Sim Cards

[Annie25a]

hi Friends
Has anyone used Covermore Global SIM ?

I'm looking for a SIM with mostly DATA use (maybe occasionally call ahead for accommodation?)

So confused right now

Will be away for 11 weeks
So France/Spain/Ireland/ UK

Bien Camino

 

[Kanga]

Hmm. I use a Spanish Sim card (Orange) in Spain, but this year I'm going to the UK and northern Europe as well. About to do some research now.

 

[Kanga]

Have a look at LeFrenchMobile

 

[Annie25a]

Hmm. I use a Spanish Sim card (Orange) in Spain, but this year I'm going to the UK and northern Europe as well. About to do some research now.

Thanks Kanga
Any views on reviews would be appreciated

This little Aussie can't wait 17 Sleeps

 

[Kanga]

We've used LeFrenchMobile in France. It was easy, but I have no idea how it compares in terms of cost. I find phone plans and costs impossible to decipher.

 

[Mark McCarthy]

I use a pre-payed SIM card from Three in the UK for data. It provides 12GB of 3G+(HSDPA) data anywhere in Europe for just £30. I have a dual SIM card so did not use it for voice and text but I used Whatsapp for most calls and messages anyway. I found it to be tremendous value and never had to worry about finding wifi.
http://store.three.co.uk/view/searc...rTariff=50to99.99&payGPriceForTariff=0to49.99

 

[Bradypus]

Hmm. I use a Spanish Sim card (Orange) in Spain, but this year I'm going to the UK and northern Europe as well.

If the UK is your first stop on the right-side-up then it might be worth considering a pre-paid SIM from the UK network Three. If you buy any of their calls/data bundles you can use them at the same rates and conditions in most European countries. Any calls or data beyond the allowance currently have a capped roaming charge outside the EU but that will cease to apply this summer. After that there will be a single set of charges anywhere in the EU: 3p per minute for calls, 2p per SMS text, and 1p per MB for data. I've found it a useful and reliable service.

 

[Kanga]

I only have one hour in transit in Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Then straight on to Madrid. I think my Spanish Orange Sim will still be valid, just needing a top-up, so that works for Spain.

After Spain I'm meeting my husband in the UK, and from there we will be travelling in Europe, in EU countries. I want to be able to make telephone calls locally, to book accommodation, to receive international text messages, as well as to use data for internet access. I see on the Three website that changes are occurring on 1 July, but we'll be gone by then.

I do think he can do the research - something to keep him busy while I'm walking!

 

[aj8]

Hmm. I use a Spanish Sim card (Orange) in Spain, but this year I'm going to the UK and northern Europe as well. About to do some research now.

I am flying into Paris. Can I get an Orange Sim card there or do I need to wait until I get to Spain? I have an Iphone 5 with an AT & T plan.

Another option is to purchase an international plan with AT&T. Does anyone have experience with this company in Spain?

 

[Kanga]

Sorry, I can't help with information about phones on plans from the US. My phone is an unlocked, unlinked one. The Orange sim I purchased in Spain. Cheap as chips and easy to top up at any small store or supermarket.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I'm looking for a SIM with mostly DATA use

I suggest a Spanish SIM chip for Spain. It is quite inexpensive. I don't know if it will work outside Spain and Portugal (it won't work in France). I still found it cheapest and most reliable to use separate SIM chips in each country. There is not a lot of cooperation in cell service. A Vodafone account in the UK does not work for Vodafone in Spain, for example!!!

 

[Hutton24]

Be careful of the Vodaphone sim card in Spain. When I was there in 2013 I would receive several texts each day telling me how much I had left on it. The value was going down every time I got a text from them and there was no way of stopping it. I then learnt I could use WiFi in bars and cafés (do buy a drink etc when there coz it's a bit rude to just go and use it) and very often the staff will call ahead for you to book accom.

 

[Mark McCarthy]

You can buy the Three SIM card on ebay before you go. You can also buy Spanish Orange SIM cards on ebay but you pay a premium. For value the Three SIM is better and will have better coverage but the trade-off is only 3.5G rather than 4G. If you want someone to sort it out for you, the first place you can go in to a shop is Pamplona. I would recommend Freemovil https://www.facebook.com/freemovilpamplona/https://www.facebook.com/freemovilpamplona/ just off the main square in Pamplona. They are independent and will help you get setup. The GPS coordinates if you want to look them up on Google Earth or Google Maps is 42.816153, -1.641764.

 

[Paddington Bear]

I only have one hour in transit in Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Then straight on to Madrid. I think my Spanish Orange Sim will still be valid, just needing a top-up, so that works for Spain.

After Spain I'm meeting my husband in the UK, and from there we will be travelling in Europe, in EU countries. I want to be able to make telephone calls locally, to book accommodation, to receive international text messages, as well as to use data for internet access. I see on the Three website that changes are occurring on 1 July, but we'll be gone by then.

I do think he can do the research - something to keep him busy while I'm walking!

The only thing wrong with Three UK is that you can't hotspot devices. Annoying but otherwise it's a great service with great rates in the EU.

 

[Mark McCarthy]

On the pre-pay Three UK card I used last year I was able to hotspot several times to allow friends make whatsapp calls home.

 

[Annie25a]

You can buy the Three SIM card on ebay before you go. You can also buy Spanish Orange SIM cards on ebay but you pay a premium. For value the Three SIM is better and will have better coverage but the trade-off is only 3.5G rather than 4G. If you want someone to sort it out for you, the first place you can go in to a shop is Pamplona. I would recommend Freemovil https://www.facebook.com/freemovilpamplona/https://www.facebook.com/freemovilpamplona/ just off the main square in Pamplona. They are independent and will help you get setup. The GPS coordinates if you want to look them up on Google Earth or Google Maps is 42.816153, -1.641764.

Thank you so much for this information
Bien Camino