First Spanish SIM card availability on Camino Frances?

Roger Deee

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

May/June 2016

• Apr 25, 2016

• #1

I am starting the Camino Frances next month starting in SJPDP.
I will not to have the opportunity to purchase a Spanish SIM cards until I enter Spain, pre purchasing on online is possible but shipping it to Australia is extremely expensive.
I am interested to know exactly where is the first possible place to purchased the SIM card.
Someone out there must have gone thru to same situation and can tell me where I can buy one. I don't want to be walking around towns looking for shops, so an exact location would be much appreciated.

 

Kanga

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Apr 25, 2016

• #2

Which way are you going Roger? Through Madrid, or Paris?

 

Roger Deee

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

May/June 2016

• Apr 25, 2016

• #3

actually, Frankfurt -> Lyon -> Biarritz -> SJPDP,,
sounds a strange way but there is a good reason for this

 

Kanga

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Apr 25, 2016

• #4

Then I think the first place to get a Spanish sim card is Pamplona, and you will pass plenty of shops selling sim cards on the Camino route through the outskirts and in the main town (after you pass the wonderful gate in the city walls). If you have any trouble ask someone for directions to El Cortes Ingles, the big department store, they sell most major brands. I bought an Orange prepaid last time.

I don't think any of the villages before Pamplona will have sim cards, although the garage in Zubriri might have some.

SJPDP is no good because it only has French sim cards. There was talk of a Europe wide sim, but I think it is only on a contract and not prepaid. BTW you will need a Spanish address (as well as your passport for ID) - I used my hotel address and that was fine.

 

Roger Deee

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

May/June 2016

• Apr 25, 2016

• #5

now have a plan of attack, thanks loads,

 

Kanga

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Apr 25, 2016

• #6

And buen camino! I'm heading off from Sydney on 10th May.

 

Roger Deee

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

May/June 2016

• Apr 25, 2016

• #7

and buen Camino too, I'm heading off 20th May from Melbourne, start walking 23rd may.
Looking forward to it!!

 

Walli Walker

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Many. First 2009 and still going.

• Apr 25, 2016

• #8

Welcome to the forum, Roger, and buen Camino. Jacki.

 

CdnDreamer

Active Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances (12, 15 & 18) San Salvador (18), Portuguese (19)

• Apr 25, 2016

• #9

Last year I stopped at Vodafone in Burlada. It was on the main street walking towards Pamplona. They were great - spoke English and were helping lots of pilgrims get a SIM card. My phone didn't work with their internet and they took the time to find the codes, and enter them into my phone so it would work with their system. The exact address is: Calle Mayor, 29, 31600 Burlada, Navarra, Spain.

 

Roger Deee

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

May/June 2016

• Apr 25, 2016

• #10

fantastic, this is exactly the info I was hoping for, thanks for this now I can go directly there and not aimlessly wander around.
Also Vodafone is my preferred carrier.
Thanks for you assistance

 

A

aussiedave

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances (2012)

• Apr 26, 2016

• #11

Roger Deee said:

fantastic, this is exactly the info I was hoping for, thanks for this now I can go directly there and not aimlessly wander around.
Also Vodafone is my preferred carrier.
Thanks for you assistance

Click to expand...

I found Vodafone v expensive, and in fact the Vodafone shop assistant sent me down the road to get a Lebara SIM. Fantastic. Worked everywhere and lasted from Estella, where I bought it until I went home 4 weeks later. 20 Euros. Most mobile phone shops sell them.

 

A

AJ

Guest

• Apr 26, 2016

• #12

Kanga said:

And buen camino! I'm heading off from Sydney on 10th May.

Click to expand...

So am I!!

 

W

William Kim

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

(2016)

• Apr 30, 2016

• #13

Roger Deee said:

I am starting the Camino Frances next month starting in SJPDP.
I will not to have the opportunity to purchase a Spanish SIM cards until I enter Spain, pre purchasing on online is possible but shipping it to Australia is extremely expensive.
I am interested to know exactly where is the first possible place to purchased the SIM card.
Someone out there must have gone thru to same situation and can tell me where I can buy one. I don't want to be walking around towns looking for shops, so an exact location would be much appreciated.

Click to expand...

 

W

William Kim

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

(2016)

• Apr 30, 2016

• #14

Hi Roger, you may want look at following website. They will deliver SIM card to the place where you stay in French Way. But I don't know their charge. I myself also looking for a solution. Good luck. Bill

http://blog.caminofacil.net/en/2015...ccess-if-you-are-in-spain-walking-the-camino/

 

Greg Ludford

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2019

• May 2, 2016

• #15

Hi Roger
Confirm there is an Orange Espana shop in Pamplona in the city centre. I bought a data only sim (iPad mini) in Oct last year. They were excellent, installed & set it up etc in about 30 minutes. It makes you appreciate how insanely expensive telecom services are in Australia. From memory 2GB data for 10 or 15 euro. Used it for Viber calls (local & int) navigation, email, media etc when out of wireless or in slow wireless range. I can't recall anywhere on the Camino where there was no 3G reception & 99% of bars & albergues have free wireless access (though sometimes not too flash). Buen Camino, Greg

 

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/

• May 2, 2016

• #16

Kanga said:

... BTW you will need a Spanish address (as well as your passport for ID) - I used my hotel address and that was fine.

Click to expand...

Last two times when I bought a Spanish SIM the shops simply used their own shop address to register the SIM. I am still wondering how many pilgrims 'live' in that shop
Buen Camino, SY

 

CdnDreamer

Active Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances (12, 15 & 18) San Salvador (18), Portuguese (19)

• May 4, 2016

• #17

I found Vodafone inexpensive - they still have a 15 euro plan for visitors. It covers 60 minutes of calls - including international and 1.5 gb data for one month.

 

lbpierce

Linda Breen Pierce

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

• May 7, 2016

• #18

When I bought my first Spanish SIM card in 2013, I bought Moviestar and it had excellent coverage on the entire CF. My husband says Vodaphone seems to be the most favored in Spain, but I wonder about specific coverage on the CF. Have people used Vodaphone on the CF with good coverage?

 

M

Maroussia

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2006 & "2016"

• May 15, 2016

• #19

Hi all, I am so grateful for this forum as I've Ben trying to work out the same questions regarding SIM cards. I am in Paris & heading off to St Jean de Pied today. So, this information is helpful. Do any of you bother about getting 2 cards? One for evphone & the other for the iPad
buen Camino one & all

 

long trails

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances 2012

• Jul 20, 2016

• #20

Can recommend Orange Shop in Pamplona New Town. The shop staff speak excellent English and got more than enough GBytes for EUR 20