• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
  • ⚠️ Emergency contact in Spain - Dial 112 and AlertCops app. More on this here.

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Sim card

Lynnem

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances (2014)
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.
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
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.
 
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).
 
Join the Camino Cleanup in May from Ponferrada to Sarria. Registration closes Mar 22.
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.
 
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.
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
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.
 
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)
 
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.
 
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!
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
 
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.
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
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.
 
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.
 
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.
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:



 
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 👣👣👣
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
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?
 
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.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
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.
 
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
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
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.
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms

Most read last week in this forum

Hi fellow pilgrims. We will be walking the Via Podiensis from Le Puy-en-Velay in Sep/Oct this year and are in the process of planning our route and stages. We see there are three route variants...
Hi all, I just bought my ticket for my next Camino this summer (yay!). I wanted to walk in France—I loved the Norte and primitivo last year, and I thought it would be cool to explore another...

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top