Best options for making cheap calls/text when overseas?

[VPS]

Forgive me if I am stupid — I always went the Telstra $10 plan in the past but bought a cheap yearly amaysim plan and to which I have added an os roaming pack w gigs/100min call text
Q- can I use (when not in a wifi area) my Telstra wifi calling to an Aussie no in contacts using the amaysim os data as a hotspot.

Looking for ways to optimize the allowance

Again - os e sims are new to me
Be gentle

Just to clarify - have you got 2 SIMS in your phone and do you have an iPhone or android.

 

[MARTINE]

Just to clarify - have you got 2 SIMS in your phone and do you have an iPhone or android.

Yes
I have physical telstra SIM and an eSim from amaysim with international roaming prepaid
I have iphone 14 plus

 

[VPS]

Under settings in Mobile you will see the 2 SIMs and you can turn them on and off as required.

I have used Telstra wifi roaming to check voicemail and send texts but not sure if I actually rang anyone.

If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription you are allowed 60 minutes or free calls every month.

I've actually taken my physical UK sim out of my phone because I lent it to someone going to the UK but you then need to check the roaming settings

 

[SYD]

I believe so. It gets mentioned over on the eSIM thread from time to time.

eSims, what is your experience.

I'm going to go the opposite for my next trip. I feel esim is still too hit and miss with providers. Have converted my local Optus to esim and will keep the physical SIM slot free for the local SIM I'll buy on arrival or online

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

The setup might vary for different phone types. On iPhone, I believe the secret is turning on “Wifi assist” and Telstra as the default line for calls/SMS and amaysim for Data.

Hopefully one of the boffins here can confirm if there are any other tricks or traps.

Noting you have an iPhone. I did find this post (#183).
eSims, what is your experience.

That mentions one of the hacks to get wifi calling using two SIMs in parallel.

Force Telstra over to a network that it doesn’t roam on (so can’t make a call). The phone should then use wifi or the data on the 2nd line to make/receive calls.

I believe (but could be wrong) the other setting is “Allow Mobile Data Switching” ON.

 

[MARTINE]

Thanks everyone
I will put all the tips/tricks/hacks to good use
Only a few days to go

 

[VPS]

Thanks everyone
I will put all the tips/tricks/hacks to good use
Only a few days to go

We want photos please

 

[MARTINE]

We want photos please

Ok
Will attempt close up of Sting calling security as I approach @ Montreux Music Festival

 

[SYD]

Thanks everyone
I will put all the tips/tricks/hacks to good use
Only a few days to go

Hope it works out!

I'm heading back OS in a few weeks. I still haven't decided to get the amaysim $20, $25 or $70 roaming pack. They all have pros (mostly) and some cons. I don't have access to WiFi calling with amaysim - so that's mute but the basic $20 pack with 100 minutes and 100 text for 12mths (and renewable and/or rollover) is very good value anyway and used in conjunction with data eSIMs, solves the key questions in post #1 for my usage.

 

[MARTINE]

Hope it works out!

I'm heading back OS in a few weeks. I still haven't decided to get the amaysim $20, $25 or $70 roaming pack. They all have pros (mostly) and some cons. I don't have access to WiFi calling with amaysim - so that's mute but the basic $20 pack with 100 minutes and 100 text for 12mths (and renewable and/or rollover) is very good value anyway and used in conjunction with data eSIMs, solves the key questions in post #1 for my usage.

Have a great trip and thabks for your help

 

[jb747]

Just pick up a sim from someone like SimsDirect before you travel. Cheap. Worked really well every time I’ve need them. I will NEVER pay Telstra $5 per day for literally nothing.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Hope it works out!

I'm heading back OS in a few weeks. I still haven't decided to get the amaysim $20, $25 or $70 roaming pack. They all have pros (mostly) and some cons. I don't have access to WiFi calling with amaysim - so that's mute but the basic $20 pack with 100 minutes and 100 text for 12mths (and renewable and/or rollover) is very good value anyway and used in conjunction with data eSIMs, solves the key questions in post #1 for my usage.

Depending what country you land in, we use eSim for australia such as Optus or Telstra, then buy a physical sim when we arrive. Set eSIM as secondary and country sim as primary. For example in the uk a £10 sim covers calls and internet and European travel depending on company. As others have said, never pay the extortion for roaming charges from Australian telecos.

 

[SYD]

Just pick up a sim from someone like SimsDirect before you travel. Cheap. Worked really well every time I’ve need them. I will NEVER pay Telstra $5 per day for literally nothing.

Telstra is actually $10 per day!

But as discussed here and some other threads, there are now much better options that allow you to roam with your own number and, in the case of amaysim for $20 you can get 12mths roaming calls and texts (within caps but can be recharged). There are some limitations, so may not be for everyone.

Depending what country you land in, we use eSim for australia such as Optus or Telstra, then buy a physical sim when we arrive. Set eSIM as secondary and country sim as primary. For example in the uk a £10 sim covers calls and internet and European travel depending on company. As others have said, never pay the extortion for roaming charges from Australian telecos.

Yes, I’ve ported to amaysim on eSIM and have freed up the physical SIM slot. My UK GiffGaff SIM is now there and it will provide additional call/txt/roaming data in the UK/Europe while ever I keep that active (just need to be in the UK every six months or so).

 

[Jacques Vert]

I'm in France and ported to amaysim before leaving Australia (just the basic $20 for global roaming with 100 SMS and 100 mins of calls). It's been working fine.

For local calls/data, I picked up a "Free" brand SIM for EUR10.99 per month: unlimited calls & text + 140Gb data (plus EUR10 for the SIM). There are cheaper options in France such as Prixtel (EUR4.99) but one advantage of "Free" is that they have retail stores throughout France so it's relatively easy to sign up/pick up a physical SIM (I have a dual SIM phone) or an eSIM (for +1's phone); whereas Prixtel has few physical locations. (You can order a Prixtel to be posted to you but, of course, you then need an address to post it to.

 

[SYD]

I'm in France and ported to amaysim before leaving Australia (just the basic $20 for global roaming with 100 SMS and 100 mins of calls). It's been working fine.

Yep, I’ll most likely get the $20 option in a couple of weeks time. That should be more than sufficient to keep my local Oz number roaming while travelling through Europe over summer and back there for Xmas/New Year. I’ve checked and all the countries I’m visiting (including transit points) are covered in the 90+ countries.

I already have a Flexiroam Global data eSIM that covers me until September, plus the 2 week MC freebie to use between Sep and the end of the year.

For local calls/data, I picked up a "Free" brand SIM for EUR10.99 per month: unlimited calls & text + 140Gb data (plus EUR10 for the SIM). There are cheaper options in France such as Prixtel (EUR4.99) but one advantage of "Free" is that they have retail stores throughout France so it's relatively easy to sign up/pick up a physical SIM (I have a dual SIM phone) or an eSIM (for +1's phone); whereas Prixtel has few physical locations. (You can order a Prixtel to be posted to you but, of course, you then need an address to post it to.

A couple of years ago, I picked up an Orange prepaid SIM in Paris (for a couple of weeks use in France) but mainly for data access. The plan was to use a spare phone and share the data. Turned out it that it couldn’t tether….

The linguistically challenge might also struggle managing French (or other non-English language) websites for managing the service. But I gather you were ok with “Free” .

Anyone passing through the UK should look at options there for PAYG that also roam in Europe.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Yep, I’ll most likely get the $20 option in a couple of weeks time. That should be more than sufficient to keep my local Oz number roaming while travelling through Europe over summer and back there for Xmas/New Year. I’ve checked and all the countries I’m visiting (including transit points) are covered in the 90+ countries.

I already have a Flexiroam Global data eSIM that covers me until September, plus the 2 week MC freebie to use between Sep and the end of the year.

A couple of years ago, I picked up an Orange prepaid SIM in Paris (for a couple of weeks use in France) but mainly for data access. The plan was to use a spare phone and share the data. Turned out it that it couldn’t tether….

The linguistically challenge might also struggle managing French (or other non-English language) websites for managing the service. But I gather you were ok with “Free” .

Anyone passing through the UK should look at options there for PAYG that also roam in Europe.

So far the amaysim has automatically connected everywhere we've been; so very happy with it so far.

Between my French and their english, we have managed fine (with a little help from google translate).

 

[clifford]

So far the amaysim has automatically connected everywhere we've been; so very happy with it so far.

I've never had a problem with Amaysim roaming. It covers all the countries I want to go to, is very reasonably priced (and lasts 12 months), and connecting is never a problem. However, when I go to Euope I also purchase a cheap (GBP 10) add-on for my Three SIM that I've had for years, as I find it better value within Europe, but unfortunately it doesn't cover several countries, such as Turkey and Albania.

 

[albatross710]

pro tip regarding Amaysim. They say they don't cover Morocco which concerned me as I would not be able to receive authentication code. When I landed there in May 23 the phone was able to connect and receive SMS but definitely nothing outgoing.

 

[SYD]

pro tip regarding Amaysim. They say they don't cover Morocco which concerned me as I would not be able to receive authentication code. When I landed there in May 23 the phone was able to connect and receive SMS but definitely nothing outgoing.

That’s really useful to know. Which could mean that there a more countries were it’ll connect and you can receive SMS (despite no “roaming” plan coverage.

Hopefully some other intrepid travellers can report on other countries MIA on the amaysim roaming plan.

 

[qaz]

Forgive me if I am stupid — I always went the Telstra $10 plan in the past but bought a cheap yearly amaysim plan and to which I have added an os roaming pack w gigs/100min call text
Q- can I use (when not in a wifi area) my Telstra wifi calling to an Aussie no in contacts using the amaysim os data as a hotspot.

Looking for ways to optimize the allowance

Again - os e sims are new to me
Be gentle

apparently using a secondary e/SIM for Wi-Fi calling with your primary is only possible if the secondary is not roaming, so likely local to its location - how are you going with it?

Using a Mobile phone Overseas – eSIM, Travel SIM, International Roaming - OzBargain Wiki

www.ozbargain.com.au

 

[MARTINE]

apparently using a secondary e/SIM for Wi-Fi calling with your primary is only possible if the secondary is not roaming, so likely local to its location - how are you going with it?

Using a Mobile phone Overseas – eSIM, Travel SIM, International Roaming - OzBargain Wiki

www.ozbargain.com.au

TBH - I have been using my anaysim roaming plan for past ten days using wifi calling friends and family and lots of internet out of wifi areas.
…not even used a Gb of data… so have not even tried the TLS option. I disabled TLS roaming - lest I accidently let the $10/day genie out of the bottle!!