Sim card

[Lynnem]

My husband and I will be walking in France and Spain for 3 months.... March till June Just wondering which Simcard would be best. Struggling to find one that gives us the data plus the ability to keep the same phone number. Any hints would be greatly appreciated.

 

[biloute]

If you get a French SIM card then you’ll have a French number. The only way I know of to keep your number is not to get a SIM card but to get an international plan, and as I understand those are very expensive. When I did the Camino in 2014 I had to use an old unlocked phone and just got a SIM card from Orange when I got to Le Puy, then got a Spanish SIM card when I entered Spain. With the new phones you may be able to get an eSIM, and you’d be able to switch between them on your phone but I am not traveling internationally anytime soon so I haven’t done any research as to how that works more specifically. You would still have International roaming on your current number, though, so it still wouldn’t be feasible to use it while in another country.

 

[amandurr]

I used an e-sim through Orange that worked great through France and Spain, though as biloute mentioned that gives you a French phone number. I was able to download it before leaving home, which was also great for arriving with access to data.

For keeping in touch with folks from home via text & calls, I used whatsapp with my usual number (+ the data from orange/wifi).

 

[trecile]

My husband and I will be walking in France and Spain for 3 months.... March till June Just wondering which Simcard would be best. Struggling to find one that gives us the data plus the ability to keep the same phone number. Any hints would be greatly appreciated.

You can get a SIM card that is data only, so your phone number won't change. If you want to make phone calls you can use WhatsApp for contacts that have it, or Skype or Viber to make calls to landlines.

 

[henrythedog]

My husband and I will be walking in France and Spain for 3 months.... March till June Just wondering which Simcard would be best. Struggling to find one that gives us the data plus the ability to keep the same phone number. Any hints would be greatly appreciated.

Please clarify. Another SIM card will come with its own phone number.

If you have a reasonably recent phone it should be possible to buy an eSIM to give you local data and outgoing phone calls whilst retaining your existing sim for incoming calls.

Just find a local teenager and get them to explain.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

There are some phones that can use two physical SIM cards to give you two different phone numbers but it is becoming more common to have the second (or more) numbers in an eSIM. Tech is pushing toward using eSIMs with no physical SIMs at all.

 

[jmcarp]

There are some phones that can use two physical SIM cards to give you two different phone numbers but it is becoming more common to have the second (or more) numbers in an eSIM. Tech is pushing toward using eSIMs with no physical SIMs at all.

Rick, my wife and I just got new Verizon (US carrier) iPhones, and the basic account is on the eSIM (or virtual SIM as it's also called). There is also a slot for a physical SIM that could be used for a "traveling" card for use in other countries.

 

[henrythedog]

Rick, my wife and I just got new Verizon (US carrier) iPhones, and the basic account is on the eSIM (or virtual SIM as it's also called). There is also a slot for a physical SIM that could be used for a "traveling" card for use in other countries.

Worth checking whether you can have multiple eSIMs. Current iPhones allow that. (A ‘data plan’ in their terminology)

 

[Kanga]

I always buy a local SIM card, but I'm struggling with the issue of having set up multiple sites with two factor authentication using my normal mobile phone number for SMS notifications of the second password. I will have to change everything so that I can use either an authenticator app or email. Important to do that before leaving home.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I always buy a local SIM card, but I'm struggling with the issue of having set up multiple sites with two factor authentication using my normal mobile phone number for SMS notifications of the second password. I will have to change everything so that I can use either an authenticator app or email. Important to do that before leaving home.

You might find something useful in the thread

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/2-factor-id-banking-and-tech.72807/

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Rick, my wife and I just got new Verizon (US carrier) iPhones, and the basic account is on the eSIM (or virtual SIM as it's also called). There is also a slot for a physical SIM that could be used for a "traveling" card for use in other countries.

This is the setup that I have recommended. It is getting harder to give a recommendation now though. This is because in first world countries it is easy to buy eSIMs and you can buy data only eSIMs online from service resellers. I know what is good for me but to give a recommendation to someone else I have to know how they plan to use their phone.

Don't worry though @jmcarp, in Spain you get a good price on SIMs with both voice and data so everything should work well for you without spending anything that you'll miss.

 

[Lynnem]

Many thanks everyone for your suggestions.

 

[Brian&Deb J.]

You can get a SIM card that is data only, so your phone number won't change. If you want to make phone calls you can use WhatsApp for contacts that have it, or Skype or Viber to make calls to landlines.

I'm new to Whatsapp. Walking in Spain in April. To be clear, if I get a Spanish SIM - data only, I assume my Canadian phone number is still not accessible?
Any contacts with WhatsApp can still ring me thriugh that app, and vice versa? Thanks

 

[lisagb]

My husband and I will be walking in France and Spain for 3 months.... March till June Just wondering which Simcard would be best. Struggling to find one that gives us the data plus the ability to keep the same phone number. Any hints would be greatly appreciated.

I'm new to Whatsapp. Walking in Spain in April. To be clear, if I get a Spanish SIM - data only, I assume my Canadian phone number is still not accessible?
Any contacts with WhatsApp can still ring me thriugh that app, and vice versa? Thanks

If you get a sim or esim you will have a different number.

 

[Mikey - camino]

My husband and I will be walking in France and Spain for 3 months.... March till June Just wondering which Simcard would be best. Struggling to find one that gives us the data plus the ability to keep the same phone number. Any hints would be greatly appreciated.

I am going through the same questions also. When I was in Ireland last year I used the international data plan from my provider, which worked fine for 7 days. But at 10 bucks a day i don't think i can use it for a couple of months.

What I did now, and I hope it works, was to buy a cheap Motorola G smart phone and plan to get a sim card in St. Jean. Once I get my new number I'll text everyone and let them know what it is. I'm hoping this works throughout my 2 month pilgrimage.

 

[lt56ny]

If you get a French SIM card then you’ll have a French number. The only way I know of to keep your number is not to get a SIM card but to get an international plan, and as I understand those are very expensive. When I did the Camino in 2014 I had to use an old unlocked phone and just got a SIM card from Orange when I got to Le Puy, then got a Spanish SIM card when I entered Spain. With the new phones you may be able to get an eSIM, and you’d be able to switch between them on your phone but I am not traveling internationally anytime soon so I haven’t done any research as to how that works more specifically. You would still have International roaming on your current number, though, so it still wouldn’t be feasible to use it while in another country.

The last couple of times I got my sim card from Vodafone (I didn't even have a phone when I walked from Le Puy in 2015 so can't say) they asked me if I wanted to keep my cell phone number or to use the Spanish cell phone number that was connected to my Vodafone sim card. Two years ago I used the Spanish number, last year I kept my number. All my contacts were in my phone regardless of which number I used. The only issue I had was for some reason I could not connect to AlertCops with my home number as I could never receive my code that was sent by SMS. They told me I could use the plan I picked anywhere in Western Europe. This last part may vary depending on the plan you pick. My plan was 15E for 28 days (super simple to recharge) with about 25 or 30 gigas and 200 minutes. I only used my phone for telephone calls to see if an albergue was open as I walk late in the year, and talk to my wife and kids (no one else when I am on camino) on Whatsapp.

 

[trecile]

If you get a sim or esim you will have a different number.

Yes, but your number on WhatsApp will stay the same.

Any contacts with WhatsApp can still ring me thriugh that app, and vice versa? Thanks

Yes, and when you call your friends via WhatsApp it will still be associated with your regular phone number provided you set up WhatsApp before you leave home.

 

[Plato]

Forfait Mobile 4G & 5G Sans Engagement – RED by SFR

Profitez d’un abonnement mobile sans engagement et adapté à votre consommation. Le forfait RED by SFR est fait pour vous : Internet 4G ou 5G, SMS/MMS illimités, 100% en ligne.

www.red-by-sfr.fr

 

[trecile]

Forfait Mobile 4G & 5G Sans Engagement – RED by SFR

Profitez d’un abonnement mobile sans engagement et adapté à votre consommation. Le forfait RED by SFR est fait pour vous : Internet 4G ou 5G, SMS/MMS illimités, 100% en ligne.

www.red-by-sfr.fr

Do you have experience with this company?

 

[Plato]

Do you have experience with this company?

Yes.
It is a standard SIM only, no contract deal which provides all calls, all texts and 100Go of data per month. That particular one is with SFR. There are similar deals with the 3 other main telecommunications operators in France; Orange, Free & Bouygues; see links below:

Bouygues Telecom

www.bouyguestelecom.fr

Forfaits mobile 5G/4G+ sans engagement

Un réseau mobile Free 5G/4G de qualité présent dans tous les départements de France metrop. Des prix avantageux. Pour toute la famille.

mobile.free.fr

https://shop.sosh.fr/mobile/forfaits-mobiles

 

[BlackRocker57]

My husband and I will be walking in France and Spain for 3 months.... March till June Just wondering which Simcard would be best. Struggling to find one that gives us the data plus the ability to keep the same phone number. Any hints would be greatly appreciated.

Bonjour You might like to check out «le French Mobile» ... their sim uses the Orange network [most comprehensive in France] and there’s the option of e-sim [if relevant for you] ... they ship the sim with instructions worldwide for free ... I have been using mine for five years now and zip problems ... bon courage et bon chemin

 

[trecile]

Bonjour You might like to check out «le French Mobile» ... their sim uses the Orange network [most comprehensive in France] and there’s the option of e-sim [if relevant for you] ... they ship the sim with instructions worldwide for free ... I have been using mine for five years now and zip problems ... bon courage et bon chemin

No problem reloading them when you are in Spain?

 

[BlackRocker57]

No problem reloading them when you are in Spain?

reloading? do you mean topping-up the € credit?? I do it via their website ... I have a link on my phone ... and it has always been straightforward ... I have set up my account to give me an alert when it gets low ...

 

[trecile]

reloading? do you mean topping-up the € credit?? I do it via their website ... I have a link on my phone ... and it has always been straightforward ... I have set up my account to give me an alert when it gets low ...

Thanks, that's what I meant.

 

[Lynnem]

Bonjour You might like to check out «le French Mobile» ... their sim uses the Orange network [most comprehensive in France] and there’s the option of e-sim [if relevant for you] ... they ship the sim with instructions worldwide for free ... I have been using mine for five years now and zip problems ... bon courage et bon chemin

Many thanks. I will look into the Orange network. Thanks also for the good wishes.

 

[BlackRocker57]

Many thanks. I will look into the Orange network. Thanks also for the good wishes.

you’re welcome ... «le French Mobile» is the sim card that I am referring to ... here is the weblink to their site : https://www.lefrenchmobile.com/

 

[Richard-Huvo]

You can get a SIM card that is data only, so your phone number won't change. If you want to make phone calls you can use WhatsApp for contacts that have it, or Skype or Viber to make calls to landlines.

Exactly what I did. Sim data only and you keep your cell phone number. You use whatsapp and if they want a phone number you refer to yours. Mine was Canadian

 

[Lynnem]

That sounds like the way to go. Excellent thanks everyone

 

[Vacajoe]

When I walked in 2022, I kept my US sim and added a UK e-sim to my iPhone 11. This allowed me access to European data and texts/phone calls to/from a UK number, as well as receiving texts/phone calls to my US number when I was attached to wifi. It was the best of both worlds.

 

[Lynnem]

Thanks so much for the info. Getting an e-sim looks like the way to go.