Gabi Wehler
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Planning to walk the Camino Frances mid May 2018
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Vodafone is the best. You Get some calls and 4.5GB for 28 days. Only 10 Euro.I’ll be arriving in Madrid 16.5. to walk from Pamplona from 21.5. I’d like to buy a SIM card ASAP on arrival in Spain. Would like to have some data and be able to text n call. Can somebody recommend where to get a reasonable priced SIM? Is it better to buy at the airport or a provider in Madrid city? Been told that Vodafone has a €20/mnth deal with 2G data. Don’t really need that much and rather pay less. Any recommendations?
I had orange last year. It was not a Pleasant experience.They are pretty much the same price everywhere. There is a store in the airport that sells Orange and Vodafone.
I would take the train to Pamplona and then go to the orange store to buy a SIM card. I have had nothing but a wonderful experience and there's usually someone that speaks English. You can reach are just the orange card in many places. have note this I've walked the Camino 5 x + 5 x with orange cards. Note: I originally Miss spelled Pamplona.
I think you are better off buying a cheap old unlocked phone and get a Lebara or Lycamovil SIM card, for emergency phone calls and messages and use your IPHONE when you find a place with WIFI, i will you save moneyPity on us AT&T iPhone customers! Even following AT&T’s instructions to unlock my old paid-off iPhone with their official blessing, it wouldn’t work with a European SIM. I’m about to pay a gazillion dollars for an AT&T international plan. When my current contract is up, never again...
I purchased a Vodafone SIM card in Spain last year and was very happy with it. It worked all through Europe and I even used it on the Greek islands.Thanks everyone. Will buy in Madrid as staying there 3 days before going to Pamplona. Know that Orange works in France. Might be useful was going there post Camino. Will see.
Oh and another tip that I use is to Call forward my Australian phone number to the new Spanish number so I pick up all my calls.Thanks. Good to know. My son who lives part of the year in spain also recommended Vodafone
From last summer a sim card from any european country should work in all european countries.Thanks. Good to know. My son who lives part of the year in spain also recommended Vodafone
Hola Latecomer,Hi Dominick,
I saw in a separate thread that your carrier is Verizon. If you currently have a LTE compatible smartphone from Verizon (which was bought more than about a month ago) it is carrier unlocked. If your current phone has the correct radio bands and is GSM compatible you can use your existing phone in Spain (you can look this up based on the model number in Settings > About).
The nice thing about using your existing phone is that you can set it up before you leave. I did this a couple of years ago on the VdlP and had offline maps with Maps.me along with the route of the camino (which came in handy a number of times).
If you are about due for a new phone anyway, take the international / GSM compatibility into account and preferably get at least 32GB of storage (you might be able to get by with 16GB but that is less common now). If you get your phone from Verizon pay attention to how this story (on their new locking of LTE devices) plays out.
I recently bought an unlocked iPhone 8 Plus, partially justifying its purchase with my upcoming Camino - it will be my camera, communication device, GPS..
¡Buen Camino! Latecomer
I have used multiple unlocked AT&T phones on 3 Caminos and multiple international trips, as have my traveling companions. We had no problem with the phone. A couple of times we had problems setting up the sim card, but eventually figured it out.Pity on us AT&T iPhone customers! Even following AT&T’s instructions to unlock my old paid-off iPhone with their official blessing, it wouldn’t work with a European SIM. I’m about to pay a gazillion dollars for an AT&T international plan. When my current contract is up, never again...
http://www.verizon.com/about/consumer-safety/device-unlocking-policySi, I have an LTE that is carrier locked. I will talk with Verizon and see what they can offer me
I’ll be arriving in Madrid 16.5. to walk from Pamplona from 21.5. I’d like to buy a SIM card ASAP on arrival in Spain. Would like to have some data and be able to text n call. Can somebody recommend where to get a reasonable priced SIM? Is it better to buy at the airport or a provider in Madrid city? Been told that Vodafone has a €20/mnth deal with 2G data. Don’t really need that much and rather pay less. Any recommendations?
If you are going into Madrid, it is cheaper than the airport. There is a Vodaphone store at the Puerto del Sol right in the centre. Good package for 30 euros.I’ll be arriving in Madrid 16.5. to walk from Pamplona from 21.5. I’d like to buy a SIM card ASAP on arrival in Spain. Would like to have some data and be able to text n call. Can somebody recommend where to get a reasonable priced SIM? Is it better to buy at the airport or a provider in Madrid city? Been told that Vodafone has a €20/mnth deal with 2G data. Don’t really need that much and rather pay less. Any recommendations?
If you are going into Madrid, it is cheaper than the airport. There is a Vodaphone store at the Puerto del Sol right in the centre. Good package for 30 euros.
IPity on us AT&T iPhone customers! Even following AT&T’s instructions to unlock my old paid-off iPhone with their official blessing, it wouldn’t work with a European SIM. I’m about to pay a gazillion dollars for an AT&T international plan. When my current contract is up, never again...
Hi Long Trail, did you have to get a new SIM card or use your previous years card.I have used Orange in Spain every time I have visited and never had a problem with them. In the stores there is always at least one person who can speak English. They will require your passport but the process only takes about 10 minutes which is super fast for Spain!
In terms of coverage I had no issues on the Camino Frances and part of the VDLP.
I think price wise they are all pretty much the same. You usually pay for what you get!
Hi Long Trail, did you have to get a new SIM card or use your previous years card.
I bought an orange SIM card last year and was wondering weather I can just top it for or buy a different brand.
Thanks for your help. Cheers TonyI still use the same Orange sim card that I bought years ago. I think it remains active for one year after the last top up.
I'm arriving the same day in Pamplona and I go every year to Vodafone and buy a sim card from them.
I've been using them for years and love their service and their prices. We will be staying at Hotel Eslava and you're welcome to tag along on the 17th to get a sim if you wish. PM me to keep in touch.
Hi @Anniesantiago .
I was just looking at the Vodafone stores in Pamplona and opening hours.
We'll arrive in Pamplona on a Sunday, just passing through from St Jean, so we plan to head out early Monday. I see Vodafone is closed Sundays and doesn't open till 10 am Monday.
Pamplona is the first place that it's possible to pick one up on the CF Isn't it?
And we are coming in via Paris not Madrid.
Might need to work on a Plan B.......
Plan A was actually ordering them online, but that is a bit hit and miss. I use thus website.
simcardspain.es
All went well in 2015, cards never arrived in 2016, and this year looks like they might not either....
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