Backpacking - Want to Keep UK Number

Ryan-3 · 2025-02-21T10:47:01+0000

TLDR; Recommendations - Retain UK Mobile Number for 9 Months so it's the same when I'm back. How to?

Hi all,

I'm soon to be away backpacking around south east Asia and I'm looking to retain my UK mobile number for when we arrive back.

Currently I have a cheap sim only contract with TalkMobile that's on a monthly rolling contract (£7), and whilst it does have some roaming ability out there it won't be getting used other than to keep it 'active'. We're going to be using local SIM cards or an eSIM for each country we visit (9 in total).

Was just wondering what the best options of retaining my mobile number were for this timeframe, as it's also used for 2FA in far too many places for me to remember...

Thanks in advance!

div0 · 2025-02-21T11:49:09+0000

For the sake of £7/month, I'd just keep your rolling contract going. Nothing to stop you swapping a different sim in while you're away (different number for 9 months).

What phone do you have? Does it support 2nd sim or additional eSIM?

Ryan-3 · 2025-02-21T11:51:20+0000

That was my thoughts, as it's so cheap it'll just keep going.

iPhone 12 Pro Max; it's unlocked but single sim slot and can do eSIM.

div0 · 2025-02-21T11:59:28+0000

Yeah I'd just go down the eSIM route. Temporarily disable data etc on the primary SIM while you're away and sort out the best eSIM to cover your needs.

It's maybe worth a quick look to see if you can put your current sim on some sort of "temporary hold" (no idea if providers support this), but if you don't see an easy option to do that, then probably not worth the hassle to try and save £7/month with some other temporary switch.

Ryan-3 · 2025-02-21T12:17:42+0000

Aye, I'll have an ask and see whether it's possible to be doing something like that. If so, I'll post it in here.

Cheers!

Besty · 2025-02-21T19:29:37+0000

advice: install Giffgaff mobile app, buy cheap giff gaff esim, install esim, port number across.

Kanpai · 2025-02-21T22:09:12+0000

Grab a Lebara sim that's on offer right now for £1.99pm for 8 months, port your number over and keep it idle.

Bonus being that sim will give 30gb of roaming data per month too in quite a few countries in Asia fwiw.