mobiles in Switzerland

BFCH

I am going on hols to Switzerland and have read that the best option for using a mobile whilst there is to go to Migros supermarket and buy a PAYG phone. My only use is so that relatives in the UK can contact me if there is an emergency and that I can text people in Switzerland. Any ideas? ta

pepdavies

You won't need to buy a phone, just a SIM. Take an unlocked handset with you.

Roger1

If you use a local SIM, your UK relatives will still pay international rates to call you. Some companies treat Switzerland the same as EU countries, others don't.

On the other hand, if you buy a Toggle SIM and activate the Swiss local number, they could call you for 9p a minute and you could call them if necessary for 3p a minute to UK landlines or mobiles. See togglemobile.com for info. Same for 10 or so other countries including the USA.

Be aware that the minimum top up is £20.

ballyblack

as regards anybody trying to contact you, bring your own mobile. Put an answer message on before you go to 'contact you by text only'

then turn it on daily to receive any texts

Texts are free to receive

bubieyehyeh

If you have a unlocked 3g phone, then a three 321 payg sim would be cheapest. I think Switzerland is now included in their feel at home deal.

Roger1

bubieyehyeh wrote: »

If you have a unlocked 3g phone, then a three 321 payg sim would be cheapest.

A Three 3-2-1 PAYG SIM would need an add-on, typically £10 or £15 lasting a month.

I think Switzerland is now included in their feel at home deal.

From 1 July.

Three Feels Like Home offers calls TO THE UK at Three's rates, whether contract or PAYG. Calls to other countries, e.g. Switzerland would be charged at international roaming. That may not bother the OP if s/he is not making calls, of course.

grumbler

bubieyehyeh wrote: »

If you have a unlocked 3g phone, then a three 321 payg sim would be cheapest. I think Switzerland is now included in their feel at home deal.

I think it's worth stressing that

... if you’re on Pay As You Go doing these things will come from any Add-ons allowances that you have.

http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBISAPI.DLL?Command=New,Kb=Mobile,Ts=Mobile,T=Article,varset_cat=roaming,varset_subcat=4157,Case=EXT%28EM11925%29

It's good for receiving calls, but possibly not the cheapest for making calls as the cheapest bundle is £10 for 100 minutes.

Toggle mobile is worth considering too as outgoing calls are 3p/min.
Incoming calls are free too.