Mobile Phone whilst in Turkey

chloelesliexo

Hi All,

Going away in 3 weeks and need to take my phone
Will probably send around 10 texts a day and a five minute call to a mobile daily.

I'm on orange but anyone know any good roaming packages?
Am i best to maybe get a pay as you go sim?

Thanks!

zzzLazyDaisy

Re calls - any chance you can call a landline? You can get phone cards from the post-office (Yellow sign PTT) which you can use in any of the many public phone boxes to call home very cheaply - much cheaper than using a mobile.

Also remember that Turkey is outside the EU, so the cheap roaming packages that most providers have for within the EU don't apply, and the costs are high.

If you have a smart phone, you can down-load whatsapp, this is an instant messaging/text service on your phone. It needs internet, but almost all cafes in Turkey have free wifi - they often don't advertise it but just ask.

Same for phone calls, if you have wifi, download viber or skype and speak to the other person over the internet for free, as long as they also have the same package. If not, speaking to a landline over skype is a lot cheaper than using a mobile roaming package.

ronaldo2

It is very expensive in Turkey to use a mobile phone, as regards pay as you go there is nowhere in Turkey where you can top it up.

Dave21

Hi Chloelesliexo,

Going off what the above said if you can get access to Wi-fi whilst needing to send these texts and make phone calls. Download skype (assuming your phone is a smartphone) and load £10 onto this before you go and then use it as a pay as you go service, so if you run out you can always top it back up!

Failing that you can go through orange and get a bundle for £10 for the month that reduces the price of sending texts and calls but i would never choose one for roaming as the prices still arent justifiable! Always use wi-fi if not dont use atal.


Hope this helps.

Regards,

David

Obviously_the_best

If you have wifi and a smartphone, RyanairTalk will allow you to buy 150 call minutes for £6.50. You do have to use this over wifi though, so best to check the hotel has it.

Skype will also allow you to send calls and texts for a charge, over wifi.

zzzLazyDaisy

Just a word of caution - if you don't have access to wifi, please don't be tempted to use mobile data, it is horrendously expensive. In fact make sure that you switch off 'data roaming' before you leave the country.

It is also a good idea to switch off voice mail as you are charged twive at roaming rates for voice mail - once for your phone receiving the message, and again when you call to listen to it.

chloelesliexo

thanks all

No wifi in the hotel - disaster! :eek:

So have bought a bundle off of orange - £5.10 and text now costs 28p to send and 99p a minute for a call.

Will just have to use sparingly!

zzzLazyDaisy

If you are going to be in a tourist area almost every cafe and restaurant has free wifi, you just have to ask. Also remember internet cafes are everywhere, and you can use skype there.

NiftyDigits

ronaldo2 wrote: »

It is very expensive in Turkey to use a mobile phone, as regards pay as you go there is nowhere in Turkey where you can top it up.

What a strange notion.