What is the best Europe PAYG deal?

tedpiper

I am travelling around Europe for 6 month and am trying to find the best deal.

My requirements are simple.
I want to text to keep in contact with the UK rather than caling.
To be able to set up a direct debit to top up once a month is of a big advantage.
My initial thoughts are to get a pay as you go tariff but do not know where to start.
Any help appreciated.

redux

The ordinary network charges for sms are not cheap when abroad, and one of the Java client programs that send over wap/gprs would work out better - see smsbug, mobisms, vgsmail and Vyke; some will give you a bit of trial credit.

They are all prepay but the credit would last quite a while, as their messages cost 1 to 4 pence each, and then you'd pay your mobile network just for the data use. Virgin would be cheapest at 0.5p/kB when roaming, and the amount used about 2k per message. And you can set up a direct debit for it if you like, though you won't be spending much; in fact one of their occasional free SIMs with £5 credit would last quite a while.


If you might make also calls after all, then read Martin's article about roaming, and the discussion thread, as a few new options have arrived since his last update.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1119870249,48922,

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=2530781#post2530781