Advice on SIM card for CP please

LesR

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances 2017, 2018; Camino Portuguese 2019

• Aug 14, 2019

• #1

Would appreciate advice on purchase of a (primarily) data SIM card - arriving in Lisboa 11 Sept and start walking for Santiago 14 Sept...

Primary purpose is internet use (mapping, booking.com, facebook, emails, etc.) but local calls/texts will also be useful...

International calls not necessary, although international texts would be nice (but not essential)

Information on preferred carrier, plan , and any quirks I should be aware of would be most appreciated...

 

A

andycohn

Active Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

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• Aug 14, 2019

• #2

Vodafone has a major presence in Portugal, and they’re probably the biggest in Europe. I got a Vodafone sim, and it worked fine everywhere. No problem with coverage. You’ll find a Vodafone store even in the Lisbon airport. Should cost you 15 - 20 euros for a month for plenty of data, calls and texts. With new roaming rules in the EU, you’ll be able to use the card equally well in Spain, so you don’t need to get a new card when you cross the border. If you want to send texts outside the EU, check when you purchase the card. They’ll be able to set up that feature, although it may cost you a few euros more. In any Vodafone store, especially in Lisbon or a major city, you’re sure to find someone who will speak English. There’s other Portuguese providers, too. It won’t make a big difference.

 

LesR

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances 2017, 2018; Camino Portuguese 2019

• Aug 14, 2019

• #3

Thank you for that information - very helpful. Am I able to recharge on line, with mob app, vodaphone store, other stores?

 

A

andycohn

Active Member

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Time of past OR future Camino

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• Aug 14, 2019

• #4

LesR said:

Thank you for that information - very helpful. Am I able to recharge on line, with mob app, vodaphone store, other stores?

Click to expand...

I don’t know what mob app is, or what you mean by other stores, but you’ll be able to recharge a vodafone simcard through vodafone’s Portuguese web site, or at any vodafone store or any of the many other vendors that sell vodafone products. The same should go with other sim card providers. On many trips to Europe in the last few years, we’ve never had any problems recharging a sim card, no matter who the provider.

 

TatiLie

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Portugues Variante Espiritual July 2019
Finisterre next!

• Aug 14, 2019

• #5

I'm a Vodafone user in Ireland and the app is quite good. While in Spain, I could top up my credits and buy special bundles of data/call minutes/texts. I don't know how the international texts work, though. For that I used WhatsApp. I was even able to contact the service chat through the app to solve a 15-year issue of me not being able to use my number internationally (took me 5 chats and an escalation to the engineer). You should check the Vodafone Portugal website to see if it covers all your needs.

 

D

dfox

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2017

• Aug 14, 2019

• #6

Vodafone SIM was used for my CP in May this year. The card had 5 GB, etc. It was more than I needed, but I am a minimalist.

Visiting Portugal

Make your reservation of pre-paid Data and Phone SIM cards for Portugal visitors, that suit your call, messaging and internet needs.

www.vodafone.pt

Note: The SIM card purchased in Portugal uses a Portugal phone number. When it is used in Spain, one needs to consider that he/she is calling from Portugal to Spain. As such, it is advisable to ask the Vodafone specialist for advice what the country code, area code to call when you are in Spain and calling Portugal, US, etc. One may not want to waste time when it is in "urgent need".

 

Last edited: Aug 14, 2019

John Sikora

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2021

• Aug 14, 2019

• #7

If you are in the US you can order a sim card from cellularabroad.com which can be used in multiple countries for a year (you get 12 G of data if memory server).

 

lt56ny

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2023 Vasco, Meseta, Portugues Coastal

• Aug 14, 2019

• #8

LesR said:

Thank you for that information - very helpful. Am I able to recharge on line, with mob app, vodaphone store, other stores?

Click to expand...

I think you would probably be better off and it would be easier if you just go into a Vodaphone store. You may get confused on the website if you don't speak Portuguese and even using Google Chrome for a translated version sometimes will make functionality difficult. Alot more people in Portugal speak English then in Spain. Even if they do not speak English you will be in good hands. I walked from Lisbon to Santiago a few years ago and I think the Portuguese people are amazing.

 

H

Harlan Sager

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances 2015
Camino Portugal 2016 and on to Finisterre

• Aug 14, 2019

• #9

O use Google fi services it works virtually everywhere in the world. Pick up a pixel phone and start no sim card needed and great free international wifi. More info if you would like.