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TRAVEL Hints and Tips Post your TIPS to travellers - all the interesting little tidbits you learned on the road about packing, where to get stuff, and how to cope with problems. Please make sure the subject describes the tip clearly!
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 19 Apr 2016
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Phone SIM cards Europe
I'm looking for advice on best deals to connect my iPhone 4s (unlocked) when touring Europe / UK over 5 months
I want to use the phone as a wifi hot spot for Internet so am looking for data as well as phone calls

Are there networks that cover multiple countries or will I need to buy a new sim in each country?
Are pre-payed SIM cards readily available?
Any recommendations on best network coverage in specific regions?
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  #2  
Old 19 Apr 2016
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Pre-paid SIM cards are readily available in Europe, but you won't get the best deals (the lowest prices) with a prepaid account. You might be able to establish a postpaid account with a carrier if you make an arrangement for automatic payment by debit to a credit card you hold.

You will have to provide very solid ID (passport, etc.) to establish a mobile telephone account in Europe.

The European Community has recently promulgated some new rules that limit the price that carriers can charge to roam on each other's networks. Whether these rules apply to data roaming (as opposed to just voice or text) I do not know.

All the European carriers operate extensive websites - probably best to start your research by looking at the websites of carriers in the first country that you plan to visit. Look for a carrier that has a presence in the majority of the countries you want to visit, as opposed to a carrier that only operates in one country.

Michael
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  #3  
Old 19 Apr 2016
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As said above, Sim Cards are available in Europe
I got sim cards in Bosnia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia and the Czech Republic, comms from all the providers was great all over the respective countries. I can not remember which providers I used but I looked for a reasonable price with a lot of internet (2 to 3 GB) as I used Skype and other apps a lot rather than normal dialing and texts. I also have a world account with Skype, for £10.79 a month I get free calls to landlines in 63 countries, and mobiles in Thailand (beneficial for me) and the US
https://www.skype.com/en/offers/unli...world-calling/
In Bosnia I got my Sim Card from the Post Office as it was only a small town
T Moblie is popular in European countries but I think you would still be better off getting new in each country rather than keeping the same one through out, it'll work out cheaper in the long run

Wayne
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  #4  
Old 19 Apr 2016
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Have a read of the section in here named "communications" - it used to discuss such a topic.
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  #5  
Old 19 Apr 2016
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Hi, I live in England and use a 'Three' sim card as it let's me use my minutes, texts and data in many European countries for free (no extra charge - I pay about £30 each month & get unlimited UK voice calls, unlimited texts, unlimited data & 8gb of tethering). Have a look at the countries it can be used in here (I don't know best option for other European countries): http://www.three.co.uk/Discover/Phones/Feel_At_Home

I have used it so far all over UK, all over France, in buts of Spain, Belgium & Netherlands with no problems. VERY cheap - all other networks are expensive. You'll have one sim card for lots of countries.

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Old 20 Apr 2016
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Wifi is available free in many EU towns and cities. Most campsites have it, hotels, bars , cafe........ etc
Some are a bit slow sometimes when busy, but Ive always managed to find a good one somewhere.

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Old 20 Apr 2016
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Thanks
Thanks for your responses

It appears there is no easy solution to phone/data communications when travelling through numerous countries for short periods of time

I may have to use whatever method is most readily available/appropriate at the time/place I need it

The 3 network deal appears more suited to UK residents wanting to phone/text home without paying roaming charges - also no phone tethering which is what I was hoping to use for Internet
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Old 20 Apr 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob-roamin View Post
Thanks for your responses

It appears there is no easy solution to phone/data communications when travelling through numerous countries for short periods of time

I may have to use whatever method is most readily available/appropriate at the time/place I need it

The 3 network deal appears more suited to UK residents wanting to phone/text home without paying roaming charges - also no phone tethering which is what I was hoping to use for Internet
That's about how things are IMO.

This is a techie site that I mentioned a while ago but I couldn't recall its' URL until now.
Ken's Tech Tips: UK Mobile Networks & Smartphone Advice
Within the drop down menus are reviews of every UK supplier of airtime. But, the answer to your dilemma is as stated above = wifi which is available just about everywhere in Europe.
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  #9  
Old 25 Apr 2016
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iD network
Carphone warehouse's own network (iD) .. do a Sim plan ( takeaway ) .. were all your allowances can be used in most of Europe at no extra cost as long as you don't exceed your contract allowance ..
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  #10  
Old 25 Apr 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob-roamin View Post
...It appears there is no easy solution to phone/data communications when travelling through numerous countries for short periods of time...
Quite the contrary - just rely on Wi-Fi, which is available just about everywhere nowadays.

There's no need to worry about incoming phone calls when you are on a riding vacation - tell anyone who might need to contact you to email you instead.

I've spent months on the road all through Western, Central, & Eastern Europe without phone service. All McDonald's, all hotels & motels, and most coffee shops have Wi-Fi. Once you are connected, you will have internet and email access, and if you have Skype on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, then as soon as you have a Wi-Fi connection, you have a phone connection as well.

If for some strange reason you need a Wi-Fi connection in the middle of the day while you are travelling, just stop at a hotel or motel and ask if you could connect to their guest Wi-Fi for a moment. I've never had anyone say 'no' to me when I have asked.

Michael
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  #11  
Old 11 May 2016
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Actually, even if they do say 'no' at a place, just kindly propose to buy something small that you might need anywas (like a bottle of water) and they'll usually happily comply. This is especially true of Italy in my experiences.
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  #12  
Old 8 Jun 2016
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Originally Posted by farfaraway View Post
Actually, even if they do say 'no' at a place, just kindly propose to buy something small that you might need anywas (like a bottle of water) and they'll usually happily comply. This is especially true of Italy in my experiences.
I've made this experience myself, depend on WiFi should be good enough. But maybe there will be an european solution on the market soon, after EU cut roaming fees.
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