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My guess is they weren't near the phone. Try a text message.I was trying to call a hotel in Spain, it just rings but nothing else.
Here I suspect that somehow you had the incorrect country code after the +.A few years ago I tried using in within Spain to reach my albergue, instead I got someone in South America!
That’s a great idea! Do they have to have the WhatsApp app also to receive text messages or can anyone with a smartphone use it?Have you tried texting instead of calling on WhatsApp? When I need to reach hotels or pensions in Spain I text them on WhatsApp and normally receive a prompt reply.
I think, with all due respect, it’s just a case of you getting used to it, and going up the learning curve. We all take a while I think! As you say it has worked for you on other calls, so you are almost there. Maybe set aside an hour or so just to play around and familiarise. Call up friends! As long as you have the right number, and the recipient is on whatapps it will become easy! And save you some money.I’m leaving soon for CP and again attempted to use what’s app without success. I was trying to call a hotel in Spain, it just rings but nothing else. A few years ago I tried using in within Spain to reach my albergue, instead I got someone in South America! I would like an inexpensive way to call ahead to let hostels/hotels know my arrival time while traveling. I’m not the most tech savvy so maybe I’m doing something wrong…I do know it works from my phone cause my brother lives in Maylasia, that’s how we communicate. Any guidance would be appreciated! Abrigada
Doug, first of all thank you for the detailed answer. I will only try to contact people with the prefix 34 6..You haven't provided much information and that makes it very difficult to figure out what your problems might be.
A WhatsApp call may go unanswered for many reasons including you calling at a time when the person receiving your call is asleep because they are in a different time zone.
If you are getting your calls answered by someone in a different country then that might indicate that you are storing phone numbers for your contacts without a country code.
I always store phone numbers for my contacts in international format, even for contacts in my home country and this means that I can call one of my contacts correctly from anywhere in the world.
Here in Aotearoa New Zealand phone numbers within the same local region, on the same network do not need a prefix and so if my phone number is 912 4556 then someone else local and on the same network as me can key in that number, call and get me.
If they are outside the local area or on another network but within ANZ then they need to add a zero prefix (to indicate out of network) and then my local network id. In my case that would become 021 912 4556.
If they are outside of ANZ then they need a different prefix (not zero) to indicate an out of country call. This prefix can be either the plus sign (+) or double zero (00). Like most people I find the plus sign to be most convenient. Given that the ANZ country code is 64 someone outside of ANZ would then need to dial +64 21 912 4556 in order to call me.
Phone networks are relatively smart and so if I store my numbers in this format + xxx xxx 9999 9999 then they always work, even if I am in the same country, on the same network and within the same local region.
While WhatsApp doesn't use the international telephone network to make voice calls it does use the same logic to identify the correct recipient of your WhatsApp call.
Given that Spain's country code is 34, all my contacts in Spain have numbers starting with +34
If the number that you have been given starts with a zero then drop the starting zero. So if the number given is 0679 4438 2299 then it would become +34 679 4438 2299.
Lastly, WhatsApp can only initiate voice calls to a device that is running the WhatsApp computer program. In general, this means that you can only make WhatsApp calls to mobile phone numbers (rather than landline phone numbers). There are exceptions but for simplicity just figure that you can only phone smartphones and so they are all going to have a mobile phone number. In Spain, mobile phone numbers start with 6 (according to Wikipedia) and so all of my WhatsApp contacts in Spain have numbers that start with +34 6xx
Where a business lists more than one phone number then use the number that starts with 6 when calling with WhatsApp.
Super lastly, most albergues are small businesses, many are family owned, and so, in general, people are not waiting around for you to phone them. They are usually busy doing other things and so, often, I find that the most reliable way of contacting an albergue is to send a WhatsApp message first so that the recipient can reply when it is convenient for them. Then, if necessary, I can phone them on WhatsApp and have a voice conversation. Remembering that you are calling someone in Spain and so they are probably going to answer in Spanish and may or may not understand and speak English.
Do you have to have the app to text? That would be much easier than calling but don’t know if a lot of people have that…I think, with all due respect, it’s just a case of you getting used to it, and going up the learning curve. We all take a while I think! As you say it has worked for you on other calls, so you are almost there. Maybe set aside an hour or so just to play around and familiarise. Call up friends! As long as you have the right number, and the recipient is on whatapps it will become easy! And save you some money.
Yes. You can only call or text people who have the app on their phone. That could have been a possible cause of the problems that you have had.That’s a great idea! Do they have to have the WhatsApp app also to receive text messages or can anyone with a smartphone use it?
Just a slight modification. Mobile numbers start with 6 or 7, land lines 8 or 9. The easiest way to see if someone uses WhatsApp is to start a new contact with the number and if it says the person is not on WhatsApp, just delete that number. I don’t think there’s any point in inviting someone who is not on it to join. I believe about 95% of Spanish cell phones are on WhatsApp, so if they’re not, it’s likely because they don’t want to be on it.In Spain, mobile phone numbers start with 6 (according to Wikipedia) and so all of my WhatsApp contacts in Spain
I’m leaving soon for CP and again attempted to use what’s app without success. I was trying to call a hotel in Spain, it just rings but nothing else. A few years ago I tried using in within Spain to reach my albergue, instead I got someone in South America! I would like an inexpensive way to call ahead to let hostels/hotels know my arrival time while traveling. I’m not the most tech savvy so maybe I’m doing something wrong…I do know it works from my phone cause my brother lives in Maylasia, that’s how we communicate. Any guidance would be appreciated! Abrigada
Not everyone has the WA App and if you message and call to someone who hasn’t then you won’t get anywhere! You can check in the App if someone has it. Let folks know where you are at and I am sure we can push you over the line.Do you have to have the app to text? That would be much easier than calling but don’t know if a lot of people have that…
That’s a great idea! Do they have to have the WhatsApp app also to receive text messages or can anyone with a smartphone use it?
WhatsApp only communicates with WhatsApp. It can’t dial a regular phone number.Doug, first of all thank you for the detailed answer. I will only try to contact people with the prefix 34 6..
I noticed trying to call using WhatsApp it prompted me to select one of my 31 contacts that apparently already have the app, but can I text anyone or do they also have to have it installed before I do??
In the case of the hotel I called I was told to invite them, I did but got no response.
I don’t actually expect them to answer in English, I always try to practice my poco espanol whilst in Spain
Yes, WhatsApp will only allow you to call someone who is already in your contacts (there are ways around this but again, for simplicity, just figure that someone that you call must already be in your list of contacts).I noticed trying to call using WhatsApp it prompted me to select one of my 31 contacts that apparently already have the app, but can I text anyone or do they also have to have it installed before I do??
As in many other areas @peregrina2000 is correct.Just a slight modification. Mobile numbers start with 6 or 7
Rick beat me to the keyboard this timeRepeating what @peregrina2000 wrote above, mobile numbers in Spain are nine digits long and start with either a 6 or a 7 (an exception is that numbers starting with a 70 are not mobile numbers).
Source:
Brace yourselves for the pro tip:
If you get tired of adding a contact only to find that they are not on WhatsApp, or just adding contacts for people you only need to chat with, this ones for you.
Open up your web browser instead and go to
wa.me/34xxxxxxxxx
Replace the x and 34 with the actual phone number and country code. It will open your WhatsApp automatically with that number as the recipient.
Thank you Stephan for making it so much clearer. I will take your advice!WhatsApp only communicates with WhatsApp. It can’t dial a regular phone number.
It might be confusing because the mobile phone numbers are attached to WhatsApp. If you want to just direct dial phone numbers you have to go outside of the app and use a regular phone or Skype or something like that.
If you’re buying a local Sim card to use in Spain, it will be a Spanish phone number.
All Mobile phone numbers in Spain, after the +34, start with the number 6 ( or apparently sometimes 7 , but I’ve never seen that)
WhatsApp is actually the preferred method of contact for many people in Spain.
I always try WhatsApp first if they have a mobile phone number listed. You do have to add the number to your contact list for whatsapp to recognize it as a contact. But WhatsApp gives you a choice to add a new contact when you initiate a call or a text. Almost always once I input that number into WhatsApp, it shows me that it’s actually the hotel or business.
I always send a text because I don’t speak Spanish very well. And I always translate my question into Spanish using the Google translation app.
95% of the time I got a response through WhatsApp. And if there’s an email listed I’ve also used that as well, with the Spanish translation.
Ohh that’s helpful indeed, GraciasBrace yourselves for the pro tip:
If you get tired of adding a contact only to find that they are not on WhatsApp, or just adding contacts for people you only need to chat with, this ones for you.
Open up your web browser instead and go to
wa.me/34xxxxxxxxx
Replace the x and 34 with the actual phone number and country code. It will open your WhatsApp automatically with that number as the recipient.
I’m a real newbie with WhatsApp, but I’m going to try to answer this question because I was having the same problem. (Anyone with more experience please correct me.) WhatsApp requires you to create a contact in your contact list with the number you want to message before you can message it. You can’t just enter the number while creating the message.Doug, first of all thank you for the detailed answer. I will only try to contact people with the prefix 34 6..
I noticed trying to call using WhatsApp it prompted me to select one of my 31 contacts that apparently already have the app, but can I text anyone or do they also have to have it installed before I do??
In the case of the hotel I called I was told to invite them, I did but got no response.
I don’t actually expect them to answer in English, I always try to practice my poco espanol whilst in Spain
Buy a Spanish SIM card, they are very cheap.I’m leaving soon for CP and again attempted to use what’s app without success. I was trying to call a hotel in Spain, it just rings but nothing else. A few years ago I tried using in within Spain to reach my albergue, instead I got someone in South America! I would like an inexpensive way to call ahead to let hostels/hotels know my arrival time while traveling. I’m not the most tech savvy so maybe I’m doing something wrong…I do know it works from my phone cause my brother lives in Maylasia, that’s how we communicate. Any guidance would be appreciated! Abrigada
Both parties have to have WhatsApp in order for the call to go through.That’s a great idea! Do they have to have the WhatsApp app also to receive text messages or can anyone with a smartphone use it?
Thanks for the detailed explanation, as far as calling SA, I have no idea how I did that eitherKeep in mind that not all hotels/hostels use WhatsApp. To search whether your hotel/hostel is on WhatsApp, open the app. At the top, enter the hotel/hostel’s name. WhatsApp will display whether the hotel/hostel uses WhatsApp. If they are on WhatsApp, select the phone icon to call them. If no one picks up, the reception desk may be closed or the staff stepped away. Try again later.
If WhatsApp displays that the hotel/hostel is
not on WhatsApp, you will need to use whatever method you chose for international calling. For example, I have T-Mobile, which gives me free unlimited data and texting. If I anticipate that I need to make international calls (to those not yet on WhatsApp), I buy a calling card, like the $5/24 hr that T-Mobile offers. You can find the correct phone number from the hotel’s website.
Note that if you enter a phone number, WhatsApp requires you to select the country’s calling code first. For example, select Portugal, and the country code +351 automatically appears. So I don’t see how it was possible for you to call South America?
Is there a way of making posts sticky? This very clear , helpful one seems like a candidate for that...You haven't provided much information and that makes it very difficult to figure out what your problems might be.
A WhatsApp call may go unanswered for many reasons including you calling at a time when the person receiving your call is asleep because they are in a different time zone.
If you are getting your calls answered by someone in a different country then that might indicate that you are storing phone numbers for your contacts without a country code.
I always store phone numbers for my contacts in international format, even for contacts in my home country and this means that I can call one of my contacts correctly from anywhere in the world.
Here in Aotearoa New Zealand phone numbers within the same local region, on the same network do not need a prefix and so if my phone number is 912 4556 then someone else local and on the same network as me can key in that number, call and get me.
If they are outside the local area or on another network but within ANZ then they need to add a zero prefix (to indicate out of network) and then my local network id. In my case that would become 021 912 4556.
If they are outside of ANZ then they need a different prefix (not zero) to indicate an out of country call. This prefix can be either the plus sign (+) or double zero (00). Like most people I find the plus sign to be most convenient. Given that the ANZ country code is 64 someone outside of ANZ would then need to dial +64 21 912 4556 in order to call me.
Phone networks are relatively smart and so if I store my numbers in this format + xxx xxx 9999 9999 then they always work, even if I am in the same country, on the same network and within the same local region.
While WhatsApp doesn't use the international telephone network to make voice calls it does use the same logic to identify the correct recipient of your WhatsApp call.
Given that Spain's country code is 34, all my contacts in Spain have numbers starting with +34
If the number that you have been given starts with a zero then drop the starting zero. So if the number given is 0679 4438 2299 then it would become +34 679 4438 2299.
Lastly, WhatsApp can only initiate voice calls to a device that is running the WhatsApp computer program. In general, this means that you can only make WhatsApp calls to mobile phone numbers (rather than landline phone numbers). There are exceptions but for simplicity just figure that you can only phone smartphones and so they are all going to have a mobile phone number. In Spain, mobile phone numbers start with 6 (according to Wikipedia) and so all of my WhatsApp contacts in Spain have numbers that start with +34 6xx
Where a business lists more than one phone number then use the number that starts with 6 when calling with WhatsApp.
Super lastly, most albergues are small businesses, many are family owned, and so, in general, people are not waiting around for you to phone them. They are usually busy doing other things and so, often, I find that the most reliable way of contacting an albergue is to send a WhatsApp message first so that the recipient can reply when it is convenient for them. Then, if necessary, I can phone them on WhatsApp and have a voice conversation. Remembering that you are calling someone in Spain and so they are probably going to answer in Spanish and may or may not understand and speak English.
I just organized my stays for vacation in Tuscany via WhatsApp. No Problem at all.Any guidance would be appreciated! Abrigada
Near to where I used to live in Ireland, in a secondary school, the kids had a weekly tablet/smartphone/non-smartphone walk-in 'clinic' for local seniors, which seemed to me a lovely idea, with many potential side benefits.In Quiroga on the Invierno this morning we saw a poster advertising a WhatsApp ‘workshop’ for over 65s.
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i can remember still my total amazement in 2015, in a phone shop in King Shaka Airport in Durban, when a patient young man explained to me that even when I took out my Irish sim and put in a SA sim, Whatsapp would still work, and I didn't have to give anyone my new SA number and i didn't have to 'tell Whatspp' I had changed my number temporarily!Anyone contacting you by WhatsApp will still get you despite the number switch. WhatsApp is clever that way.
Just think about the phone number as your login, not an actual PHONE number.i can remember still my total amazement in 2015, in a phone shop in King Shaka Airport in Durban, when a patient young man explained to me that even when I took out my Irish sim and put in a SA sim, Whatsapp would still work, and I didn't have to give anyone my new SA number and i didn't have to 'tell Whatspp' I had changed my number temporarily!
For anyone beyond their teens, I think that is quite counterinuitive!
They ought to add pilgrims to the list, regardless of age. An awful lot of pilgrims do not know that you can share your contact details using your WhatsApp QR code for example - a whole lot easier and more exact then trying to swap numbers.In Quiroga on the Invierno this morning we saw a poster advertising a WhatsApp ‘workshop’ for over 65s.
View attachment 172905
Disappearing messages can catch you out.'Disappearing messages' are another useful function, as is the 'private reply' function in group chats.
The ability to send a message to somebody in whatsapp without having to actually add them to your contact list is another good one, although my favourite is probably one that I found inadvertently: the ability to speed up audio playback.
And a tip if you do need to save a disappearing message.......forward it to yourself.Disappearing messages can catch you out.
I had booked a bed in a diocesan retreat centre in Ostuni, walking from Matera to Brindis on the Cammino Materano and when I got there I found the place OK but when I looked on my phone, the confirmation message from a week or ten days previosuly had 'disappeared' - they had set "disappearing messages". It did not matter in any way and I had no problem with my bed. But it could conceivably be a problem.
When someone sends you a disappearing mesage you are informed it is disappearing so clearly you can save it if you wish. I am not sure whether they did it deliberately.
It is a definite feature of Whatsapp as @Peterexpatkiwi says. i am not entirely clearly what the advantage of it is.
I have a friend who seems to have set their Whatsapp onto disappearing and I am not at all sure it is what they want......but it is none of my business really.
Edit: I just checked today and they still have messages set to disappear after 7 days
The advantage is that people won't be able to keep a record of your messagesI am not entirely clearly what the advantage of it is.
Yes I can see that, (though they can of course copy your message if they had some reason to want to keep it).The advantage is that people won't be able to keep a record of your messages
I’m leaving soon for CP and again attempted to use what’s app without success. I was trying to call a hotel in Spain, it just rings but nothing else. A few years ago I tried using in within Spain to reach my albergue, instead I got someone in South America! I would like an inexpensive way to call ahead to let hostels/hotels know my arrival time while traveling. I’m not the most tech savvy so maybe I’m doing something wrong…I do know it works from my phone cause my brother lives in Maylasia, that’s how we communicate. Any guidance would be appreciated! Abrigada
I think you're absolutely right with both.Generally, I think establishments, particularly smaller ones, prefer texting. There is less of a language barrier, as it is easier to understand/translate a written text. It is more difficult to comprehend a telephone conversation. Also, with apartment renting, it gives the owner more anonimity.
I rely extensively on texting via WhatsApp on the camino, making a phone call only if the cell number is not on WhatsApp or if there is only a landline. I always input the numbers before I leave so I can have quick access. I make sure that the contact info has not only the name of the place but also the location, so when I am looking for places in a particular town, all of the entries will pop up.I had a similar experience renting a Ferienwohnung in Vienna. The owner only answered via text messages.
An easier way is to add yourself as a contact. Than you can chat with yourselfAnd a tip if you do need to save a disappearing message.......forward it to yourself.
How do you do that? "Whatsapp doesn't allow messaging yourself" you may say. No it doesn't directly.
Setup a new Whatsapp group with a minimum of yourself and any other person. Delete the other person from the group and you have a group (which is not your 'home address') which contains just you. Give the group a useful name. Forward anything you wish to it. A forwarded 'disappearing message' loses its disappearing quality.
Just a trivial little point. When you enter the country code in WhatsApp, you do not use the two zeros. Just 34 or 351.Often I see the number for WA w/o the country-code, you need to use it: 0034 for Spain, 00351 for Portugal.
Question does that depend on the phone plan? I know this is true if you are in local WI-FI? But does that account for Plans like T-mobile data from US because, I maybe wrong, but when I use my data to call, it does not seem to work without the +34?Just a trivial little point. When you enter the country code in WhatsApp, you do not use the two zeros. Just 34 or 351.
I always enter the phone number to see if it’s on WhatsApp and only then bother to enter the name of the establishment and its town.
Yip, you're right. Most cellulars replace the double zero automatically with the +.Just a trivial little point. When you enter the country code in WhatsApp, you do not use the two zeros. Just 34 or 351.
I always enter the phone number to see if it’s on WhatsApp and only then bother to enter the name of the establishment and its town.
Oh that’s a great question, and it reminds me not to generalize based on what my iPhone does. So to clarify, my comments are only for iPhones. I have not had any problems either using my Vodafone Sim card or my WhatsApp phone capabilities to call the numbers as I entered them in WhatsApp.Question does that depend on the phone plan? I know this is true if you are in local WI-FI? But does that account for Plans like T-mobile data from US because, I maybe wrong, but when I use my data to call, it does not seem to work without the +34?
Not just iPhones. WhatsApp says not to use leading zeros with country codes.Just a trivial little point. When you enter the country code in WhatsApp, you do not use the two zeros. Just 34 or 351.
For example, if a contact in the United States (country code "1") has the area code "408" and phone number "XXX-XXXX", you'd enter +1 408 XXX XXXX.
Note:
Make sure to remove any leading 0s or special calling codes.
If you meant to add a local (in country) phone number to your phone's address book, enter the number as if you were calling your contact on the phone.
Oh interesting!!An easier way is to add yourself as a contact. Than you can chat with yourself
I send messages to myself this way so I don’t forget something or save good tips (for hotels or events).
Personally I just take a screenshot and save it in a separate file in my photos - labelled camino info logically!Oh interesting!!
I see that feature was finally introduced just in 2022. Before then you required a workaround like the one I described. Glad that Whatsapp has finally caught up with me!!
if using your number from aborad, make sure you add the +34 in front of the spanish number, which will always start with a 6 or 7, and, not counting the +34, will always have 9 digits.I’m leaving soon for CP and again attempted to use what’s app without success. I was trying to call a hotel in Spain, it just rings but nothing else. A few years ago I tried using in within Spain to reach my albergue, instead I got someone in South America! I would like an inexpensive way to call ahead to let hostels/hotels know my arrival time while traveling. I’m not the most tech savvy so maybe I’m doing something wrong…I do know it works from my phone cause my brother lives in Maylasia, that’s how we communicate. Any guidance would be appreciated! Abrigada
Disappearing messages can catch you out.
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