Using a UK mobile phone in Ireland

WLM21

I shall be visiting Ireland shortly for a few days, which will be my first overseas trip for many many years.

I have a Lebara conract, which seems to show as being fully valid in Ireland.

I am just checking that this is correct, as you used to hear horror stories about folk travelling to Europe and returning home to find sky-high phone bills.

I'll be using to the phone to navigate, finding bus / train times etc and probably to sens a few pictures home

Am I safe to take my phone 'as normal' or should I buy a local SIM on my arrival in Ireland.

TadleyBaggie

Lebara has full roaming in Europe, no need to get another SIM.

WLM21

TadleyBaggie said:

Lebara has full roaming in Europe, no need to get another SIM.

Many thanks .. that's great news 

oldernonethewiser

If you download maps, both Google and Apple have this capability*, then you don't need any cellular signal to navigate. Can be handy if you are somewhere with a poor or no signal.

*other offline mapping apps are available.

WLM21

oldernonethewiser said:

If you download maps, both Google and Apple have this capability*, then you don't need any cellular signal to navigate. Can be handy if you are somewhere with a poor or no signal.

*other offline mapping apps are available.

Thanks, but I actually use Google Maps to find bus or train times which would need live data to work. I have Citymapper too, but prefer Google

However, a downloaded map is still useful .. I'll have to search online to see how that works, meaning..how the heck do I do it

oldernonethewiser

Lots of guides on Youtube to show you how to download maps.

Not a Google user but I have seen it working.  Obviously live info is much more useful.

Shame my local bus app is as much use as a chocolate teapot when in comes to accurate live info

Olenna

Check your APN is set to Lebara and not host network Vodafone as this is known to be problematic during roaming. 

DullGreyGuy

WLM21 said:

I shall be visiting Ireland shortly for a few days, which will be my first overseas trip for many many years.

I have a Lebara conract, which seems to show as being fully valid in Ireland.

I am just checking that this is correct, as you used to hear horror stories about folk travelling to Europe and returning home to find sky-high phone bills.

I'll be using to the phone to navigate, finding bus / train times etc and probably to sens a few pictures home

Am I safe to take my phone 'as normal' or should I buy a local SIM on my arrival in Ireland.

How are you getting there? 

If by ferry then dont use cell service on the boat... ships have a different network that isnt part of any country even if you are in territorial waters and never seen any network that includes them in free roaming. Certainly had several posters here with 3-4 figure bills for happily streaming stuff on a ferry to Ireland or France etc only to find out afterwards it was far from free

daveyjp

Olenna said:

Check your APN is set to Lebara and not host network Vodafone as this is known to be problematic during roaming. 

Agreed.  I'm on smarty which offers free EU roaming, but you need to change the APN setting to enable it.  BTW way just back from Ireland and no issues using roaming for calls, messages and browsing.

user1977

Given we have a land border I presume roaming has been sorted out, as there'll be thousands of people crossing it (or just being within range of the "wrong" masts) on a regular basis.

DullGreyGuy

user1977 said:

Given we have a land border I presume roaming has been sorted out, as there'll be thousands of people crossing it (or just being within range of the "wrong" masts) on a regular basis.

In some parts of the English south coast, particularly around Dover, you sometimes pick up French masts rather than UK despite it being a sea border... a friend got a nasty shock for their roaming on a recent visit.