Burlington
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino de Levante'
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I got a Spanish SIM card that enabled me to make local calls when I was in Madrid airport earlier this year. I think it was pretty clear that they were selling it to a tourist rather than a local. I've never tried to get a burner phone. For what it's worth, I would suspect that a burner phone is much more amenable to misuse than a SIM card that is associated with my ID. If they are prohibiting the SIM card for security reasons, I can't see them permitting burner phones.Greetings to all....
The last time I was on the Camino, I went into a phone store looking for a Spanish SIM card that would enable me to make local calls... However, the owner told me they were not allowed to sell those to tourists... I think this was related to the horrendous damage in Atocha in 2004...
Does anyone know: 1) Is such a policy still in effect? 2) If so, can you get a prepaid, disposable phone instead?
As always, thank you kindly for your insight and advice...
Cheers
B
Hi @BurlingtonGreetings to all....
The last time I was on the Camino, I went into a phone store looking for a Spanish SIM card that would enable me to make local calls... However, the owner told me they were not allowed to sell those to tourists... I think this was related to the horrendous damage in Atocha in 2004...
Does anyone know: 1) Is such a policy still in effect? 2) If so, can you get a prepaid, disposable phone instead?
As always, thank you kindly for your insight and advice...
Cheers
B
When I was in Madrid in early May to start my Camino I went to an internet store and I got a Spanish sim card. When I arrived in Santiago I got another since they are only for 28 days.Greetings to all....
The last time I was on the Camino, I went into a phone store looking for a Spanish SIM card that would enable me to make local calls... However, the owner told me they were not allowed to sell those to tourists... I think this was related to the horrendous damage in Atocha in 2004...
Does anyone know: 1) Is such a policy still in effect? 2) If so, can you get a prepaid, disposable phone instead?
As always, thank you kindly for your insight and advice...
Cheers
B
The newest US iPhones only have eSIMs. With eSIMs you can have at least two phone numbers on your phone. Use the forum search feature to seek for threads with eSIM as part of the title. I submitted a fair number of posts to this one:How would this work for Apple phones? I don’t think there’s a place to put a SIM card.
The new Apple phones have electronic SIMs. Mine is a 15 and I think that’s the first model that has electronic SIMs. Be aware that electronic SIMs are a new concept, and while they are very convenient, some of the Mobil phone retail store employees may not be familiar with them and it may take some time to find someone who knows how to load one. Be patient, and when a phone store employee says, “We can’t sell a tourist plan on an electronic SIM“, just ask to speak with the next level of management. Eventually, you find someone who knows how to do it.How would this work for Apple phones? I don’t think there’s a place to put a SIM card.
I should add I have a IPhone 14 and it has the SIM card.I had purchased a sim from Amazon for most European countries, Travsim- then decided to get one in Bilbao for Spain. The only problem was if I shut my phone, it was locked and I needed the PIN number to unlock it. Not good if you don’t know that ahead of time. I ended up carrying pin with me, after that. Card worked good.
Though I wouldn't, and haven't, gone this way I like the simplicity of it. But I feel I have to complicate it a bit. If you first use it for your month long trip halfway through AT&T's billing cycle then you would be getting the charge for 20 days. Techophobes may still prefer this method.Whoa, [AT&T's international plan is] $10 / day, but they only charge you for the first 10 days in any billing cycle... so basically that means $3 / day for a month.
I've never been disappointed.Though I wouldn't, and haven't, gone this way I like the simplicity of it. But I feel I have to complicate it a bit. If you first use it for your month long trip halfway through AT&T's billing cycle then you would be getting the charge for 20 days. Techophobes may still prefer this method.
As others have noted, iPhones have eSIM capability starting with, I believe, the iPhone 12. Based on what others are saying here, they cost more than a regular SIM but if that won't bother you, they are very convenient. You simply need to go to a site before you travel, purchase the eSIM and then load it on your phone, activating it only when you reach your destination. There are plans for entire regions, in this case you can get one for Europe that would include several countries including France, Spain and Portugal. I have used Holafly for previous Caminos and it works great and comes with unlimited data. It also comes with 60 free minutes of calling which comes in handy, but in truth, for the rare phone call I need to make I can usually use Whatsapp or Skype. I walked the Via de la Plata and never used up the entire 60 minutes. Instructions for installation of the eSIM will be provided when you purchase. Hope this helps.How would this work for Apple phones? I don’t think there’s a place to put a SIM card.
Thanks for that. I used Holafly recently in Bali. It was perfect and worked really well. I thought I'd do the same in Spain. Good to know it's a solution.As others have noted, iPhones have eSIM capability starting with, I believe, the iPhone 12. Based on what others are saying here, they cost more than a regular SIM but if that won't bother you, they are very convenient. You simply need to go to a site before you travel, purchase the eSIM and then load it on your phone, activating it only when you reach your destination. There are plans for entire regions, in this case you can get one for Europe that would include several countries including France, Spain and Portugal. I have used Holafly for previous Caminos and it works great and comes with unlimited data. It also comes with 60 free minutes of calling which comes in handy, but in truth, for the rare phone call I need to make I can usually use Whatsapp or Skype. I walked the Via de la Plata and never used up the entire 60 minutes. Instructions for installation of the eSIM will be provided when you purchase. Hope this helps.
Four years ago I used an Orange SIM card (not eSIM). I bought it from a little electronics tienda. There was a mixup and I ran out of minutes quickly but at an Orange store I was able to switch plans and still keep the Spanish number. This meant that I didn't have to update people at home of the new number (during the day I had the phone set to use the Spanish number and at night my home number on the eSIM). Later I recharged the phone and again kept the number. Also, I remember (misremember?) that I could keep the number for three months after the 28 days payment ran out by recharging in that period. If no payment was made in those three months the number would go into a reuse pool.At the end of 28 days you will need to visit an Orange store and purchase another plan…yes, you will get another Spanish phone #, but it doesn’t impact pilgrims as a Spanish # is only needed to dial out locally.
When I was in Spain four years ago I was using Google's Pixel 2 phone, the first with an eSIM. Using the eSIM didn't work like it does now and I found the switching twice a day the most convenient way of doing things. Also I didn't want to use Whatapp (reasons). The reasons are no longer around and I installed the app this year and got some friends to install it also. It worked fine on an overseas trip we made a few months ago.Rick
if you use WhatsApp ...
I purchased a SIM from a Vodafone store in Madrid in August 2022. I got a 20 Euro plan. As I was staying in Spain for 2.5 months I set up auto renewal and it worked well. I returned to Spain in march 2023 and was able to reactivate it.Greetings to all....
The last time I was on the Camino, I went into a phone store looking for a Spanish SIM card that would enable me to make local calls... However, the owner told me they were not allowed to sell those to tourists... I think this was related to the horrendous damage in Atocha in 2004...
Does anyone know: 1) Is such a policy still in effect? 2) If so, can you get a prepaid, disposable phone instead?
As always, thank you kindly for your insight and advice...
Cheers
B
No my experience in May 2022. I purchased a Spanish SIM card for a local phone number in Pamplona from the Vodaphone store. I actually went to the Orange store (across the street) first, but they were out of the 3-month card I wanted. I ended up getting a 1-month Vodaphone SIM and recharging at a Vodaphone store in Leon. Worked great and had good reception and data speed the whole way.Greetings to all....
The last time I was on the Camino, I went into a phone store looking for a Spanish SIM card that would enable me to make local calls... However, the owner told me they were not allowed to sell those to tourists... I think this was related to the horrendous damage in Atocha in 2004...
Does anyone know: 1) Is such a policy still in effect? 2) If so, can you get a prepaid, disposable phone instead?
As always, thank you kindly for your insight and advice...
Cheers
B
I believe that's the plan that @trecile uses. It should work fine.wait - will my US phone not work in Spain? I bought my carrier’s (t mobile) international plan.
I suspect it will work. It just may not be cost effective. I know that for my Canadian carrier, 28 days of Vodafone coverage costs the same as 2 or 3 days of international coverage from my carrier.wait - will my US phone not work in Spain? I bought my carrier’s (t mobile) international plan.
I have used the free international data that my T-Mobile plan provides on 6 Caminos. I was able to use my maps, Camino apps, text to/from US numbers,etc. but phone calls cost extra so I use WhatsApp and Viber apps to make free or very inexpensive phone calls both within Spain and back home.wait - will my US phone not work in Spain? I bought my carrier’s (t mobile) international plan.
We are in Spain for the winter...on producing your passport, your SIM will be registered. Lycamobile gives you 100 international minutes every 28 days..easy to purchase, loads of outlets...You should be able to get a sim card, on production of your passport and it will be registered. If you get a normal local sim it is easy to top up online. I got a Vodafone sim with 25GB of data for €10.
Yes.I will be on the Camino Portuguese so will be passing from Portugal into Spain. Is there a way to have coverage in both countries with the same SIM card? I have an older iPhone.
Yes, with data only you could use WhatsApp as long as the other party also uses WhatsApp and sometimes provided that you have put the other party's details into your contacts BEFORE you try to call or message them.I’m hoping to have both data and phone coverage, although with data only I could use What’s app- correct?
I will purchase a SIM card in Europe, probably in Portugal. In the past I have gone into a shop and got them to set it up, which worked well. ( I will be in Malta before Portugal, but a SIM cards that works for all 3 countries might be too complex to sort out)
No problemo, I enjoy helping other pilgrimsThank you, I appreciate the advice.
When I need to call non WhatsApp numbers I use the Viber app. I buy $5 in credits, and it lasts through several Caminos since calls are only around 2¢ a munute.Yes, with data only you could use WhatsApp as long as the other party also uses WhatsApp and sometimes provided that you have put the other party's details into your contacts BEFORE you try to call or message them.
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