Resources

The 5 Most Beautiful Neighborhoods in Istanbul You Can't Miss

Istanbul isn't just Sultanahmet and the Blue Mosque. Those are fine, sure, but the city's personality and beauty lives in the neighborhoods most tourists aren't aware of. I spent weeks wandering Istanbul and these five neighborhoods kept pulling me back. Not because they had the biggest monuments or the most Instagram-famous spots, but because they felt much more authentic in ways the tourist districts don't. You could easily wander into a random cafe and be surrounded by only Turkish people. It feels much more like the travel most people are after. Here's where to go if you want to see the Istanbul that locals know.

Luke Damant 04 April 2026

Best Phrases To Learn Before Visiting Brazil - As Told By Brazilians

I asked a few thousand followers, many of them Brazilian, what phrases tourists absolutely need before visiting Brazil. Not textbook Portuguese. Not what Duolingo thinks you should learn. What Brazilians themselves say you'll use. Turns out, half of it is about food. The other half is about sounding human when you talk. Here's what they said, plus some context on when and why these phrases matter.

Luke Damant 03 April 2026

eSIM Compatible Phones: Complete 2026 List

Planning to use an eSIM for your next trip? First question: does your phone even support it? Not all phones have eSIM capability. Budget phones often don't. Older phones definitely don't. And even some newer phones have regional restrictions where eSIM is disabled depending on where you bought it. This gets confusing fast. Here's everything you need to know about which phones work with eSIM in 2026, based on Globie's tested compatibility list.

Luke Damant 30 March 2026

eSIM vs SIM Card: Which One Should You Use in 2026?

Remember when you had to go to a phone store, wait in line, show your passport, fill out forms, and get a tiny plastic chip just to use data in another country? Worry no more my dear reader, those days have stayed with the dinosaurs. Ha. eSIMs are here and they are changing the game. So get with the program, boomer. But which one is better? Is there still a case for an old chip SIM? Can you have both?? All that and more below, folks.

Luke Damant 28 March 2026

The Best eSIM for Indonesia: Globie vs Airalo vs Nomad

Landing in Indonesia without data is asking for trouble (and not the good kind, HA!).

Luke Damant 26 March 2026

The Best eSIM for South Korea: Globie Vs. Nomad Vs. Airalo Vs. Saily

By now, you should realise that getting to a country without data is a rookie traveller move. There are literally hundreds of eSIM companies to chose from that let you purchase data packages before you even arrive to a country so that you can immediately get connected once you land. Navigating Seoul, especially as a foreigner who has never been there and doesn't speak the language, can be challenging. You need to figure out how to get from Incheon Airport to your hotel by either navigating the subway system that's honestly incredible but also massive, or by booking a ride on Kakao T because regular taxis will absolutely try to scam you. This is where an eSIM saves you time and stress. Install it before your flight, land in Korea, and you're online immediately. Most Korea eSIM articles skip some details about specific network details. There are three major ones and each is excellent in it's own right, but they're not identical. Seoul? Every network works perfectly. Rural areas or smaller cities? Performance varies. Jeju Island? Depends which network your eSIM uses. The DMZ or mountain areas? Some networks are stronger than others. From the research I've done across multiple sources and user reports, I'll be sharing what I've come to understand about the carrier choices that are most relevant to whatever trip you're looking for: City, mountains, villages, or islands.

Luke Damant 24 March 2026

The Best eSIM for Thailand: What Works in 2026

Landing in Bangkok without data is asking for trouble. And trouble is not what we're looking for! You'll need to figure out the BTS or MRT to get from Suvarnabhumi to your hotel, how to book a Grab because the taxi queue is an absolute nightmare, check which ferry times work for your Koh Samui trip, and maybe even translate a menu or find that rooftop bar everyone told you about. This is where an eSIM saves your ass time and frustration. Install it before your flight, land in Thailand, and you're online immediately, frolicking across one of the coolest places Asia has to offer. OR You could be standing in line at the airport SIM card kiosk watching your taxi cancel because you're taking too long to buy a physical SIM like a dinosaur. I'll cover what most eSIM articles for Thailand don't mention: how network quality varies wildly depending on where you're going. Bangkok and Phuket? Every network works great. If you're going to Koh Lanta or Koh Tao? That depends which network your eSIM uses. For Pai or the Mae Hong Son Loop, some networks work, while others fail completely. On Island ferries? Good luck staying connected amigo! I've tested different eSIMs across Thailand - Bangkok, islands, northern mountains, beaches, ferries. Here's a breakdown on the things that actually matter and which eSIMs work where

Luke Damant 20 March 2026

The Best eSIM for Japan: What Actually Works in 2026

Landing in Tokyo without data is stressful to say the least, you need to figure out which train line goes from Narita to your hotel, if you should take a taxi, and sometimes even use your translator depending on who you meet once you land. Google Maps doesn't always work since Japanese addresses make zero sense if you're not from there. Plus you will probably want to set up digital Suica immediately so you can just tap your phone on every train turnstile instead of dealing with paper tickets- If you've never been to Japan, that's one of the most important things to do immediately upon getting there. This is where an eSIM makes your life so much easier and there are some where you can install it before you leave, land in Japan, and you're online the second you clear customs. No standing in line at the airport SIM card kiosk. Not trying to explain your data needs to someone when you're jet-lagged and can barely form sentences and not missing your train because you spent 20 minutes buying a local SIM at a kiosk right as you land. But here's what most articles about Japan eSIMs don't tell you - Japan's network coverage is weird. Tokyo and Osaka? Perfect signal everywhere. Kyoto temples up in the mountains? Depends which network your eSIM uses. Hokkaido ski resorts? Some networks work great, others completely fail. Remote islands in Okinawa? Good luck. I've tested different eSIMs across Japan over multiple trips. Here's what to actually consider and which ones work for which destinations.

Luke Damant 18 March 2026

The Best eSIM for Europe: What Actually Works in 2026

Traveling through Europe without a solid data plan is honestly just asking for trouble. You're standing in Paris trying to figure out which metro line goes to your Airbnb. Or you're in Rome and Google Maps decides to stop working right when you need it most. Or you're trying to book tickets to that museum in Amsterdam and the WiFi at your hostel is garbage. This is where an eSIM saves you. No hunting for SIM card shops at the airport. No dealing with language barriers trying to buy a local plan. No surprise roaming charges from your home carrier that hit you a month later. Just scan a QR code before you leave, land in Europe, and you're online immediately. But here's the thing - not all eSIMs for Europe are created equal. Some are way overpriced. Some have terrible coverage in smaller countries. Some throttle your speed after a few GB without telling you. Some work great in France and Germany but completely fail when you cross into Poland or Croatia. I've tested a bunch of them across different European countries over the last year. Here's what actually matters and which ones are worth your money.

Luke Damant 17 March 2026