Sign in with Facebook- Join for free
- Sign In
Sign in with Facebook
Hi It is a poorly kept secret that I am a complete technophobe and clueless with anything to do with IT. So I'm looking for idiot-friendly advice on reducing cell (mobile) phone costs during our forthcoming trip to Europe as I don't want to get hammered by roaming costs. I have a Blackberry and plan to use the phone, text (SMS) and e-mail options which allow us to monitor of home e-mail whilst we're away. If it helps, my service provider here in South Africa is Vodacom. We are spending just under a week in Germany, about a week in France and the rest of the time in England. Can anyone suggest practical ways that we can contain costs? For instance, would it make sense to buy a local SIM card? If so, would I need to buy one for each country? Which are likely to be the most cost effective service providers? And where would I do this? Apologies for my ignorance, and don't be concerned about talking 'down' to me on this issue: if you assume that I understand nothing, then you won't be far wrong, and won't miss anything out! Regards Cathy
Buying a local prepaid Sim card makes sense for text and phone, you can get them in some countries (Austia for instance) for as little as € 5 and i don´t think more then € 10 -20 in other countries. Roaming in the EU with EU SIM cards is limited to 0.35 cent per minute, but data roaming (e-mail etc...) is not limited, quite expensive and with some pre paid cards not possible. For that you could buy in every country a separate card or use wifi if your Blackberry has that. If you Blackberry is unlocked (legal in Austria, € 10, not legal in Germany...) you can just put the SIM card in, but block data roaming in the settings. If it is locked, in countries where it is leagal allmost every phone shop can do that, otherwise cheap Nokias (no e-mail) you can get for € 30 or sometimes less.
Be the first to rate this answer!
This is what I read at the link below. It may help. "you can use it, why not? to avoid roaming/data charges just go to - Setting - General - Network - turn OFF Cellular Data This is what I do when want to avoid roaming/data charges, phone is still working" Read more: Italy Travel Forum
Be the first to rate this answer!
same here as Germany and France, good advice above. cheers
Be the first to rate this answer!
We always pick up a local SIM card wherever we go in Europe. Keeps the costs down. I think the only time we did not do this was in the UK, where we picked up a cheap throw-away phone at Tesco. We tend to go for voice only and use "free" wifi wherever we are staying to Skype home and to use the internet. Last time I checked, I have SIM cards for Iceland, France and Germany.
Be the first to rate this answer!
You could also consider the Priory and castle at Tynemouth. High on the headland where the Tyne meets the North Sea this... more
The Montague On The Gardens
1,454 Opinions
Radisson Edwardian Manchester
1,571 Opinions
The Groves
427 Opinions
