Best Travel Sim card?

[ramboflyer]

On our last overseas trip in 2015 I purchased an Australia Post travel sim card which I have kept active. With this sim you are allocated a Estonian (sounds like something out of Dilbert) phone number.

It worked out ok but I wonder if there is a suitable alternative where you can keep your own number? This can be helpful for those back home you didnt give your Elbonian number to and sometimes you give airlines and hotels contact numbers and out of habit you give them your normal mobile number.

I was told in the past that Vodaphone have a sim you can use for $5 a day. You are charged if you use the phone and then only a maximum of $5 a day. I dont know if I misunderstood or if it has changed but having a look at the Vodaphone web site it seems that you have to sign up to a plan and then your $5 gets you access to your normal phone and data usage.

I dont want to sign up to a plan as I am very happy with the Aldi prepaid deal that I currently have.

We are heading overseas again later this year (Italy & Greece) and I wonder if there is a sim where I could keep my own number and not cost a fortune. Data is not that important as there plenty of free wifi to use these days.

 

[coriander]

This has been a very timely thread. We're off to Europe in a couple of months and I've been rummaging through my box of old mobile phones to have one with an AU sim in it for receiving texts etc. However I really didn't want the hassle of 2 phones. Plus I'd decided to buy a new Samsung S8 and claim TRS on departure.

Following advice upthread, I started to look at dual sim phones and discovered that Samsung produce a dual sim S8. Checking it out, I found it has all the frequencies I'm ever likely to want (EU & US). Obvious advantages such as one set of contacts, one charger also influenced my decision.

Samsung don't offer the dual-sim S8 retail here in AU, so I browsed Whirlpool and discovered that S8s were on sale on Ebay with 10% extra discount last weekend. I picked up a Samsung S8 dual sim (G950FD) for. Just on $720, much much cheaper than the $1100 retail even after factoring TRS. It arrived promptly, albeit with Korean instructions. One of the users on Whirlpool published a simple tutorial on upgrading the phone to an unlocked AU phone which ensures I'll get all the updates as soon as they're released. The process took about 10-15 minutes, the set up and smart switch from my old S7 Edge took about 30 minutes, and I'm now ready tp install a Vodafone sim mentioned above before we leave.

The S8 dual sim takes nano sims and one slot will be 4G and the other 3G. You tell the phone which sim is to be 4G, so physical position of the sims isn't relevant. You can make and receive calls/texts on either sim, both are active all the time. I'm as "happy as a clam".

 

[MikeG]

For Europe, the Three UK prepaid SIM can be bought for next to nix, and you can get roaming for free in 60 countries including data.

Price Plan Details

They have added Germany since I last used one, which really completes the package ...

 

[Danger]

This has been a very timely thread. We're off to Europe in a couple of months and I've been rummaging through my box of old mobile phones to have one with an AU sim in it for receiving texts etc. However I really didn't want the hassle of 2 phones. Plus I'd decided to buy a new Samsung S8 and claim TRS on departure.

Following advice upthread, I started to look at dual sim phones and discovered that Samsung produce a dual sim S8. Checking it out, I found it has all the frequencies I'm ever likely to want (EU & US). Obvious advantages such as one set of contacts, one charger also influenced my decision.

Samsung don't offer the dual-sim S8 retail here in AU, so I browsed Whirlpool and discovered that S8s were on sale on Ebay with 10% extra discount last weekend. I picked up a Samsung S8 dual sim (G950FD) for. Just on $720, much much cheaper than the $1100 retail even after factoring TRS. It arrived promptly, albeit with Korean instructions. One of the users on Whirlpool published a simple tutorial on upgrading the phone to an unlocked AU phone which ensures I'll get all the updates as soon as they're released. The process took about 10-15 minutes, the set up and smart switch from my old S7 Edge took about 30 minutes, and I'm now ready tp install a Vodafone sim mentioned above before we leave.

The S8 dual sim takes nano sims and one slot will be 4G and the other 3G. You tell the phone which sim is to be 4G, so physical position of the sims isn't relevant. You can make and receive calls/texts on either sim, both are active all the time. I'm as "happy as a clam".

Which sim will you use?

 

[coriander]

Which sim will you use?

I've ordered tbe Vodafone NL sim referenced upthread. With 3GB data, 100min/unlimited text, I'll make it my 4G sim when I'm in EU. My AU sim will be relegated to 3G, roaming on, data off. That way I'll still get txts if cc gets blocked etc (happened to me in Washington DC this year and I didn't realise bscause I had only a T-Mobile sim in my S7).

 

[Cossie]

I've ordered tbe Vodafone NL sim referenced upthread. With 3GB data, 100min/unlimited text, I'll make it my 4G sim when I'm in EU. My AU sim will be relegated to 3G, roaming on, data off. That way I'll still get txts if cc gets blocked etc (happened to me in Washington DC this year and I didn't realise bscause I had only a T-Mobile sim in my S7).

Ok, I've done the same and received my card, sorry I'm a bit dim, and not being able to read Dutch, what do I do now?

 

[karen blancfield]

For Europe, the Three UK prepaid SIM can be bought for next to nix, and you can get roaming for free in 60 countries including data.

Price Plan Details

They have added Germany since I last used one, which really completes the package ...

As I'm arriving into France, how do I buy the UK one ... or should I buy one for the 3 weeks in France from a French provider? Only visiting France with a coupe of days at the end in U.K.

I loved hiring the wifi router in Japan as that way, several devices can be used from it. I don't do phone calls much, data mostly. Anyone know if you can hire routers in France?

 

[daft009]

Use Chrome browser which will do a live translate for you.

Insert the SIM in a mobile and turn on
Register for a my Vodafone account.
Add a Dutch address to your account to get 5€ free, I just used a hotel in the city.
Then recharge using a credit card, most people report that debit cards don't work too well.
Then I just activated the 30euro plan just before I left AU under the bundles menu.

Ok, I've done the same and received my card, sorry I'm a bit dim, and not being able to read Dutch, what do I do now?

 

[Cossie]

Use Chrome browser which will do a live translate for you.

Insert the SIM in a mobile and turn on
Register for a my Vodafone account.
Add a Dutch address to your account to get 5€ free, I just used a hotel in the city.
Then recharge using a credit card, most people report that debit cards don't work too well.
Then I just activated the 30euro plan just before I left AU under the bundles menu.

Thankyou very much.

 

[MikeG]

As I'm arriving into France, how do I buy the UK one ... or should I buy one for the 3 weeks in France from a French provider? Only visiting France with a coupe of days at the end in U.K.

I loved hiring the wifi router in Japan as that way, several devices can be used from it. I don't do phone calls much, data mostly. Anyone know if you can hire routers in France?

eBay is your friend...

Three UK SIM Card with £15 Credit (Official Trio SIM for all phones)

But you may ask the seller to pre-activate it for you, as it needs to be activated in the UK before use overseas. The beauty of that is you can use it in Australia before you leave if you want to...

Mike

 

[ramboflyer]

I've had another look at the Australia Post prepaid travel sim and there have been a couple of improvements since I used it 2 years ago. The rates are now cheaper and from Europe (the countries I looked at) to Australia are all 25c a call per minute to make and receive and 25c to send a text. No charge to receive texts. The second improvement is the use of the Vodaphone network so you now get an Australian number. I think the cso said it costs only a local call to people in Australia to call you. Data is 25c per MB.

I have kept my AP sim active and have the new one on the way at no extra charge. I dont plan on making a lot of calls so I think I will go with this one and simply put my regular Aldi sim in every day to check for missed calls or messages.

 

[MikeG]

Is the Aldi SIM similar to Telstra when roaming? If so, just putting it in your phone overseas will result in international roaming charges every time thereafter you receive a call, regardless of whether its in your phone or redirected... I had a quick read of the Aldi roaming doco, and ti did not specify.

I've had another look at the Australia Post prepaid travel sim and there have been a couple of improvements since I used it 2 years ago. The rates are now cheaper and from Europe (the countries I looked at) to Australia are all 25c a call per minute to make and receive and 25c to send a text. No charge to receive texts. The second improvement is the use of the Vodaphone network so you now get an Australian number. I think the cso said it costs only a local call to people in Australia to call you. Data is 25c per MB.

I have kept my AP sim active and have the new one on the way at no extra charge. I dont plan on making a lot of calls so I think I will go with this one and simply put my regular Aldi sim in every day to check for missed calls or messages.

 

[ramboflyer]

Is the Aldi SIM similar to Telstra when roaming? If so, just putting it in your phone overseas will result in international roaming charges every time thereafter you receive a call, regardless of whether its in your phone or redirected... I had a quick read of the Aldi roaming doco, and ti did not specify.

My understanding is that international roaming applies to data usage only so if mobile data is turned off there will be no charges unless I make or receive a call or text. Please let me know if I am wrong there?

From the Aldi web site under Tips and tricks:

• To stop your apps consuming data, we recommend that you turn data roaming off in your handset settings.
• Using free WiFi in places like hotels, restaurants and café’s is a great free way to get online.
• If you need to use data, make sure you turn off auto updates for your apps

I cant see how to "turn data roaming off" (on my Samsung Galaxy S5) so I assume that means just turning mobile data off.

 

[Cossie]

I registered sucessfully but have been unable to upgrade the bundle with my cc. Tried several different cards to no avail. I'll sort something else out when we get to Germany on Friday.

 

[karen blancfield]

I registered sucessfully but have been unable to upgrade the bundle with my cc. Tried several different cards to no avail. I'll sort something else out when we get to Germany on Friday.

Yes, ok, that last line has made me envious ...... have a fabulous trip!

 

[daft009]

I registered sucessfully but have been unable to upgrade the bundle with my cc. Tried several different cards to no avail. I'll sort something else out when we get to Germany on Friday.

Can also try this 3rd party site to recharge though I didn't have an issue using the Vodafone site.

https://www.opwaarderen.nl/en
Open the confirmation email on the phone with the Vodafone SIM installed

 

[Cossie]

Overnight my wife received an email from one of her relatives in Germany asking if we want mobile phone access set up for our trip. His son works for T-Mobile, so he should be able to sort something!

 

[Irishbazz]

Following!

 

[Danger]

People with the fancy dual sim phones, how do they work? Do they essentially function the same as a normal phone but with some kind of option within the settings or whatever to switch between sims? Seamless use?

I'm considering the Sony Xperia Z3 or Z3+ dual sim but I've never had one before so I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into.

 

[moa999]

I've got one of the more recent 4G/3G phones (an Asus Zenfone 3).

Both SIMs are active at the same time - so you have a bar for the 4G service and another for the 3G service.
You choose which SIM is active for data (will be used as the 4G connection) and can also set defaults for SMS sending and calls.
As the phones typically only have one aerial the phone flips between SIMs thousands of times a second - when you make or receive a call it locks onto that SIM.
Flipping between SIMs for data is done under Settings and happens within seconds, you can also turn SIMs on/off individually

 

[daft009]

I'm considering the Sony Xperia Z3 or Z3+ dual sim but I've never had one before so I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into.

Also double check that phone is 4g+3g, not the older 3g+2g