Camino de Santiago de Compostela

[amriwalking9496]

Can anyone tell me what is the best and cheapest way to phone home to California? Are there phone cards I can purchase? Should I take my cell? I heard US cell phones don't work very well?

Thanks

[annakappa]

Why don't you get Skype, if you don't already use it? Once you are registered, you can call from any computer that has a microphone to either, another registered e-mail address for free, or if the recipitant only has a house or cel. phone line, then you pay a very modest rate. When walking last year, we used Skype. Anne

[ivar]

Can anyone tell me what is the best and cheapest way to phone home to California? Are there phone cards I can purchase? Should I take my cell? I heard US cell phones don't work very well?

Thanks

I believe that phones from T Mobile and ATT in the US will work in Spain... but it will be expensive and you need to call them ahead of time to activate it I think....

If you have an ATT or T Mobile (GSM) phone you could bring it and buys a Spanish sim card (that would give you a Spanish phone number that you can use to call + receive calls. Receiving calls are free for you..). Remember you need to get a adapter for charging it.. RadioShack should have it.

Have a look at these posts for some more info:
equipment-questions/topic6991.html
el-camino-frances/topic6420.html

Greetings from Santiago,
Ivar

[amriwalking9496]

Thanks for all of the great information. We have Skpe, my kids use it now I'll have to learn.

[mlcamino]

Another option available in most cities is to make calls from "Locutorios." These are shops with several phone booths. You are assigned a booth, make your phone calls and then pay when you are done. The rates are generally very reasonable and the sound quality excellant. Just look for signs that say "Locutorio" or ask if there is one nearby. I have used these all over Spain and find them very convenient and reasonable.

[Rebecca]

Can anyone tell me what is the best and cheapest way to phone home to California? Are there phone cards I can purchase? Should I take my cell? I heard US cell phones don't work very well?

Thanks

I didn't use my T-Mobile; instead I rented a cell phone from National Geographic's Cellular Abroad:
http://www.cellularabroad.com/
I used it to call home (California) and to make calls within Spain. Incoming calls were free. Battery charger included. It's probably not the cheapest way, but it was less complicated for me.
Hope this helps,
ra

[peregrina2000]

For the low-tech peregrinos, here's what I have done on multiple occasions.

I bought a cell phone in 2000 for 25 E that came with 25E of phone time. Each year when I go back, I just get a new card, new phone number, and it works fine. I use that as an emergency back-up as well as for calling ahead in Spain to reserve places when that seems like a good idea.

For regular calls to the US, I either use the locutorios (I agree with mlcamino that the rates are usually very good) or buy a prepaid card that requires you to punch in numbers. There is a wide range in cards, the one I found to give the most minutes was Eurocity. (Some of these cards have daily fees, per call fees, etc, and it's hard to read the fine print -- the cards are always available at tabacalera shops, and the people working there usually have an opinion about the best cards for your particular calling destination).

If you use a phone card to call internationally, you will also find that you get a much better rate if you call from a private fixed landline. I have often found that small pension owners will trust me to use their phone and call home with the card. Another good option is the green and blue pay phones you find on the bar in many cafes -- not on the wall, these are regular phone units on the bar itself. That is a pay phone that is really a land line for the bar owner, I think, but whatever the set-up it certainly gives you much better rates.

Laurie

[frescotours]

This is my favorite card. You can use this link to buy them online and call as soon as you hit the ground: http://www.spainsim.com/vodmovicallcards.htm
This specific one allows you to call the States and Canada for a couple hours - only 6 euros!

Hope this helps!

[Canuck]

This is my favorite card. You can use this link to buy them online and call as soon as you hit the ground: http://www.spainsim.com/vodmovicallcards.htm
This specific one allows you to call the States and Canada for a couple hours - only 6 euros!

Hope this helps!

From what I can see at the reference, it's good only if you have a spanish cell phone (SIM).

Landing in Spain with a North American cell phone, you would still be required to make a ''roaming call'', at a high cost, to piggy back on the proposed system.

In order to use the proposed card at a decent cost, the only option is to buy a Spanigh SIM card, if your phone is unlocked. That would increasing the cost of the operation, but never the less it remains a good option to consider.

Jean-Marc

[ivar]

This might be interesting too if you are traveling to various countries (I have not tried it):
http://www.maxroam.com/Home.aspx?cur=EUR

Saludos,
Ivar

[Sojourner47]

For British travellers, DON'T get a Tesco International Calling Card (prepaid - supposedly giving cheap calls home from Europe)
I took one to France and Belgium last Sept, and had endless trouble getting through - had to plumb in a code etc - in the end it cost me far more in wasted time phoning the call centre than it would have if using regular roaming. I kept getting "this service is not available" messages....

[ricksca]

As an addendum to the Skype suggestion: While I know that many have advised leaving electronic devices home (for some really good reasons), there just isn't a more useful gizmo than the Ipod Touch. With the Skype app, every hotspot becomes a free phone call conduit to everyone in the world who has Skype. If you have to call a landline, the calls are just a couple cents a minute. If you have the 4th Gen Ipod you can make video calls.

[ffp13]

Good luck finding a hotspot on the camino, I had a iPod touch I'm 2009 found 4 hotspots between SJPP and Santiago and all were very slow connections, the situation may have changed in 18 months but somehow I doubt it, I had an app for finding hotspots, all that did was reduced battery life , but I did appreciate the music and talking books when I could not sleep.

[falcon269]

Good luck finding a hotspot on the camino

Spain does not have as many hot spots as France. Getting the password is tricky. Many bars do not know their password, or are reluctant to give it out. Most have not changed their original password from the long and impossible one to something more user friendly that the bartender could memorize. Hot spots were frequent in France, while actual computers were rare. Exactly the opposite was true in Spain. I don't know why; maybe someone else does.

[JohnnieWalker]

But most internet cafes I've seen in Spain are equipped with microphones and/or cams so Skype is a real possiblity.

[ivar]

I recently bought a FON router at home. It gives me free wifi with any other FON users around the world. Just came back from Portugal (this weekend) and they were "everywhere"... one street had 4 wifi networks in 400 meters.
http://corp.fon.com/en/this-is-fon/

See coverage maps here:
http://maps.fon.com/

Just as an FYI: If you are not a member of FON, you still get free access to any website/service that include the URL google.com (Google is an investor in FON). This does include maps.google.com and mail.google.com (gmail).... and things like http://www.google.com/places/

Saludos,
Ivar

[renegadepilgrim]

Good luck finding a hotspot on the camino,

I found them in some of the most unexpected places! Like near the fountain in Azofra. Of course I set out with the intent that if I found them, then that was great. If not, then no big deal. Lots of the hotspots are password protected though and I have to say, finding anyone who knows the password is a challenge. I brought my Blackberry Storm2, with phone service disconnected. I used it as an alarm clock and a PDA with all my information for my travels in it. It was fun to check in every once in a while from some place in the middle of Spain. So, I guess if you don't depend on it, then you will enjoy it more when you find it. In some of the larger cities, there are bars with the wi-fi logo on them too.

[evanlow]

Best bet for open network are bars and libraries.

Bars are noisy. Libraries just the opposite.

I only managed to call home piggy back on the wifi once. And that is on Sunday outside a library....

[newfydog]

This might be interesting too if you are traveling to various countries (I have not tried it):
http://www.maxroam.com/Home.aspx?cur=EUR

Saludos,
Ivar

Thanks for that Ivar--

My wife and I each got one of those cards-5 Euros for a SIM card with 10 Euros credit. They work,

I added a French number for 6 euros a month.

We now can give people our number before leaving, and don't have to go find a store and spend 30 Euros for card.

[johnnyman]

How about just getting a phone card and using pay phones?

[falcon269]

Public phones may be an option, but to me, they looked like they were disappearing except in bars, restaurants, and hotels:

International calling from payphones in Spain

The blue payphones of the national telephone company of Spain are widely available in cities and towns across Spain. It is possible to make international calls from these payphones in Spain; however, if you choose this method you are stuck with the international calling rates of Spain’s national phone company which are not the most competitive. The advantage of using payphones to make international calls from Spain is that these payphones accept credit cards in addition to phone cards and coins. Be aware that although the payphones in Spain may look the same and can all be used for making international calls, using a payphone in a restaurant for international calls will incur a higher charge than using a pay phone on the street for international calls in Spain. The phone card you need to buy to make international calls from payphones in Spain is available from any newsagent or post office in Spain. Phone cards for international calls from payphones in Spain can be bought in denominations of 6 or 12 Euros.

International call centers in Spain

The recent influx of immigrants to Spain has brought about a growth in the number of international call shops in most major towns and cities in Spain. Simply ask how much the cost per minute is of your destination and you’ll be directed to a booth from where you make the international call from Spain. Afterwards you pay only for the cost of the international call.

International calling cards in Spain

There are a number of international calling cards available in Spain from private call service providers that are cheaper than using the national phone company of Spain. These cards are available at many newsagents throughout Spain. The type of international calling card you’ll want depends on the country you are calling; different international calling cards are cheaper for different countries.

International dialing codes in Spain

If you want to make an international call to Spain then the international dialing code for Spain is 00 34 followed by the entire number. If you are making an international call from Spain then press 00 and wait for the new ring tone before proceeding with the full international dialing code of your destination followed by the phone number.

[newfydog]

Public phones may be an option, but to me, they looked like they were disappearing except in bars, restaurants, and hotels:

Disappearing, out of order, no one knows how to make them work. Cell phones wiped them out.
Smart phones and free wi-fi are wiping out internet cafe's. We poor pilgrims need to adapt.

[KristinaMaria]

I used Skype throughout most of the Camino in order to touch back home with my Mom and Grandparents. If your relatives have easy access to the Internet I would highly suggest this method. Along the Camino Frances there were many opportunities to use the Internet for free or for an hourly price. Eventually I also got an over the counter vodafone just in case I needed to make an emergency call.

[ffp13]

I have a VOIP phone service on my iPhone ( something like skype ) and can make extremely cheap calls to house phones anywhere in the world just as long as I have good WiFi , McDonalds has blocked VoIP from their free wifi but I have found many places where it does work, eg town community centers , some bars, hotels, and even some alburgues eg just out of leon. Skype has a pre pay service that you can make international calls for around 4c a min.

[falcon269]

Internet and phone service for iPhone and smartphones:

http://movil.orange.es/tarifas-y-ahorro/tarjeta/delfin/

[Anniesantiago]

I second the use of the Locutorios - they worked great for me the few times I had to call the USA.
Inexpensive, easy to use, and better than carrying more equipment, imo.

[summerthor]

I spent 3 months in Spain and Portugal last year (not on pilgrimage). For calling home I used Skype. I had no problem finding internet cafes with headphones in the cities. I also bought a Movistar cell phone for 20 euro that came with 12 euro of prepaid time. I didn’t use that for calling home but it was really nice to have a local phone... I’m afraid I’ve gotten so I feel naked without one... but I also travel alone so it is a good safety feature.

[daesdaemar]

I took my GSM phone and bought a Vodaphone Mi Pais card for 15 euros of which 12 euros was air time. I could call back home to USA after 8 PM for 18 cents per minute and I had a phone to use locally also.

[eano]

[quote][/quote]This might be interesting too if you are traveling to various countries (I have not tried it):
http://www.maxroam.com/Home.aspx?cur=EUR

I too used maxroam in June this year. Very cheap text messages but expensive calls home to Australia.....therefore mostly used email/blog and text messages for keeping in touch. Good to be able to give family my phone number before leaving home and know that it is actually working. Topping up phone credit is easy with access to a computer but a little more difficult when trying to do it over the phone. I have kept the SIM and so long as credit is added within 12 months I can use it again for another trip.

I really wanted the phone for security as much as anything but realised once I got home I had no idea of how to contact any Spanish emergency services while I was there.

[Arn]

Eano mentioned:

I had no idea of how to contact any Spanish emergency services while I was there.

Emergency Number in Spain
If you require urgent police attention, ambulance, fire brigade etc. 112 (no area code)
If you want to report assault, robbery or accident to the police 902 102 112

This should work for most situations. It's unlikely you'll reach someone that speaks English...so know a few key phrases in Spanish and the message will get through.

Not exact by any stretch but will get the message across:

I am lost = Me he perdido

I am injured = Estoy herido

I need medical attention = Necesito atención médica

I have been robbed = Me han robado

I am located near...= Estoy cerca de...

Hope that helps a bit.

Buen "getting the message across" Camino,

Arn

[ncali12]

Along phone lines: has anyone used one of the solar powered battery chargers for phones? REI has one for iPods. It looks pretty convenient. It's also expensive so I'm wondering how good/reliable it is. Or if anyone has experience with any of them -- for iPhones. I guess if there is good wifi service at various places people with iPhones and iPods can also facetime at no charge too and skip the usual phone card/SIM card altogether. I'm not sure how the SIM card works for iPhones. Do you just buy a SIM card in Spain and swap it with the US card in the phone. Then how do you get minutes on it? Pre-pay?
Thanks, AL

[falcon269]

Along phone lines: has anyone used one of the solar powered battery chargers for phones? REI has one for iPods. It looks pretty convenient. It's also expensive so I'm wondering how good/reliable it is. Or if anyone has experience with any of them -- for iPhones.

I bought a small one, and it is worthless. The larger ones at REI might work. There are outlets at all stops to charge phones.

I guess if there is good wifi service at various places people with iPhones and iPods can also facetime at no charge too and skip the usual phone card/SIM card altogether.

WiFi (wee-fee in Europe) is spotty and usually locked with no one knowing the password (contrasena).

I'm not sure how the SIM card works for iPhones. Do you just buy a SIM card in Spain and swap it with the US card in the phone.

No. Your iPhone must be unlocked and jailbroken. If it is, you can get a SIM chip from Orange or Vodafone and add data capacity as you use it at tobacco stores, cell phone stores, mercados, and a lot of other places. There are some other topics that discuss this further.

[Lydia Gillen]

Arn,

If I am using an Irish mobile phone would I need to put in 0034 before those two emergency numbers that you have quoted.

I know that to many this may seem a stupid question and indicates my lack of technology. I feel like a dinosaur reading this thread. I know you are all speaking English but I understand so little of it.

Lydia

[micamino73]

Arn,

If I am using an Irish mobile phone would I need to put in 0034 before those two emergency numbers that you have quoted.

I know that to many this may seem a stupid question and indicates my lack of technology. I feel like a dinosaur reading this thread. I know you are all speaking English but I understand so little of it.

Lydia

When you are in spain you can call the local numbers from your mobile without the 0034. Also if you bring a meteor sim they have a option of no roaming costs.. Which can be handy,

[starbike]

Hello everyone,

What is the best way to phone from Spain to Belgium ??

[Toobizy]

Has anyone tried the Raileurope phone card? Offer received when I purchased my train ticket.

[Deeppockets]

Has anyone used http://www.gotalk.co.uk or http://www.gotalk.com.au

I live in Australia and recently saw an advertisement for Gotalk on a Virgin Australia flight.
Their rates look very reasonable using their pre-paid global roaming SIM cards which seem to be easy to recharge.

They provide you with a unique UK number for your Gotalk SIM (ie +44....).

Rates from Spain to an Australian landline are A$0.30 flagfall + A$0.30/min. Calls to a mobile are A$0.45/min. SMS messages to Australia are A$0.60 to send and free to receive from Australia.

I would be grateful for any feedback on the quality and reliability of this service which I presume is VOIP (like SKYPE). I will be using my iPhone 3S if I buy the gotalk SIM.

Peter S

[Simplysandy]

Hi what is he cheapest way to call from Spain to south Africa while on the camino?
Any help appreciated! Walking in April for five weeks and need to contact kids and loved ones back home