Dataroam feedback

Former_MSE_Becca

This thread is specifically to discuss feedback for

Dataroam (Link)

If you've used Dataroam abroad, we'd love to know how it was for you, so we can improve the guide. Click reply to leave your feedback.


To read about data roaming in general, read the main
Data Roaming guide.

Thanks for your help,
MSE Becca

ahenry

I haven't used Dataroam, but the prices still seem high. They charge 29p per MB when roaming in and around Europe.

I bought a sim for the German company www.blau.de which gives me 1GB of data in Germany for 30 days for €10. If you go over that limit, it drops to 2G speeds, but doesn't cost more. This bundle gets automatically subscribed, so you need to remember to turn it off if you only want it for one month at a time.

They have another deal which gives 50MB of data in European countries outside of Germany for 7 days, for €4.99.

With Dataroam, 50MB would cost £14.50 (or €17.13). If you were in Germany, downloading a gigabyte of would be €9.90 from Blau.de or £290 (€342) from Dataroam.

The blau.de WWW site is all in German, and to get a sim, you need an address in Germany. I bought the sim from www.germansims.co.uk who sorted it all out, and sent me annotated instructions on how to get the account set up in my name. I've no connection with them, other than as a customer.

Another option is http://www.europasim.com/epages/63355149.sf/en_GB/?ViewObjectID=38780738

It is an Italian company. You pay 39 Euro for a sim, and then can get 100MB of data for 2 Euro a day, and 150MB for 6 Euro a day. The downside is that it costs 1 Euro for each 1MB if you go over that. 500MB a week would be fine, but with the daily limit, its something where I could end up spending lots if I accidentally downloaded some Windows updates. I haven't used this company.

Im_just_careful

I've also not used Dataroam as there are cheaper options.

I've bought local SIMS in Spain and Ireland.

For short breaks in the EU, Vodafone PAYG is a good option. I keep a Vodafone SIM just for this purpose.

"69p a MB for the first 2.9MB. Then no further charge until 25MB. 69p a MB after."

http://www.vodafone.co.uk/shop/pay-as-you-go/travelling-abroad/index.htm

No sign of this in the data roaming guide just the contract offer (which may be better for some).

Porcupine

I have no experience of Dataroam, but from the website it appears they're just selling local SIMs and a few international cards. In other words, pick a country and they'll send you a local operator's SIM, possibly already set up. So, for example, you pick 'UK' and the SIM is a Three UK network SIM with data at 6p/MB (which is about the going rate in the UK for PAYG if you pick the right SIM).

Pick 'international' and it's 29p/MB in Europe (ie nothing special) and scary-lots elsewhere (£20/MB in South Korea). So that's no improvement. Pick Italy (a place where you need a tax number to get a local SIM) and the rates are the international SIM.

So nothing to write home about here, except possibly getting you a SIM ready to go for when you land, without having to hunt for a local shop.

Im_just_careful

There could be a bit more info on the local SIM option for popular holiday destinations, country by country.

As an easy option to use a smartphone in Spain Lycamobile takes some beating.

http://www.lycamobile.es/en/Data-value-Pack-

The SIMs are fairly widely available (you need a passport to purchase).

nick75

I recently acquired a '30 day sim' from dataroam for a trip to the states. I have no problem with the sim service etc however i have now discovered i was signed up to a recurring monthly contract with globalgig who provide the data service. I realise i may have been stupid to not check more carefully but i also feel the dataroam marketing is rather misleading. So buyer beware! You will end up on a recurring contract make sure you cancel it appropriately.