O2 roaming for families: what Europe, Turkey and the USA cost

O2 roaming is simpler than most UK networks in Europe: O2 says it is the only major network that does not charge extra for roaming in its Europe Zone, up to 25GB. Outside Europe it is a different story. Turkey and the USA are not in the Europe Zone, and unless your plan includes them, each line pays a daily charge.

This guide sets out O2's prices as published on 4 October 2026, works out the cost for one, two and four lines over ten days in Turkey and the USA, and compares them with a family travel eSIM such as the Sirocco Turkey eSIM. To see how one order covers the whole family, visit the family eSIM page.

O2 roaming in 2026: the three cases

On O2 Pay Monthly, the cost of roaming depends on where you go and which plan you have:

O2 adds that the O2 Travel daily charge covers 24 hours from first use, is triggered by making a call, sending a text or using data, and is not triggered by receiving calls or texts. Calls to countries other than the UK and your destination are charged at standard roaming rates. You add the Bolt On by texting TRAVEL to 23336 or in My O2.

O2 roaming in Europe: Spain and the 25GB limit

For a family holiday in Spain, the answer is straightforward: O2 does not add a daily charge. Each line can use its UK allowance up to 25GB, and O2 texts you as you approach the limit. Over ten days:

If each phone in your family is on O2 and stays within its allowance, there is no reason to buy anything else for a European holiday. A travel eSIM only becomes useful if a line has a small allowance or is not on O2.

O2 roaming in Turkey

Turkey is not in the O2 Europe Zone. It is on the list of destinations covered by the O2 Travel Bolt On, and it is part of the Inclusive Zone Ultimate, but not of the standard 27-destination Inclusive Zone. For a line without an Ultimate Plan, ten days in Turkey cost:

• 10 x £7 = £70 per line, if the phone is used every day

O2 roaming in the USA

The USA is in the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone. If your plan is one of the eligible Plus Plans, or you are a Volt customer, it costs nothing extra. Otherwise O2 Travel applies at the same rate:

• 10 x £7 = £70 per line

What a family pays: 1, 2 and 4 lines over 10 days

The table assumes that each traveller has their own O2 Pay Monthly line without inclusive roaming at the destination, and that each phone uses O2 Travel every day. Since O2 Travel is charged per day of use, a day without any call, text or data on that line costs nothing.

For Sirocco, the figure is the cheapest plan with at least 10GB and at least 10 days, multiplied by the number of travellers, with the 10% group discount from three eSIMs in the same order. Prices on this page update automatically and the exact amount is shown before payment. Sirocco charges in euros.

For reference, the European Central Bank rate on 2 October 2026 was €1 = £0.85033, if you want to convert euro amounts yourself.

Compare the two columns for your own family, keeping the differences in mind:

• Calls and texts: O2 Travel includes unlimited minutes and texts back to the UK and within your destination. Sirocco is data only, with no local number.
• Data: O2 Travel has no data limit but caps speed at 2Mbps. Each Sirocco traveller has a fixed data plan.
• Plans: some O2 plans include the USA or Turkey at no extra cost. Check yours first.
• One order: Sirocco is one purchase for the whole family, with one eSIM per traveller. Each person can then switch to a different plan, for example a smaller one for a child.

The data calculator can help you estimate how much each person really uses.

When O2 is the better option

• Any trip within the O2 Europe Zone, as long as each line stays within its allowance and the 25GB roaming limit.
• The USA on an eligible Plus Plan or for Volt customers.
• Turkey on an Ultimate Plan.
• Short stays where one or two days of O2 Travel are enough, or when you need ordinary calls.

How to use a family eSIM without O2 Travel charges

If you go for a travel eSIM for data in Turkey or the USA, you keep your O2 number.

Before you go

1. Check that each phone is eSIM compatible: dial *#06#, and if an EID appears, it is. See the compatibility page.
2. Buy one eSIM per traveller in a single order, with a plan for each person.
3. Each traveller receives their installation link by SMS or email. Install it at home, on Wi-Fi.

On arrival

• O2 line: keep it switched on for calls and texts, with data roaming turned off. Bear in mind that making a call or sending a text from the O2 line triggers the O2 Travel daily charge, while receiving does not.
• Sirocco line: choose it for mobile data and turn data roaming on. Our guide to turning on data roaming shows the settings.
• iPhone: keep the O2 line selected for iMessage and FaceTime.

Your number and WhatsApp stay the same, and calls and texts still reach your O2 line while it is switched on. More on keeping your number.

Children's phones

Check that the child's phone supports eSIM. With Kids Mode, the child's screen shows no prices, no account is created in the child's name and the parent stays in charge. A smaller plan usually suits a child, and you can top up just one traveller later without reinstalling. See the kids eSIM page.

Check your O2 plan before you travel

Sign in to My O2 for each line in the family and check:

• whether the line has the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone or Inclusive Zone Ultimate Bolt On;
• whether O2 Travel is already on the account;
• your Spend Cap: O2 notes that the O2 Travel charge is not included in it.

Then add up what O2 Travel would cost for every phone and every day of the trip, and compare that with a single family order.