Going abroad with an iphone

lonestarfan

I am going on holiday with my iphone for the first time. I read some horror stories a few months back about charges on it when you are abroad.
I would welcome people sharing their knowledge on how to keep within my bundle - I have 400 minutes, 500 messages and 500mb in my monthly payment of £35 so I don't want to pay anymore money. I know I have to pay to send a text and to receive one.
I would like to still get my e-mails but not if its costing me extra, I would still like to use my apps but will that cost me extra? and can I use facetime abroad for free if I can find a wireless connection?
I am going to Lanzarote. I have no idea what 3g is like out there so any info would be welcome.
At home I use it to read the news, send messages, take photos, facetime, and find info on the web. I don't download music or films but I do view clips on Youtube. I guess on holiday I will want to do pretty much the same.
Please be gentle with me as I love the iphone but I don't really understand the technology behind it!
Many thanks.

Humphrey10

No calls or data use will be included in your bundle as you are overseas, they will all cost extra. Even receiving calls might cost you, I'm not sure how it works on a contract phone though. You can probably pay to add some roaming minutes and data to your contract if you want.

Wifi use won't cost you anything, normal (home) wifi networks never cost anything to join.

If you don't want to use mobile data, then turn the 'mobile data' option off, don't just turn data roaming off. The horror stories (that I've seen) all come from people who don't turn 'mobile data' off.

If you don't need to use it as a phone, you can put it in 'airplane mode', then turn wifi on, then all it can do is connect to wifi, and it can't cost you anything.

NFH

lonestarfan wrote: »

I know I have to pay to send a text and to receive one.

What? Who told you that you have to pay to receive a text?!!!!

Regarding the rest of it, just turn off data roaming and use wireless networks whenever you need to use data. Alternatively, if you're on Vodafone, you can pay £10 for a month, giving you 25MB/day to use while you're in Spain.

alisong1

Yes, turn off your internet and emails. It would cost you a lot of money if you left them on.

lonestarfan

"Regarding the rest of it, just turn off data roaming and use wireless networks whenever you need to use data. "

Does that mean that if data roaming is turned off then my apps will only work using wireless? Thanks

Guys_Dad

lonestarfan wrote: »

"Regarding the rest of it, just turn off data roaming and use wireless networks whenever you need to use data. "

Does that mean that if data roaming is turned off then my apps will only work using wireless? Thanks

Do yourself a really big favour and read through this forum for the last month on roaming charges and what some members got billed - even when they thought they had switched everything to do with data off.

I am talking hundreds of £££££ here.

I wouldn't take an Iphone out of the country - or a smartphone for that matter - unless I was 100% sure it was really not going to be accessing data.

Take a cheap PAYG phone instead.

But do read through and see the horror stories.

sparky93

Guys_Dad wrote: »

I wouldn't take an Iphone out of the country - or a smartphone for that matter - unless I was 100% sure it was really not going to be accessing data.

I echo this. I saw the subject and my 1st thought, DONT.

Kingsd316

Been away loads of times with my Iphone, just turn data roaming and cellular data off any you will not have a problem

lonestarfan

I have read the posts and in general I get the picture.
However, if I set my handset to data roaming off, and cellular data off, and airplane mode on can I still receive a call, can I make a call, or will I have to switch them back on to both make and receive a call?
Thanks.

ACDeag

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Do yourself a really big favour and read through this forum for the last month on roaming charges and what some members got billed - even when they thought they had switched everything to do with data off.

I am talking hundreds of £££££ here.

I wouldn't take an Iphone out of the country - or a smartphone for that matter - unless I was 100% sure it was really not going to be accessing data.

Take a cheap PAYG phone instead.

But do read through and see the horror stories.

There is a really easy way to stop mobile data use while abroad and not rely on the Data Roaming switch.

Go to Settings, General, Network and turn off Mobile Data, wifi will still work where available.

When you return to the UK turn it back on otherwise it wont work here either.

ACDeag

lonestarfan wrote: »

I have read the posts and in general I get the picture.
However, if I set my handset to data roaming off, and cellular data off, and airplane mode on can I still receive a call, can I make a call, or will I have to switch them back on to both make and receive a call?
Thanks.

Airplane mode turns your phone into an iPod Touch, no calls, texts, data. Leave Airplane Mode off and turn off Mobile Data and you can then make and receive calls, texts and use wifi but will not use an mobile data.