
- Check that your phone supports eSIM with the compatibility check in the @moresim_bot bot.
- Choose a plan on the country’s catalog page and install the profile at home over Wi-Fi.
- If you’ll work from a laptop, check the tethering terms in the plan details.
- Turn off mobile data on your home SIM and ask your carrier about long-term roaming terms.
- Download offline maps of the region and screenshot your accommodation bookings.
- Save MoreSim’s support contacts: support via /support in the bot, a ticket in your account and email.
FAQ
What’s the best way to get mobile data for three months in Thailand?
For a long winter stay in Thailand there are two good options: a travel eSIM you top up as you go, or a local Thai SIM registered with your passport. The eSIM installs at home as a second line with no store visit, and a MoreSim plan tops up without a new eSIM with “Top up data” on the eSIM card in your account or in the bot’s app, if top-ups are available for that plan. A local SIM makes sense if you need a Thai number for couriers, renting an apartment and local services.
Can I extend my travel eSIM during a long stay without buying a new one?
Yes, a MoreSim plan can be topped up in your account or in the app of the @moresim_bot Telegram bot, if top-ups are available for that plan: tap “Top up data” on the eSIM card. You don’t install a new eSIM — the profile stays the same. The top-up options available for your plan are shown on the eSIM card, and you can check your remaining data there too — in the bot’s app or in your account on the website.
Do I need to register my phone in Bali if I stay all winter?
If you use a local Indonesian SIM in Bali, your foreign phone has to be registered by IMEI as of October 2026: at the carrier store when you buy the SIM for stays up to 90 days, or through customs within 60 days of arrival for longer stays. A roaming travel eSIM needs no registration. The rules change, so check with the carrier before you buy a SIM.
Can I work remotely from a laptop using a travel eSIM?
You can work from a laptop on a travel eSIM by sharing your phone’s connection as a hotspot. Whether tethering is allowed is stated in the plan details — check before you buy. A laptop burns through data much faster than a phone because of updates, cloud folder sync and video meetings, so mark the connection as metered and keep an eye on your balance.
How do I keep getting bank codes on my home SIM during a long stay abroad?
Keep your home SIM in the phone: the eSIM works as a second line, so texts with bank codes keep arriving on your home number as long as your carrier supports that while roaming. Turn off mobile data on the home line so your data doesn’t go through your home carrier and you don’t get a roaming bill. Check with your carrier before you leave how your number is handled abroad over a long period.
Travel eSIM vs local SIM for a long stay in Asia: which is better value?
It depends on whether you need a local number and how much data you use. A local SIM gives you a number and is often better value for very heavy use, but it needs your passport, a trip to a store and, in some countries, phone registration. An eSIM installs at home, tops up without a new SIM and keeps your home number in the phone. We compare both in detail in “eSIM vs local SIM in Asia: which costs less”.