Roaming with 3 in Oz

[Deleted User]

My old folks are going for a month to Australia in a few weeks - they currently both use Tesco Mobile (don't ask) but it's very pricy for outside Europe. As they both have dual sim phones, I was thinking of getting them a 3 PAYG data sim to use in their second slot whilst roaming.

Has anyone used 3 roaming in Oz recently - was it usable?
Did it have access to the Telstra network? (they will be going rural and I'm told that Vodafone & Optus might not work)

Failing that I'm thinking of getting them a Telstra PAYG or Aldi PAYG for the month.

Westin

Have you considered just using a local SIM card?

I ordered a Lebara local SIM and purchased a 30 day bundle which allowed for local calls, data and calls back to the UK.  Picked it up and activated first day from my accommodation address.  It was I thought excellent value. I think on offer it was about AUD$10.

https://www.lebara.com.au/mobile-plans/30-day-plans/

CameronRiley

What he said.  I travel in Oz a fair bit and usually just buy a local sim from any supermarket.  I think my last one was from Vodafone Australia.   I tend to go for data as a  priority because i only make a few voice calls and use whatsapp anyway.  It's also cheap as chips, unlike most things in Oz.

eDicky

Deleted_User said:

Failing that I'm thinking of getting them a Telstra PAYG or Aldi PAYG for the month.

Quite easy for them to pick one up themselves after arrival...

Troytempest

In Australia at present. Bought an Optus sim in the supermarket. 50gb of data and unlimited calls for 15AUD.
Optus has worked well in most places. 

jimi_man

Just come back from Australia and my wife was on Three and had no problems at all and it worked very well. 

But a local sim is also a good shout. 

[Deleted User]

eDicky said:

Deleted_User said:

Failing that I'm thinking of getting them a Telstra PAYG or Aldi PAYG for the month.

Quite easy for them to pick one up themselves after arrival...

They aren't tech savvy and it's better if i set up before they go - hence why I'm asking here. 

Archergirl

Deleted_User said:

eDicky said:

Deleted_User said:

Failing that I'm thinking of getting them a Telstra PAYG or Aldi PAYG for the month.

Quite easy for them to pick one up themselves after arrival...

They aren't tech savvy and it's better if i set up before they go - hence why I'm asking here. 

I'm sure someone would be happy to help them, they could just ask someone in reception in their hotel.
When we went in 2011 coverage stopped about 10 mins out of a main town on the west coast, phone started pinging again when you go near the next place (but that could be hours away lol)

camelot1001

Last time I was in Oz I bought a SIM card at the airport, the assistant was only too happy to put it in for me. Cost about $10, probably cheaper if you go into town but meant I could use the phone straight away.

[Deleted User]

Archergirl said:

Deleted_User said:

eDicky said:

Deleted_User said:

Failing that I'm thinking of getting them a Telstra PAYG or Aldi PAYG for the month.

Quite easy for them to pick one up themselves after arrival...

They aren't tech savvy and it's better if i set up before they go - hence why I'm asking here. 

I'm sure someone would be happy to help them, they could just ask someone in reception in their hotel.
When we went in 2011 coverage stopped about 10 mins out of a main town on the west coast, phone started pinging again when you go near the next place (but that could be hours away lol)

I've had issues with them in the past roaming.

They were continuously complaining about their data when in Spain last time.  Turns out they'd connected to various local Wi-Fi hotspots and when they switched it off they got lightning fast mobile data.

Another time, they said their roaming wasn't working and they reverted to Wi-Fi for a whole holiday. They had simply switched off data roaming but kept mobile data on. 

Anyway, thanks all.

Ballard

I'm on the three network and had a plan that included roaming in many countries at no additional cost but they wrote to me last year and kicked me off of that plan as they said that it had expired so make sure that the plans they have do include roaming in Oz.

I was annoyed about it until I realised that getting a local sim isn't that much of a bother (although it can involve showing your passport and/or filling out a form). My tip, not necessarily for the OP's parent's, is to take a paperclip with you so that you can swap sims as and when needed.