Mobile Roaming: Cheapest Calls When You're Abroad

payless

toggle- looks interesting BUT

is the UK number a normal or a channel islands or one ( lyca ?) that some networks don't include in there "inclusive minutes

sam10

Hey there,

I'm sure someone out there has some experience in this exact query!... I'm off to Europe (Italy and France) at the end of this month and want to be able to use my phone - mostly for searching the web (using maps, searching trip advisor etc) and to a lesser extent making calls (to book hotels etc as we go). I'm going for ten days.

I'm with Orange, on a pay monthly deal, and don't travel very often.

I don't think I'll need to be able to receive calls - not from back in the UK anyway.

Orange's bundle is £3 per day for data (I'll most likely use every day), and then you have to organise another bundle to cover calls.

Any advice on the best/cheapest option. Of course I'd like to not spend more than necessary, but as I'm a bit new to all this simplicity is important too!

Many thanks in advance!
Sam

redux

payless wrote: »

toggle- looks interesting BUT

is the UK number a normal or a channel islands or one ( lyca ?) that some networks don't include in there "inclusive minutes

It's run by Lyca, so it comes with a Lyca number

This is a UK number, but T-mobile don't include the number in inclusive minutes.

That's why I suggested porting an O2 number on to it.

redux

sam10 wrote: »

Hey there,
I don't think I'll need to be able to receive calls - not from back in the UK anyway.

Orange's bundle is £3 per day for data (I'll most likely use every day), and then you have to organise another bundle to cover calls.

Any advice on the best/cheapest option. Of course I'd like to not spend more than necessary, but as I'm a bit new to all this simplicity is important too!

Many thanks in advance!
Sam

You don't have to organise a bundle for calls. It's an option, not compulsory, and for low expected use I wouldn't bother

So the question is how much data you would use. It is possible to get by on a few tens of kilobytes a day, but intensive use would seem to indicate bundles, especially if the maps application is Google Maps

However, you might consider taking two phones and putting a local SIM with a decent data bundle in your normal phone, ok as long as it's network unlocked, and just have a basic one for receiving calls and text messages on your UK number.

scottme

We've recently come back from New Zealand, and while there we bought local SIM cards from 2Degrees. These cost NZ$30 each (about £15) and for that we got 30 minutes of talk, 300 texts and 600MB data. If that runs out, you can top up NZ$20 for the same allowance again. The key thing is that 2Degrees allow tethering, so we were able to use the WiFi hotspot capabilities of our (already unlocked) Samsung smartphones to get our laptops online. This meant we were able to avoid often rip-off prices for WiFi in hotels etc. (e.g. $10 for an hour, not uncommon!)

Although there is quite a lot of free WiFi in NZ, the convenience of being able to get online anywhere anytime was very nice.

I thought this was great value, and I'd certainly look for similar deals when travelling overseas for any length of time.

And another tip: when you know you're going to be using an overseas SIM, set your UK number to divert all calls to voicemail, and leave a message on there with your overseas number.

mutley74

What SIM would someone recommend for travelling to Singapore and Thailand? (note I generally use Skype and email, and need SIM for emergency use only, other option is I take an ASDA PAYG SIM loaded with £20).

ashley366

Thank you;)

NFH

mutley74 wrote: »

What SIM would someone recommend for travelling to Singapore and Thailand? (note I generally use Skype and email, and need SIM for emergency use only, other option is I take an ASDA PAYG SIM loaded with £20).

http://prepaidwithdata.wikia.com/wiki/Singapore
http://prepaidwithdata.wikia.com/wiki/Thailand
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/singapore.html
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/thailand.html

mutley74

NFH wrote: »

http://prepaidwithdata.wikia.com/wiki/Singapore
http://prepaidwithdata.wikia.com/wiki/Thailand
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/singapore.html
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/thailand.html

thanks for links.
i was looking for maybe a global SIM that i could use on future holidays to other countries (preferably one that does not expire) rather than a local SIM.

dont need data, as i am not taking my smart phone with me.

NFH

mutley74 wrote: »

thanks for links.
i was looking for maybe a global SIM that i could use on future holidays to other countries (preferably one that does not expire) rather than a local SIM.

dont need data, as i am not taking my smart phone with me.

If you don't need data, then that changes things. Get a Toggle Mobile SIM card. You will have a normal UK mobile number on which you can receive calls for free in Singapore and for 19p/min in Thailand.