Vodafone or Orange ?

ffp13

Addicted pilgrim

Time of past OR future Camino

Completed Caminos: 2009 SJPP, 2011 Roncessvalle , 2012 Pamploma, 2013 Roncessvalle, 2013 Porto, 2014 Burgos, 2014 Porto

Future: Roncessvalle

• Apr 8, 2013

• #1

There are some very good Spanish SIM deals available for advance purchase in Australia .

The two main competitors Mobipassport and Prepaidsimcard use the Vodafone and Orange networks.

Their plans are not identical and therefore difficult to compare. But for me the deciding factor may be network coverage.

Which of the two provides the best network coverage including 3G as they both offer good data plans as part of the phone plan, however the best priced plan may be almost worthless unless it is supported by a good network coverage for the Camino Frances.

Thanks in advance

Frank

 

crad80

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Completed Camino Frances (2010 & 2013); Camino Portugues (2011)

• Apr 8, 2013

• #2

I have a Vodaphone mobile phone. It works great on the Camino Frances and Portugues routes. Never had a problem with reception. Buen Camino.

 

colinPeter

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

SJPP-SDC (2009) Somport-Jaca, Burgos-SDC, Cee-Muxia (2012) Le Puy - Aumont-Aubrac (2014) SJPP-SDC (Oct 2015)

• Apr 8, 2013

• #3

Hi Frank,
I used Mobipassport's Vodafone last year and found the 3G coverage OK on the Frances.
Had a bit of a problem with 3G at around Castrojeriz, but don't recall any other issues.
However, I also used an EKIT prepaid (Flight Centre) for calling home to the Kids.
Col

 

colinPeter

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

SJPP-SDC (2009) Somport-Jaca, Burgos-SDC, Cee-Muxia (2012) Le Puy - Aumont-Aubrac (2014) SJPP-SDC (Oct 2015)

• Apr 8, 2013

• #4

Frank,
You could probably disregard my EKIT comment as the rates back to Australia seem pretty good at Prepaidsimcard.
Col

 

ffp13

Addicted pilgrim

Time of past OR future Camino

Completed Caminos: 2009 SJPP, 2011 Roncessvalle , 2012 Pamploma, 2013 Roncessvalle, 2013 Porto, 2014 Burgos, 2014 Porto

Future: Roncessvalle

• Apr 8, 2013

• #5

colinPeter said:

Frank,
You could probably disregard my EKIT comment as the rates back to Australia seem pretty good at Prepaidsimcard.
Col

Click to expand...

I used Ekit last year and the year before, mainly because I was travelling across Europe as well, this time I am in Spain almost all the time except for my arrival and departure through Paris

The Vodafone option from the Australia seller states that calls under 5 minutes to Australian landlines are at no cost ? I'd be interested to hear how true that claim is, and local calls are around EU 0.09 p/min 500 Mb data p/month for eu25.00

My main requirement is for email, FB, and local calls to reserve a bed etc, calls back home rare (if there are no dramas back home) if I need to call home for extended times then I will buy an international phone card.

Thanks to all for your feedback

Frank

 

wayfarer

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2012, 2013, 2014.

• Apr 8, 2013

• #6

ffp13 said:

The Vodafone option from the Australia seller states that calls under 5 minutes to Australian landlines are at no cost ? I'd be interested to hear how true that claim is, and local calls are around EU 0.09 p/min 500 Mb data p/month for eu25.00

My main requirement is for email, FB, and local calls to reserve a bed etc, calls back home rare (if there are no dramas back home) if I need to call home for extended times then I will buy an international phone card.

Thanks to all for your feedback

Frank

Click to expand...

I used Vodafone on the Camino and found it good. That sounds like a good deal Frank.

 

Anniesantiago

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2006 to date: Over 21 Caminos. See signature line

• Apr 8, 2013

• #7

Vodafone worked great for me!

 

eano

Member

• Apr 26, 2013

• #8

Hi Frank
Just wondering which SIM you settled on. Did it arrive quickly ?(I only have one week left to get this sorted). Easy to set-up? And any problems in Spain?
Not sure if you're in Oz or Spain at the moment but wherever I hope the sun is shining for you.
Debbie

 

piogaw

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino frances (05/06 2012) sjpdp-sdc; vdlp/camino sanabrea (02/03 2013) sevilla-sdc; hospitalero sdc june 2013, august-september 2013; caminho portugues (03 2014) lisboa-sdc

• Apr 27, 2013

• #9

orange has very poor coverage on my recent via de la plata walk. on the camino frances coverage is ok. i was told orange rents network coverage from big companies in spain like movistar, vodaphone.

i walked during this winter from sevilla to sdc with most days with no connection on the orange network. for some reason, pilgrims with spanish bought cell phones have no problems with connection with pay as you go orange contract.

 

fraluchi

RIP 2019

Time of past OR future Camino

One every year since 2007

• Apr 28, 2013

• #10

ffp13 said:

[...]the deciding factor may be network coverage.... the best priced plan may be almost worthless unless it is supported by a good network coverage for the Camino Frances.

Click to expand...

You can find all the necessary information on http://coberturamovil.es/ - admittedly in Spanish :cry: Although Orange has problems in certain areas, I am using their chip since many years on the Francès, admittedly for limited local calls only. :|

 

Paschulke

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Cycled VdlP May '14
Wish list: Camino de levante

• May 20, 2014

• #11

piogaw said:

orange has very poor coverage on my recent via de la plata walk.

Click to expand...

I definitely can second that, Orange worked well in southern Spain, but here in Castile it's really really bad. I heard that Vodafone worked well.

 

Tia Valeria

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Pt Norte/Pmtvo 2010
C. Inglés 2011
C. Primitivo '12
Norte-C. de la Reina '13
C. do Mar-C. Inglés '15

• May 21, 2014

• #12

We have always used Orange, which also uses Movistar signals. This was for the Norte/Inglés/Primitivo and Galician end of the Francés. Good coverage for a simple phone - we do not have a 3G type.

 

Bajaracer

Camino Frances 2013 Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances (2013) Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre

• May 21, 2014

• #13

I'd go with Vodaphone, I didn't have service with Orange on parts of the Meseta like Hornillos del Camino and on parts of the walk to Finsiterre.

 

JackRabbitSlims

New Member

• Jun 5, 2014

• #14

Hi - I'm in Bayonne now and will travel to SJPDP tomorrow with a plan to start walking on Sunday

I'd like to get a Spanish SIM once I cross the border etc.....are you guys and gals using Data as well as Calls / Txt?? - if so, which provider do you recommend please?

Thanks.

 

Paschulke

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Cycled VdlP May '14
Wish list: Camino de levante

• Jun 5, 2014

• #15

I had Orange Mondo, which had an ok pricing. Prepaid. I used it mainly for data. When it worked it was ok, but I had bad coverage in mid-spain. (I was on the vdlp.)

 

Bajaracer

Camino Frances 2013 Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances (2013) Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre

• Jun 5, 2014

• #16

https://www.tuenti.com/movil
Part of Movistar's prepaid arm, very cheap.