Schoolies 2026 overseas: a phone checklist for Bali, Fiji and Thailand
· Telroo
Short answer: prepare your phone before leaving Australia for Schoolies. Check it supports eSIM, install on Wi-Fi, arrange how to contact friends and family, and save important details offline. If your group splits up, each person needs a way to connect independently of someone else's hotspot.
For a November or December celebration, compare the Bali & Indonesia eSIM, Fiji eSIM or Thailand eSIM. Choose a plan for your own destination and travel dates; there is no single Schoolies week that fits every school or trip.
Make a check-in plan before the celebration starts
Smartraveller's Schoolies advice recommends regular contact with family and friends, knowing where your group is, and having a meeting plan if you get separated or lose reception.
Before departure, agree on:
- who you will contact at home and how often;
- which messaging app your group will use;
- a meeting place if phones are flat, lost or out of reception;
- where everyone can find the accommodation address and important phone numbers offline.
A working data plan is one part of this preparation. It does not replace offline arrangements or reading the official travel advice for your destination and stopovers.
Pick the destination, then check your phone
| Destination | Compare plans | Read the destination guide |
|---|---|---|
| Bali and elsewhere in Indonesia | Bali & Indonesia eSIM plans | Bali & Indonesia guide |
| Fiji | Fiji eSIM plans | Fiji guide |
| Thailand | Thailand eSIM plans | Thailand guide |
These plans provide data without a local phone number, standard calls or SMS. Messaging and internet-calling apps use that data. Do not assume a data-only eSIM gives you a local service for normal phone calls.
Check your exact phone in the compatibility guide, then check whether it is locked to an Australian carrier. Do this before buying, including for older phones.
Do not make the whole group depend on one hotspot
The linked Bali, Fiji and Thailand plans allow hotspot sharing. That can help when friends stay together, but it is a poor fallback when the phone providing the hotspot leaves with another person. Every connected device also uses the same allowance.
For nights when people go to different places, separate eSIMs let each compatible phone use its own data. Choose an allowance based on your recent use, allowing for uploads and video calls. The data planner explains how to estimate it without assuming everyone needs the same amount.
Can a parent buy for the group?
Yes. A Telroo order can contain up to four eSIMs, sent to the email address entered at checkout. Each has its own QR code. Assign each one to a traveller before installation; larger groups need more than one order.
Install each eSIM on its intended phone while on Wi-Fi. Treat the QR code as private. Each Telroo eSIM can only be installed once, so do not scan it on a parent's phone first and plan to move it later.
You can install before flying: the plan starts when first used in a covered destination. Follow the installation instructions and check the validity covers the whole trip, including any extra days after the group celebration.
Keep your Australian number with the right settings
Keep the Australian line on if you need its texts, but select the travel eSIM for mobile data. Turn off data roaming on the Australian line and automatic mobile-data switching where available. Your Australian carrier may still charge for calls and texts; check its rules before travelling.
See keeping your Australian number overseas. Before going out, save your accommodation details offline and charge your phone. If the eSIM will not connect, use the troubleshooting guide and contact support before deleting it.
Get your Schoolies data ready
View Bali & Indonesia plans, Fiji plans or Thailand plans. Check the phone, destination and trip length before purchasing.
Sources and last checked: Smartraveller's Schoolies advice linked above for contact and offline meeting arrangements; Telroo product pages for coverage, data-only service, hotspot and plan start; Telroo checkout limit and installation guidance. Checked 31 October 2026. Read current official destination advice again before departure.