EU roaming

Nebulous2

We're off on holiday soon - going to France, Germany and the Netherlands.

We have two contracts on T mobile and one on vodafone. In recent years we have spent quite a bit of money whilst abroad, last year we shut data off on most phones but paid £3 a day on Vodafone.

This year I'd like to cut the costs down a bit, but I'm not sure of the best options. Vodafone has cut its charge to £2 a day, but it comes from our existing limit, which only has 500 mb data. I can switch the £2 off and pay normal roaming charges, which have just been cut, for occasional use - texts to each other to keep in touch for instance.

3s lack of roaming charges in certain countries looks interesting. Sim-only £12.90 on a one month deal gives 200 minutes and unlimited data. The problem is it doesn't cover Germany or the Netherlands so it would only work in France. It could still be worth it though for the week we are there. Cheaper than paying Vodafone £2 a day and no 500 mb limit.

Is there anything else I'm missing that would be a better option?

Main requirements would be browsing, keeping in touch on Facebook etc and some messaging. Very occasional calls to UK. Maintaining contact between ourselves whilst there, arranging meeting points etc.

The new roaming charges would be acceptable most of the time, but where it would really be over the score would be data use.

Im_just_careful

For "3" why were you looking at contract prices ?


You get the "Feel at home" with PAYG as long as you buy a data bundle.


See:


http://www.three.co.uk/Support/Roaming_and_international/Going_abroad_Pay_As_You_Go/Destination_Details?content_aid=1214306374696


Actually, in general for mobile phones, the comment "why were you looking at contract prices ?" applies !

Nebulous2

Thanks for replying.

I may be missing something there. 10p per mb for data, so 129 megabytes would cost the same as my £12.90 one month contract. An add-on of unlimited data would cost £15 so still more than taking a one month sim-only contract?

I've got all my contract phones on cashback schemes. We're running 4 contracts for less than most people pay for one phone. It takes a bit of juggling, but it has worked for me so far.

I've never used 3 though, and unfortunately they have withdrawn from quidco and resellers such as mobiles.co.uk so the only possibility seems to be going through them direct.

pepdavies

3 charge 1p per megabyte out of bundle. You'll need a bundle for Feel at Home. If you get a contract with them, I believe you have to wait a month before using the Feel at Home service

Nebulous2

pepdavies wrote: »

3 charge 1p per megabyte out of bundle. You'll need a bundle for Feel at Home. If you get a contract with them, I believe you have to wait a month before using the Feel at Home service

Ok thanks - not what I wanted to hear about waiting a month, but confirmed here http://www.three.co.uk/Discover/Phones/Feel_At_Home?id=1300&gclid=CNjh_ZjEsL8CFS0NtAodakkAFw&gclsrc=ds at the bottom of the page.

It says " SIM only phone customers must have been with Three for more than 30 days." So a PAYG sim would be the same then? But not if I bought a PAYG phone?

That would almost work if I was going to be two weeks in France, but as we only have one then it is pushing it a bit moneywise.

NiftyDigits

Nebulous2 wrote: »

Ok thanks - not what I wanted to hear about waiting a month, but confirmed here http://www.three.co.uk/Discover/Phones/Feel_At_Home?id=1300&gclid=CNjh_ZjEsL8CFS0NtAodakkAFw&gclsrc=ds at the bottom of the page.

It says " SIM only phone customers must have been with Three for more than 30 days." So a PAYG sim would be the same then? But not if I bought a PAYG phone?

That would almost work if I was going to be two weeks in France, but as we only have one then it is pushing it a bit moneywise.

PAYG works instantly.

seaviewing

I had a simliar data allowance back in may on voda - i contacted live chat to enquire about upping the bundle for one month as i was going abroad and intended to use the £2 a day euro traveller, it's £6 for an extra 1gig.
They offered to put the extra 1gig on for a month - for free!

In effect, he gave me a £6 credit there and then and arranged for the bundle to increase on the next bill date.

Still, i was pleasantly surprised :-)