• Remove ads on the forum by becoming a donating member. More here.
This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

SIM Card and ATM fees

J

Joshaa371

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
July 4th 2024
Hey everyone, wondering what everyone does for cell service while on the Camino. I am coming from the US and last time I was in EU I got a free mobile plan for cheap but cancelling the plan was a hassle anyone have any recommendations?

Also want to know what everyone does to minimize foreign transaction/ATM fees if there is some advice out there on that, trying to spend minimal and know currency exchange can cost some.
 
Get a Spanish mobil number + data while on the Camino
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Joshaa371 said:
Also want to know what everyone does to minimize foreign transaction/ATM fees if there is some advice out there on that
Click to expand...
I have a Charles Schwab checking account which has no fees, no minimums, no foreign transaction fees and refunds all ATM fees.

 
Just had good results with Airalo ESIM (you choose your region and your GB limit, it's refillable and less trouble than signing up for a cell plan). I bought the EU region to cover time I would spend in France, Spain and Portugal. If you can use an ESIM in your phone, look into this.

I found also that more and more frequently I used my TAP electronic payment (definitely a post CoViD change) and only took out a very limited amount of cash this time (400 euros for 5 weeks and I came home with 75 euros in cash in my pocket).

I think folks coming from the US can do really well on Charles Schwab... and when you need to, use electronic payment (just make sure you choose "euros" for your currency so that you get the best exchange rate).
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
I use Holafly for an eSiM card on my phone. It seems to have worked well.
I don’t stress about foreign transaction fees. I carry about €200 cash with me, refill as needed. Only refill at ATMs attached directly to a bank, just in case. For the same reason, try to refill Monday - Friday, when the bank is open.
When you use your card to pay for things, pay in euros, not dollars, when given a choice.
 
Altus ANDES 400 H30 sleeping bag
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-
We have found, coming from the US and traveling 2-3 months at a time overseas, that T-Mobile is the least hassle and best plan for us. It has unlimited data and unlimited texting. Call prices are about the same as other major US plans. We have tried SIM cards, but found them difficult to set up and use. As one would expect, customer assistance for the SIM cards was usually in another language. This may be different now, as we haven't even tried SIM cards in a few years. Keep in mind, if you want to use SIM cards or just switch cell providers and still use your current phone, your phone will need to be a universal phone or your current carrier will need to unlock it. Again, many years ago, when we tired to have an ATT phone unlocked, they would only unlock certain features. So if you're planning to use SIM cards make sure you check with your current carrier to see if you can have your phone unlocked before you go overseas. We now only buy universal phones. I believe this quirk is only true of US phones.

Bon Camino.
 
Many credit/debit cards have no foreign transaction fees. My Citibank Costco Visa is one such example.
 
Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Our Capital One debit and credit cards don't charge fees.

For phone service (calls and data), we always get an inexpensive pay-as-you go 30-day SIM from Vodafone. If you need it for longer than 30 days you can renew it at ATMs or grocery stores or tobacco kiosks.

For texting, use Whats App.
 
Last edited:
We use the Wise card when we travel. It has some of the lowest fees. Also, it is what the tour guides use in our Wheel and Anchor travel company.
 
Joshaa371 said:
Also want to know what everyone does to minimize foreign transaction/ATM fees if there is some advice out there on that, trying to spend minimal and know currency exchange can cost some.
Click to expand...
Get an account and debit card from a bank that reimburses all ATM fees. Mine is Schwab, but there are others.
 
Altus 24 Liters daypack (DENON 24 H30)
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
We used a Maya Mobile eSIM card with 10 gigs of data for $16. It was easy to set up and they have high ratings for customer service. I would suggest you first call your US provider and see what they charge to add European countries.

I found the ATMs in Spain pretty tricky and very straightforward in Portugal. I encountered atms in A Guarda that added fees that I never saw anywhere else. I tried to use cash at the small cafes during the day.
 
Kiwi-family said:
For non-US folks, withdrawing money from Unicaja ATMs is fees-free
Click to expand...
Unicaja and Liberbank merged in 2021. But surprisingly, you can still see logos of both banks, depending on which part of Spain you are in. Anyway, if Unicaja withdrawals are free for you, Liberbank withdrawals will also be free.
 
Camino Ready, Backpacks, Boots etc
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
With Airolo, I know you get data and therefore email, mapping apps, etc as well as texting. However, can you make phone calls when not connected to Wi-Fi? In other words, if walking between towns, can I call ahead to reserve a room?
 
Bill from Canada said:
With Airolo, I know you get data and therefore email, mapping apps, etc as well as texting. However, can you make phone calls when not connected to Wi-Fi? In other words, if walking between towns, can I call ahead to reserve a room?
Click to expand...
You can use WhatsApp to make calls to other WhatsApp users using your data plan. (But for making reservations I prefer to send a WhatsApp text message so that I have the confirmation in writing)

For calls to landlines I use the Viber app. You buy credits and then the calls are 2¢ a minute. I'm still using the $5 worth of credits that I bought in 2022.

Cheap International Calls Worldwide | Viber Out

Make free internet calls with Viber. Call friends and family on any landline or mobile phone with Viber credit, sign up today at Viber.com
account.viber.com
 
Bill from Canada said:
With Airolo, I know you get data and therefore email, mapping apps, etc as well as texting. However, can you make phone calls when not connected to Wi-Fi? In other words, if walking between towns, can I call ahead to reserve a room?
Click to expand...
If the business is on WhatsApp, yes. And I used FaceTime to call home. When I needed a taxi to get to train stations or airports, I asked hotel concierges to arrange that for me.
 
Let us pick up your suitcase once you arrive in Europe....
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Camino Photo

Most read last week in this forum

Similar threads

  • Tags money/banking/budget
    • Best ATM Debit Card
    Replies
    39
    Views
    4K
    CWBuff
    F
    ATM Fees.UK Cards Spain
    Replies
    20
    Views
    3K
    Arbey48
  • Tags money/banking/budget
    • Low fee ATMs. Where
    Replies
    86
    Views
    3K
    Annette london
    Menu
    Log in
    Register