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Post by elora on Jun 26, 2015 11:36:24 GMT -5
I'd like to be able to use my iphone for data when we travel to France next month. I will ensure the phone is unlocked. We are winging it and not making reservations ahead of time.
I've read mixed things about getting a sim card - it is time-consuming to get one locally and have it registered etc, the airport sometimes runs out of the cards (I would need a nano one). It seems that you can buy a card online and get it sent to you from about 19 to 40 Euros (with a GB of data) and like most things, the reviews are either "amazing, not a hitch" or "omg, the worse service ever!!1!!!"
tell me what to do .... I'm tired of making decisions. (being a grown up in exhausting and over rated)
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Post by poppy on Jun 26, 2015 17:21:50 GMT -5
I bought a sim when I arrived in the UK in May, only to discover my phone was locked. I relied on wifi and I do have international roaming, so could still text friend. What it cost for the sim ended up being about the same as I ended up paying extra for on my phone bill. Having my phone available to all and sundry in Australia was handy as I ended up sorting out a couple of things in regards to TB. In my experience the cost of the sim wasn't worth the hassle of changing phone number. Can you purchase an overseas data pack before leaving? Something on this line www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/prepaid-mobiles/offers-and-rates/plus-packs |
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Post by sprite on Jun 26, 2015 17:49:14 GMT -5
given how many cafes/restos/hotels/trains/toilets have free wifi, unless you want to do seriuos streaming, hopping on free wifi should be ok.
definitely you'll want access, because it makes the booking process and flexibility so much easier.
plus a good app describing what foods are, because food words never seem to make it into those dictionary apps. grr.
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Post by Bastet on Jun 26, 2015 18:04:37 GMT -5
I found UK free wi-fi shit and I'm glad I got a SIM. Not sure how it's in France.
Also, usually with exception of hotels, when you get free wi-f it's in a social setting (cafe / pub) and it's a bit rude to spend half of the time on your phone if you are with someone.
But do get your phone unlocked first if it isn't already.
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Post by elora on Jun 26, 2015 18:08:45 GMT -5
poppy - My local provider does offer packages - actually, similar prices to the Telstra one you linked to ($75 for 300mb) but that is pretty expensive. I can get a card for €25.00 with 1GB, 1 hour of talk and 85 text messages (plus shipping and VAT = €34 or about $50-ish dollars) - plus their customer service is in English.  sprite - we are hoping that my husband's Montreal upbringing will help with translations but I do want to download an app to help out. I want to be able to use it to help with maps and directions - I guess I should find some maps that work off line. |
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Post by veronicainsocks on Jun 27, 2015 22:04:53 GMT -5
i found this for my company. i am not sure if that is a good deal or not. www.telus.com/en/bc/mobility/travel/?country=spain#travel-passesits $50 per 50 min and 150 MB and 150 texts. what does 150 MB even mean? but i may need a phone for reservations etc... i reserved my first two places via airbnb- and they sent me confirmation numbers via a text. i am not sure how will it work when i am in europe as i wasnt planing to take a phone. but i think i will have to  |
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Post by elora on Jun 29, 2015 10:10:06 GMT -5
Ron - if you are just checking email - 150MB is probably fine but if you are online (here, FB, googling stuff), you might burn through it pretty quickly and then it gets pricey.
I ordered a SIM card - €25 plus postage - gets me a €30 credit. I'll let you know how it goes.
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Post by owlet on Jun 29, 2015 11:45:10 GMT -5
At least in the UK you can pick up a sim for free (or £1) and top up how much you want. As an example, with tesco £15 gets you 4GB data, 5000 texts and £30 in credit for calls and you can top up by credit card or cash in addition to debit cards. I would imagine there would be something similar in France.
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Post by elora on Jun 29, 2015 15:18:59 GMT -5
It did seem like there was some better prices with the local French carriers but trying to figure it out was doing my head in - I took the easy way out - the card should be here before we leave and I can just pop it in and activate it when we get to France.
There was also conflicting information about getting a local French sim activated etc - I can live with the €25 for the simplicity of it.
PS - it kills me how cheap your mobile/cell rates are ......
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