No SIM Card

[barryg]

Hello!

I just left Burgos where I went to Vodafone, Orange, and Moviestar looking for a SIM card do I could call to the US, but none of them had one. Last year, in Pamplona, I had no problem. Does anyone know where I can find a SIM card with International calling? I am 5 days from León.

Thanks for any assistance!

Warmly,


Barry

 

[Anniesantiago]

How odd. Did they say why they had none? I can’t answer your question but maybe you can just use free internet to email home?

 

[NorthernLight]

Or free internet to skype home.

 

[Bradypus]

I would be very surprised to find that it was not possible to call the USA from the prepaid SIM of any of the main networks. I have never come across one which did not allow international calls. But you may find that the per minute rates are prohibitively expensive and it might be better to use a VOIP system like Skype unless you really need a mobile voice service 24/7.

Edit. I've just looked at Vodafone's website and seen a prepaid mobile tariff offering 800 minutes of international calls (including to the USA) and a substantial data allowance valid for four weeks for 15 euro. Would that suit your purposes? The "Mi Pais" tariff.

Tarifas Prepago | ¡Con llamadas ilimitadas y Roaming!

Descubre nuestras tarifas Vodafone prepago para móvil ⚡ ¡Llamadas ilimitadas y Roaming incluido! Elige tus gigas de datos y recibe tu tarjeta SIM en 24-48h!

www.vodafone.es

 

[deanfromoz]

Hello!

I just left Burgos where I went to Vodafone, Orange, and Moviestar looking for a SIM card do I could call to the US, but none of them had one. Last year, in Pamplona, I had no problem. Does anyone know where I can find a SIM card with International calling? I am 5 days from León.

Thanks for any assistance!

Warmly,


Barry

I know that my question won't help Barry, but is it possible to purchase a SIM in France before starting the Camino Frances?

I'll be flying into Paris, before heading to SJPP, and was hoping to get a SIM at CDG Airport that I can use in Spain.

 

[Bradypus]

I know that my question won't help Barry, but is it possible to purchase a SIM in France before starting the Camino Frances?

That is certainly possible. EU rules on roaming fees mean that you will be charged the same rates - set by the French network - in both France and Spain. One possible complication is adding credit to the account while in Spain. Worth making sure that you have loaded it with enough credit for your whole journey or checking that it is possible to pay for more online as buying a credit voucher from a bricks-and-mortar store probably will not be possible.

 

[deanfromoz]

That is certainly possible. EU rules on roaming fees mean that you will be charged the same rates - set by the French network - in both France and Spain. One possible complication is adding credit to the account while in Spain. Worth making sure that you have loaded it with enough credit for your whole journey or checking that it is possible to pay for more online as buying a credit voucher from a bricks-and-mortar store probably will not be possible.

Thanks @Bradypus Any recommendations on a good network provider?

 

[Bradypus]

Thanks @Bradypus Any recommendations on a good network provider?

Been a while since I used a French SIM. When I did I used Orange. As a Brit I can use my normal prepaid SIM from Three when in France, Spain and many other countries on my home rates. Very convenient. Better to get recommendations from someone with more recent experience I think.

 

[barryg]

I saw the Mi Pais SIM, but they said no international calling. Very strange. Maybe it’s a Burgos thing. I’ll try again in Leon. I am using Skype & that works fine, so I guess I’ll just be happy with that.

 

[Bradypus]

I saw the Mi Pais SIM, but they said no international calling. Very strange.

Very strange indeed since international calls is the whole point of that particular tariff!

 

[barryg]

Yes, just days they said. Of course, my Spanish is deplorable.

 

[barryg]

I meant just data