Spanish sim cards

[JaneB]

I'm bringing an unlocked mobile to Spain so that I can simply insert a Spanish sim card and be up and running. I don't intend to use it often but, being a mum, I need to be contactable. Does anyone have any suggestions re a good card to go for? I seem to remember, in the dim and distant forum past, that Ivar talked about the possibility of supplying these - or did I imagine it?

 

[Janeh]

Hey Jane,
would have rung you and told you this personally but maybe others will also want to know.....
I bought a vodaphone spanish sim card - but it was expensive, around 25euros for initial set up. I worked out it was cheaper to keep my sim from home so that family could reach me, but I bought a "eurodirect" card that was very cheap to use in public phones - only the ones in the bars,not the ones out on the street (these chew the time up). You could just go into a TABAC shop (I found the first big place I could find anything like that was Pamplona) and ask them as they are the ones with all the different types of cards and some have sim cards too. cheers, Jane

 

[TerryB]

Janeh wrote

I worked out it was cheaper to keep my sim from home so that family could reach me

Jane,
Terry bought a cheap (£9.99) pay-as-you-go phone (only one model a small clamshell) from the Orange shop in Exeter and we loaded it before he left home. You have to put the first £10 credit on as well as buying the phone. You only need to make sure that any cheap phone is actually dual band.
I have kept its top-up swipe card to add credit if needed from this end, or you can register a credit or debit card to top up, but that needs PINs etc!!!
This way is working for us, and only close family have the number. You keep your +447...... number instead of having a Spanish one, so can use the phone as normal once back in England.
Texts are reasonable and not so reliant on a good signal (I'm learning this fast) and can - unintentionally - be received on a BT landline! This is how Terry is keeping in touch with me for updating his string in the Members section
If there isn't an actual Orange shop near I think other outlets that sell Orange phones may have it, or you can try on-line. Ordering by phone is not an option as they then want the full £39.99 just for the phone.
Hope this helps
Tia Valeria

 

[TerryB]

Just to up-date on the phones.
This works for us, but I don't know about other networks. We are on both on Orange.
Use pay-as-you-go Orange phones. Buy a really cheap models if needed 4 weeks before you start your pilgrimage. Ours cost £10, plus obligatory first top-up of £10. After 4 weeks you will get £1 in every £10 top-up as free calls, and free evening calls after 7pm til 11.59pm (from England) for a month.
We started off with £20 on each phone, so £2 free texts each! Keep the pilgrim's top-up swipe card in England, you can top up from here but not in Spain. When Terry wanted a top-up he could text me.
We have had free texts from both ends as far as we could see, until the free calls credits ran out, or certainly cut price for Terry. They were certainly free from my end.
Also I can call Terry for free any evening after 7.00 here and he just pays his roaming charge. About £2.50 for 10mins? You just need to note when your free call period ends and if needed top up again to get it the following month. You get a text with the bonus and dates on from Orange. Also key the +44 ....450 orange no into your phone so you can check your balance (free?) from Spain.
I already had my phone but didn't realise until I was checking the balance that the free calls etc would work to Spain.
This is all true now in May. Whether things will change when roaming charges etc change in July would need checking.
Hope this helps, sorry it's a bit long! It certainly is working well for us, and we are texting enough to keep forum and blog posts going.
U knw whn r rlly in2 txtng. u ht the kbrd 4 's' x4
Tia Valeria

 

[Deleted member 3000]

This card has time on it, a Spanish phone number, and is ready to go into any UNLOCKED cell phone (GSM):

http://cgi.ebay.com/SPAIN-Orange-SIM-Ca ... %26ps%3D33

You have six months from the date of purchase to start using it. The explanation in the listing is pretty comprehensive.

 

[Javier Martin]

I would buy a Vodafone sim card, or a Movistar one. Orange has not a good coverage. I find Vodafone has the best coverage, but it's just an opinion. And prizes are similar, choosing the best prizes plan according your needings.

Buen Camino,

Javier Martin
Madrid, Spain.

 

[vanjohn]

I bought a Spanish Orange card and I find even the texts are horribly expensive Iam afraid to go and check they are so expensive. Most calls and all texts are international. Local calls are reasonable as there is no roaming. I belive the change in legislation will help bring down the cost of roaming texts and calls.
Somebody sugested that I should have got an Igoe phone card, anybody with experience and knowledge out there?
John

 

[Javier Martin]

I bought a Spanish Orange card and I find even the texts are horribly expensive Iam afraid to go and check they are so expensive. Most calls and all texts are international. Local calls are reasonable as there is no roaming. I belive the change in legislation will help bring down the cost of roaming texts and calls.
Somebody sugested that I should have got an Igoe phone card, anybody with experience and knowledge out there?
John

An Igoe phone card? in Spain? I've never heard about. It's absolutely new for me.

Buen Camino,

Javier Martin
Madrid, Spain.