Buying SIM card in Madrid

N

Novos

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

September 2016

• Jun 25, 2016

• #1

Hello,

I'll be in Madrid a few days before i start my camino in Roncesvalles this August.
Which Sim card should i buy if i only want to have internet? What is the price range?

I went to Poland last year, had a SIM card of PLAY company, paid about 7 usd for 6 GB internet.

Thanks.

 

Patrick Camino

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

SJPDP-SDC august/september 2015
Porto-SDC april 2020

• Jun 25, 2016

• #2

There's wifi in almost every albergue. Why would you buy a simcard?

 

Shaun_Casteneda

Just Smile

Time of past OR future Camino

One that changed my life

• Jun 25, 2016

• #3

Novos said:

Hello,

I'll be in Madrid a few days before i start my camino in Roncesvalles this August.
Which Sim card should i buy if i only want to have internet? What is the price range?

I went to Poland last year, had a SIM card of PLAY company, paid about 7 usd for 6 GB internet.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

If you feel the need to get a sim card for data I recomend Orange 10 Euro 1GB data its called hola targeta prepago, on the front of the packet there is a whale and a squirel.
Orange coverage is excellent over the camino and being pay as you go there is no contract, You will need your passport when you buy it. Correct there is wifi in most albergues but it tends to get switched off after 22.00 to make sure pilgrims got to bed !!!!

 

Wiley Buckhorn

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

(2016)

• Jun 25, 2016

• #4

Novos said:

Hello,

I'll be in Madrid a few days before i start my camino in Roncesvalles this August.
Which Sim card should i buy if i only want to have internet? What is the price range?

I went to Poland last year, had a SIM card of PLAY company, paid about 7 usd for 6 GB internet.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

I bought a sim card at the airport in Madrid two days ago. They said it worked and that they had made calls. I didn't try it before I left. It doesn't work. $45 gone.

 

SYates

Camino Fossil AD 1999, now living in Santiago de C

Time of past OR future Camino

First: Camino Francés 1999
...
Last: Santiago - Muxia 2019

Now: http://egeria.house/

• Jun 25, 2016

• #5

Wifi (free) is everywhere on the Camino Frances, no need to buy a SIM card only for that.
Buen Camino, SY

 

N

Novos

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

September 2016

• Jun 25, 2016

• #6

How about a sim only for calls? Any suggestions?

 

C clearly

Moderator

Staff member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Most years since 2012

• Jun 25, 2016

• #7

Vodafone has a card for tourists, good for 30 days, voice and data, for 15 Euros. It's always a good idea to test it in the store.

 

naplesdon

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Multiple Caminos 2010 to 2019

• Jun 25, 2016

• #8

Wiley Buckhorn said:

I bought a sim card at the airport in Madrid two days ago. They said it worked and that they had made calls. I didn't try it before I left. It doesn't work. $45 gone.

Click to expand...

Did you have your phone unlocked before you left?

 

VNwalking

Out walking

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Yearly and Various 2014-2019
Via Monastica 2022

• Jun 25, 2016

• #9

A related word to the wise.
If you need web access for navigation (not on the CF, obviously, but for the more out of the way caminos) be sure that you have time to get the SIM before you head out.
This year I assumed I would be able to get a SIM for my phone in the Madrid Airport. But my flight was late so that was a no go.
No problem, I thought. I'll get it in Burgos. But I had forgotten about siesta--and I was off to to Santo Domingo de Silos before the shops opened up again. I needed the SIM to access maps and wikiloc--but because of the timing I was totally out of luck. (Fortunately I had downloaded some maps onto the phone and had downloaded screengrabs of a wililoc track 'in case.' 'In case' happened. But realtime map access would have been much much better.)

 

Mysticl

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances May (2015) - pending

• Jun 25, 2016

• #10

We got our SIM card from a large dept store in Pamplona. Can't remember what plan exactly but it was from Orange. Might have been the ballena (whale) plan (pay as you go after initial purchase, fairly inexpensive) but really can't remember We were able to top up as needed from almost any atm machine or the occasional vending machine or even by phone. Super easy but we did struggle a bit initially as we do not speak Spanish so the sales girl's attempt to help or answer our questions when we bought the card fell on deaf ears, so to speak. We eventually figured it out and were a little embarrassed at how easy it was .... The reason we wanted a sim was to keep in touch if we got separated and also in case of emergency and also to call ahead for reservations etc ... Not just for data

 

Last edited: Jun 25, 2016