Holiday WiFi

Le_Kirk

Later this year, will be going to a campsite in France and, as per usual, the reviews state the free camp WiFi is poor and even if you pay for an "enhanced" service it is still poor, as in slow and/or difficult to connect to.  I don't want to be spending all my time clustered round the reception area along with everybody else hoping that the signal is strong enough for me to connect!
Thinking of buying a WiFi dongle but no idea what make/type to buy nor how much it costs to a buy initially and b) running costs as presumably one would have to buy a SIM (physical or esim) and pay for data.
Anybody got any personal experience and what make/type did you buy; what did it cost; was it a good experience?

SiliconChip

Tethering to a mobile phone using a UK SIM card with unlimited roaming access in France (if such a thing exists) may be the simplest option, although you'd need to check coverage at the campsite to make sure there's reasonable access.

Archergirl

Do you 'need' Wi-fi? maybe have a holiday detox.....I am with Talkmobile and Europe is in my package.

oldernonethewiser

What will you need Wifi for?

Do you have a mobile device eg phone/tablet that you can connect using a SIM?

If so how much does roaming in France costs, if it is not included in your current package?

Le_Kirk

I could tether the phone, I have 20Gb data allowance but that won't give me the option to connect laptop or tablet.

Vitor

Bear in mind, if you get a WiFi dongle (or use yourmobile phone as WiFi hotspot) the speed will be dependent on the 4G/5G signal available at the campsite. There's plenty of SIM providers who will sell a pre-paid SIM with 30GB that will be valid for 14 days for arounf £15. Sufficient for web browsing and email but will go in a flash if used for streaminf movies. 

oldernonethewiser

Le_Kirk said:

I could tether the phone, I have 20Gb data allowance but that won't give me the option to connect laptop or tablet.

Why is that?

Le_Kirk

oldernonethewiser said:

Le_Kirk said:

I could tether the phone, I have 20Gb data allowance but that won't give me the option to connect laptop or tablet.

Why is that?

Didn't think it through, presumably if WiFi is available for mobile, it will available for other devices. I'll test it at home.

SiliconChip

I think you're misunderstanding what tethering is. If wifi is available at the campsite then all of your devices that have wifi can use that. If it's not available or is very slow then an alternative is for your mobile to connect to the internet using 4G/5G then you set up a mobile hotspot on the phone and connect other devices to that using wifi.

Vitor

Tethering is when you connect your tablet or laptop to your phone, either using a cable or using Bluetooth, to share the phone’s internet connection. 

Peter999_2

Vitor said:

Tethering is when you connect your tablet or laptop to your phone, either using a cable or using Bluetooth, to share the phone’s internet connection. 

Tethering also includes a hotspot (wifi) from your mobile as well.