Caren_cccc
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Portuguese
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) |
---|
Depending on your phone service, you may be able to keep your current phone service. Check with your current carrier on the costs, but this may be less than getting a phone or Sim Card for 3 or 4 different countries.First time to Europe and I have a phone question. When arriving, can I simply get a phone at the airport to have service in Europe? We're going to Frankfort and Dublin before starting our camino in Porto.
Is this going to be your only phone in Europe or will you be bringing your US phone as well? I ask because many smartphones these days are dual-SIM. This allows you to have both a US and an EU number on the same phone (or back home a personal number and a business number). Check the specs for your phone. Also read this thread from last month on cell phones with dual-SIM information:When arriving, can I simply get a phone at the airport to have service in Europe?
I have Verizon service and simply paid for a month (or 2 depending upon travel schedule) of international service. Could use my phone just as normal. Although one trip I decided to only use my phone when I had wifi (kept in airplane mode all other times). It was actually very nice being unconnected.First time to Europe and I have a phone question. When arriving, can I simply get a phone at the airport to have service in Europe? We're going to Frankfort and Dublin before starting our camino in Porto.
Thank you! I have Verizon also and this is what I was thinking....keeping it in airplane mode...I have Verizon service and simply paid for a month (or 2 depending upon travel schedule) of international service. Could use my phone just as normal. Although one trip I decided to only use my phone when I had wifi (kept in airplane mode all other times). It was actually very nice being unconnected.
At the risk of exposing my ignorance on how phone work -- how did you keep the Verizon cellular data plan from kicking in when you took it off airplane mode and before you had the chance to enter the wifi password?Thank you! I have Verizon also and this is what I was thinking....keeping it in airplane mode...
When my iphone is in airplane mode, I can still access wifi and enter passwords.At the risk of exposing my ignorance on how phone work -- how did you keep the Verizon cellular data plan from kicking in when you took it off airplane mode and before you had the chance to enter the wifi password?
As others have stated, check with your existing carrier for a “roam like home service” option. Another option I used was the Fongo App on my iPhone which allowed me to make IP based phone calls over WIFI.First time to Europe and I have a phone question. When arriving, can I simply get a phone at the airport to have service in Europe? We're going to Frankfort and Dublin before starting our camino in Porto.
You should be able to turn wifi on while your phone is still on airplane mode.At the risk of exposing my ignorance on how phone work -- how did you keep the Verizon cellular data plan from kicking in when you took it off airplane mode and before you had the chance to enter the wifi password?
The way it is supposed to work is that airplane mode shuts off radio transmissions from your phone, both cellular and wifi (GPS uses a radio receiver but not a transmitter). On my phone I can get into airplane mode but I can then turn on wifi but that still leaves cellular off. I then exit airplane mode to turn cellular back on.At the risk of exposing my ignorance on how phone work -- how did you keep the Verizon cellular data plan from kicking in when you took it off airplane mode and before you had the chance to enter the wifi password?
I have been reading what you guys do. It seems like it can get pricey and some steps. When I get to Spain the first thing I do is go to a Vodafone office. Bring my passport. Last year I paid I think 15 Euros every 28 days for unlimited calls within Spain, 50 gigs of data. It included about 800 minutes of international calls. It did not include Mexico where I lived but with or without wifi and having 50 gigas of data I could call my wife in Mexico or my kids in the United States without a problem. Also you will get a message when it is time to recharge. You can do it on your phone and the website is in English. It takes about 1 minute to recharge. My Spanish is pretty good so when I need to call an albergue I would only add the number in whatsapp if they wanted to send me additional information. For me that only happened twice when I booked a hotel room in Sevilla when I arrived and again in Sevilla when I finished and was getting ready to leave to come home.We use WhatsApp in Spain as that is how many Spanish people communicate with their phone. If I load a hotel or albergue number in my contacts that begins with a 6 (mobile number), I check to see if they are also on WhatsApp. You can call or text that way and you can also translate texts from the app using another app called Google Translate or you translate your text reply into their language as well. Lots of YouTube videos that explain how to do this if you are interested in learning more.
Yes, that is why we use WhatsApp.If you use your home number in Spain by getting an international plan, when people call from a Spanish number to you it’s an international call for them. Many people don’t like doing this because it costs them more money.
And that’s right, whenever I’m in Europe I use WhatsApp constantly. But I think it’s important for someone who hasn’t done it to know That they are not going to have a local phone number in Spain. I should’ve mentioned WhatsApp.Yes, that is why we use WhatsApp.
But, if they call you on WhatsApp - regardless of having an international number, they can communicate with you on the phone or send a message with no charge at all. WhatsApp has worked brilliantly for me when in Spain and Portugal.If you use your home number in Spain by getting an international plan, when people call from a Spanish number to you it’s an international call for them. Many people don’t like doing this because it costs them more money.
It’s quite easy to swap out your Sim card in an airport. That’s pretty much what the Airport mobile kiosks do all day long. Vodafone is usually a good choice.
And if you have a newer phone it may take dual Sims. If you’re not sure just pop by your local Verizon store and they ask the customer service there.
Exactly! Usually places where you eat and stay the night have free WiFi tooI found many squares have free WiFi, so Whatsapp is a good alternative.
I have used Google Fi for years all over Europe and recently Central America. Plane lands, phone goes on and mostly it connects within a few minutes (sometimes an hour).First time to Europe and I have a phone question. When arriving, can I simply get a phone at the airport to have service in Europe? We're going to Frankfort and Dublin before starting our camino in Porto.
I haven't and their website doesn't use a valid https certificate and so I would tend to avoid this site but that doesn't mean that they are dodgy.Has anyone used the lobster.es cell service plans?
I have a question about Whatsapp that perhaps you can help me sort out. I have been considering using it ....even went so far as to download the App. But that's about as far as I got because it wanted to access my contact list on my iPhone. Obviously that's okay with most people but I have a problem with it. When it's my own personal information, I get to choose whom to give it to. But all the people I have in my contact list have given me their info in confidence & I don't think I have the right to share anyone else's info without their express consent. I would prefer it if Whatapp allowed me to "build" a separate Whatsapp contact list but I couldn't seem to find a way so I removed the App. Thoughts??Yes, that is why we use WhatsApp.
Create a new user on your phone. I use an Android phone and so I don't know how to do that on an Apple phone.I have a question about Whatsapp that perhaps you can help me sort out. I have been considering using it ....even went so far as to download the App. But that's about as far as I got because it wanted to access my contact list on my iPhone. Obviously that's okay with most people but I have a problem with it. When it's my own personal information, I get to choose whom to give it to. But all the people I have in my contact list have given me their info in confidence & I don't think I have the right to share anyone else's info without their express consent. I would prefer it if Whatapp allowed me to "build" a separate Whatsapp contact list but I couldn't seem to find a way so I removed the App. Thoughts??
Thanks .... I will explore the new user possibility. BTW: I tried not giving them access to my contact info. I was able to send a message to an individual but I am doing the Camino with 4 other people and a "group" was created for us on Whatsapp -- I was unable to 'access' that group.Create a new user on your phone. I use an Android phone and so I don't know how to do that on an Apple phone.
When you have the new user, log into that account and install WhatsApp as that user. That way it never sees your personal contact list.
Alternatively, don't grant WhatsApp access to your contact list at the IOS operating system level.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?