• 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)

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

SIM Card question (again)

Suzanne A

Peregrina desde 2015
Time of past OR future Camino
2015 CF, 2016 CP, 2018 Le Puy, 2019 CF,
2022 Prim
Dear Pilgrims and friends:
A William Pink posted he purchased a T-mobile no contract unlimited voice, text and data SIM before leaving on the CF. I am trying to find this on line- but not successful. Does anyone have a link or experience with this purchase? I will be in France for one week, Spain for 5 weeks and then back to France for 2 days in May and June. Maybe I should just get the Orange SIM card in France and assume it will work in Spain? My timing is such- that I will be arriving Saturday afternoon in Pamplona and know the stores will be closed on Sunday so the option of purchasing in Pamplona doesn't work. I do have an unlocked iphone.
Thanks everyone!
 

Attachments

  • SIM card INFO..png
    SIM card INFO..png
    421.8 KB · Views: 25
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
If you have T mobile service you don't need a Sim as you get free roaming in Spain. Go to their website for details their service provides free Data, Text and Voice in Spain and France. I believe sprint offers it also, who is you provider?
 
Last edited:
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-
I bought a pre-paid Orange sim when I was in Portugal, thinking it would easily transfer to the other European countries I was visiting (and particularly Spain). It did not, as soon as I crossed the border I was without access and no amount of talking to Spain or Portuguese Orange got me back the credit on the card or further use of the card. I’d be interested in finding a pre-card sim that is truly easy to use all over Europe, with reasonable prices for large amounts of data and a few local phone calls. One that lasts longer than a month. I cannot find one that does. I’m in Australia and happy to buy when I reach Europe, probably landing in Germany.
 
I bought a pre-paid Orange sim when I was in Portugal, thinking it would easily transfer to the other European countries I was visiting (and particularly Spain). It did not, as soon as I crossed the border I was without access and no amount of talking to Spain or Portuguese Orange got me back the credit on the card or further use of the card. I’d be interested in finding a pre-card sim that is truly easy to use all over Europe, with reasonable prices for large amounts of data and a few local phone calls. One that lasts longer than a month. I cannot find one that does. I’m in Australia and happy to buy when I reach Europe, probably landing in Germany.
Any phone SIM card works in both Portugal and Spain (and other countries)
Sometimes what happens is that people buy data/internet SIM cards (not phone SIM cards) and in those cases the card only works in the country where it was bought.
Don't know if it was your case.
 
There has been Europe wide roaming for over a year now and so, I think, all SIMs should work in the European zone but perhaps it makes a difference on what type of SIM or plan your purchase. I have an Orange Holiday SIM bought in France. I know from personal experience that it works in Italy and Germany, in addition to France. It actually, worked in the US, also.

Because I go to Europe every year, I decided to keep the same SIM active. Topup is very easy and is done from this website - https://topup.orange.com. Available plans vary based on where your SIM originated, i.e country code of your phone number. You can check the plans by country from this link, also. If you do topup, just remember there is no carryover of anything - minutes, data, text msgs - from your current plan. You can keep your SIM active for 6 months by toping-up with a plan that is over 20 euros.

Finally a caveat. Based on my own experience, what I have heard from others and Kanga's comments above (although I didn't think there was an Orange operator in Portugal), I know that when it comes to cell phone service, your mileage may vary.
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
I would like to know too if the free roaming between European countries would work between France and Spain.

My experience with Portugal is the same as Kanga. The moment I crossed over to Spain on the Camino Portuguese it stopped working. I have to get another prepaid SIM in Spain. The SIM card from Spain has no problem with data when I crossed over to Portugal (to take my flight home).

I suspect the data roaming does not apply for Portuguese SIM card despite the seller telling me they do when the data cost is less than half the cost of Spain with many social media like Facebook or Youtube have unlimited data usage. When it is good to be true.... It usually is...

I hope France and Spain doesn't have the same problem.
 
Dear Pilgrims and friends:
A William Pink posted he purchased a T-mobile no contract unlimited voice, text and data SIM before leaving on the CF. I am trying to find this on line- but not successful. Does anyone have a link or experience with this purchase? I will be in France for one week, Spain for 5 weeks and then back to France for 2 days in May and June. Maybe I should just get the Orange SIM card in France and assume it will work in Spain? My timing is such- that I will be arriving Saturday afternoon in Pamplona and know the stores will be closed on Sunday so the option of purchasing in Pamplona doesn't work. I do have an unlocked iphone.
Thanks everyone!
Go to a T-mobile store in the US before you go to Europe.
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
Can't understand why a Portuguese SIM won't work in Spain - unless you're well within Spain and your phone solely pings off of Spanish phone masts you could be near the border and still connect to a Portuguese mast.

For instance if I go to the beach in eastern Kent (UK) my phone cannot pick up a signal from the UK as I'd be below the cliffs but it can (and will) pick up a signal from across the Channel in France (22 miles away).

Perhaps if the phone is set to not allow roaming it is, in effect, locked down to the country where the SIM was issued but I've used my Android on the GiffGaff SIM (3Gb data, unlimited call time and unlimited texts within Europe for the princely sum of £10 ($13, €11,50) a month) in the UK, Ireland, Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal within the past 12 months with no problems and no roaming charges.

I shall miss not being a European any more :(
 
Can't understand why a Portuguese SIM won't work in Spain :(
It's difficult to tell whether the SIM card purchased in Portugal stopped working in Spain due to a technical issue or set up issue, either on the buyer's phone or at the operators' side, or whether it was meant to not work in Spain. It is wrong to assume that any SIM card purchased in an EU country allows free roaming or "roam like at home" as it is called. From https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/internet-telecoms/mobile-roaming-costs/index_en.htm

Operators may also offer contracts without roaming services or specifically designed alternative roaming contracts with tariffs which fall outside the scope of the roam like at home rules (...).
The roam like at home legislation is primarily designed for people who are resident in one EU country and have a contract with their national provider and travel to another EU country for a limited period of time.
In any case, buyers should not assume that they can buy a SIM card in one EU country and then can easily top up the credit in shops in another EU country. Topping up online with a credit card that's accepted for this purpose is best. Also, rules are changing all the time, for example rules about identification and registration when you buy so what worked three years ago may no longer work now. Make sure that you understand what you buy.
 
Last edited:
I bought a pre-paid Orange sim when I was in Portugal, thinking it would easily transfer to the other European countries I was visiting (and particularly Spain). It did not, as soon as I crossed the border I was without access and no amount of talking to Spain or Portuguese Orange got me back the credit on the card or further use of the card. I’d be interested in finding a pre-card sim that is truly easy to use all over Europe, with reasonable prices for large amounts of data and a few local phone calls. One that lasts longer than a month. I cannot find one that does. I’m in Australia and happy to buy when I reach Europe, probably landing in Germany.
I had a similar experience walking from Sweden to Norway on the S:t Olavsleden last year. The simple explanation was that I could use the SIM in Sweden without registering the phone, but could not use it outside the country until I did that. The particular company had an online registration process linked to the Swedish banking system, which didn't help me one bit.

When I arrived in Trondheim, I was able to recharge my Telia SIM that I had purchased in Norway in 2017. I had bought it in store and registered by identifying myself with my passport. I had previously used this in Iceland and Britain, and it worked just as well again once it was recharged.
 
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
It's difficult to tell whether the SIM card purchased in Portugal stopped working in Spain due to a technical issue or set up issue, either on the buyer's phone or at the operators' side, or whether it was meant to not work in Spain. It is wrong to assume that any SIM card purchased in an EU country allows free roaming or "roam like at home" as it is called. From https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/internet-telecoms/mobile-roaming-costs/index_en.htm

Operators may also offer contracts without roaming services or specifically designed alternative roaming contracts with tariffs which fall outside the scope of the roam like at home rules (...).
The roam like at home legislation is primarily designed for people who are resident in one EU country and have a contract with their national provider and travel to another EU country for a limited period of time.
In any case, buyers should not assume that they can buy a SIM card in one EU country and then can easily top up the credit in shops in another EU country. Topping up online with a credit card that's accepted for this purpose is best. Also, rules are changing all the time, for example rules about identification and registration when you buy so what worked three years ago may no longer work now. Make sure that you understand what you buy.
Ah, I didn't mean to infer that any SIM card allows free roaming just that mine does (at present)
 
Ah, I didn't mean to infer that any SIM card allows free roaming just that mine does (at present)
I know :). Just a general comment as some messages seem to imply that every card should work everywhere.

PS: General feeling here at the moment is please, please, end it next month, no matter how ...
 
I have kept my orange-es sim for 6 years , just top up when I need it. It would not work in Portugal, a real bummer getting off the bus and no gps. So I got a portugal orange sim , also.
This year I will try google-fi seems reasonable with no changes to phone number and data costs the same as in the US. A dual sim phone is a good option, just in case.

link: https://fi.google.com/about/international-rates/
 
Last edited:
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
I know :). Just a general comment as some messages seem to imply that every card should work everywhere.

PS: General feeling here at the moment is please, please, end it next month, no matter how ...
Fingers crossed but the stupidity/self interest of some of our politicians leaves me speechless - on the upside my German language lessons are going well - Tschüss!
 
This year I will try google-fi seems reasonable with no changes to phone number and data costs the same as in the US. A dual sim phone is a good option, just in case.
The T-mobile plans in the US work pretty much the same as Google Fi. I have used my T-mobile plan on all of my Caminos and also on trips to Mexico and Guatemala. Unlimited roaming data is included, along with unlimited texting to/from US numbers.
 
This year I will try google-fi seems reasonable with no changes to phone number and data costs the same as in the US. A dual sim phone is a good option, just in case.

link: https://fi.google.com/about/international-rates/
Don't you just hate the way companies these days skimp on their documentation? Review sites do a much better job. Use this web page to get the Project FI overview: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/project-fi-faq,review-4530.html

I believe you still have to be a US resident to use it but they recently allowed non-Google phones to use it.

What I like about it is that effectively you pay for data by the MB, not GB. 1 cent per MB ($10 per GB). I've had months with no fee or just a few cents for data. Other months when I go way over what I've signed up for it is still the 1 cent per MB.
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
With ATT you can buy 1GB of data for 1 month at $60 or a international day pass for $10 a day.
That’s very expensive compared to getting a local SIM card when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Very expensive.
 

Most read last week in this forum

70+ year old, 5 ft. tall, 110 lb. female hiking the full Northern Route (del Norte). My goal is to carry no more than 12 pounds/5.44 kg. Ideally, I'd like to carry less. I'm planning to use a...
Has anyone tried wearing sun sleeves? Seems they might be good for protection from the sun while also perhaps forgoing the need for a long-sleeve shirt? My concern is whether or not the fit is...
Sorry if this seems trivial, but I leave in 26 days for my first Camino (Frances). I’m finalizing my backpack items figuring what makes the honored Final Cut. Question: I was gonna bring a...
I usually wear Motion Control, but thought I might try something new this year. What are YOUR favorites, and why?
Does anyone have any experience with getting a custom rain cover for an Osprey pack? After 4 different caminos I am now grappling with using my rain suit which I prefer vs a poncho because my...
I walked the Camino Portuguese in September 2023 and loved the experience. I'm looking forward to my next Camino sometime in 2025. Although I didn't need a blanket on the Portuguese, I'm...

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Similar threads

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