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Welcome to the forum.
There are a lot of variables, too many for one clear answer. My wife and I are traveling through Paris, and we decided to use https://www.lefrenchmobile.com/ this time around, because their EU data plan expires in 90 days instead of the usual 30 days. Others pick up an Orange or Movistar SIM when they get to Pamplona, which might be a shade cheaper if you are not planning any other travels before heading home.
Buen Camino!
I don't know where you are from, but I'm in the US, and I use T-Mobile here and abroad because they give me unlimited data worldwide, and unlimited texting to and from the US. I use apps like WhatsApp and Viber to make free or very low cost calls.Hi - We are starting from SJ mid April 2018 for our first camino, And as much as we want to leave our technology behind while walking or maybe rely on wifi we have to keep in contact with our kids etc and they plan to follow us on snapchat. Is there a preferred cell phone plan that everyone uses that has reasonable data charges? . I am struggling to find the options.
Thanks in advance
Gaylene
Hi, I thought expensive international roaming charges are now a thing of the past? I use WhatsAp with the freely available wifi while travelling. But, if I have to make a cellphone call while overseas, my international roaming charges are now so minimal, it’s not worth buying anything else.
Jill
I don't know where you are from, but I'm in the US, and I use T-Mobile here and abroad because they give me unlimited data worldwide, and unlimited texting to and from the US. I use apps like WhatsApp and Viber to make free or very low cost calls.
Tom, you guys from the east coast have it easy. Those of us out here in fly-over country have to contend with vast areas of no cell coverage whatever, and while T-Mobile has undoubtedly the best plan for those who travel abroad frequently, it is the worst of the lot out here once you get away from the lights of the big city. Overall, Verizon has the best coverage west of the Mississippi, but even it has dead spots in many places. For instance, when we visit family in west Texas, the only carrier that reaches the ranch is AT&T (I carry an old flip-phone with a PAYG AT&T sim card when we're out there). But for overseas travel, I buy a sim card when I land in whatever country and get whatever voice/text/data plan looks reasonable. Fortunately, the recent easing of roaming charges in the EU makes that much less of a hassle than it used to be.I am from the States and can second the praise for t-Mobile above. I have used it across Europe and in SE Asia for several years. They give me full access to my monthly data plan, data and voice GLOBALLY.
When the plane touches down in Madrid or Paris and I turn my phone on again, it automatically signs me into the best network available. Easy peasy!
The signal is so good that I frequently open my phone up as a wi-fi hotspot for nearby pilgrims where no wi-fi is available. My typical signal strength is better in Europe than in the States.
Hope this helps.
I am from the States and can second the praise for t-Mobile above. I have used it across Europe and in SE Asia for several years. They give me full access to my monthly data plan, data and voice GLOBALLY.
I use Google Fi also and I'm happy with them. There are a few problems though.I agree that T-mobile coverage can be spotty in some smaller towns in the US, but its advantages outweigh that for me.
My sin uses Google's Project Fi, which works off of both the T-mobile and Sprint networks in the US and US very happy with them. Data costs $10 per gigabyte both at home and abroad.
Hi - We are starting from SJ mid April 2018 for our first camino, And as much as we want to leave our technology behind while walking or maybe rely on wifi we have to keep in contact with our kids etc and they plan to follow us on snapchat. Is there a preferred cell phone plan that everyone uses that has reasonable data charges? . I am struggling to find the options.
Thanks in advance
Gaylene
Rick,I use Google Fi also and I'm happy with them. There are a few problems though.
I like the cost. $20 a month for phone and text at home. Overseas texts are free and costs vary by country but is usually about
- You can only sign up for it in the United States (though coverage is world-wide.)
- You need a Google branded phone.
- While they use Sprint and T-mobile (and another minor provider also these days) these carriers are not the best for rural areas. Peg's flip phone with AT&T can cover us there if we need it.
1020 cents a minute. As @trecile says $10 per GB of data over cellular networks (but it tries to use free wifi first.) However, the data plan is better described as one cent per MB as you get rebates on unused data and overage will be billed to you at that rate.
People from other countries read threads also because they have similar questions.I notice that everyone is touting how their US carrier has international roaming, the OP is from New Zealand and their carriers don't seem to have any good international roaming options.
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