What is the best Europe Sim at the moment?

[adampenrith]

Heading to London on May 12 for 20 days in the UK then travelling thru France, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Slovenia, Australia and Switzerland - any idea on what to do with roaming. I am with virgin mobile - they dont cover all the countries. Have a couple of spare phones so thought maybe a data sim only for while we are on the rd - really need it for gps as we are driving - not paying $30 odd a day for a gps unit from Europcar.

Brains trust - thanks in advance

 

[TheRealTMA]

Heading to London on May 12 for 20 days in the UK then travelling thru France, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Slovenia, Australia and Switzerland - any idea on what to do with roaming. I am with virgin mobile - they dont cover all the countries. Have a couple of spare phones so thought maybe a data sim only for while we are on the rd - really need it for gps as we are driving - not paying $30 odd a day for a gps unit from Europcar.

Brains trust - thanks in advance

Last Christmas we got a Three SIM which had free roaming in Europe. Check what's available. Nice helpful Three shop near Oxford Circus.

 

[moa999]

3 UK is probably best at the moment but things are likely to change over the next month as the first EU directive comes into play

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/roaming-tariffs

 

[adampenrith]

Thanks I appreciate that. Luckily I have found a GPS app that works offline so wont need as much data as originally thought.

 

[Mark3000]

Which one did you pick adampenrith?

 

[adampenrith]

I have tried Sygic - its gives you 7 days premium access - so tonight on the way to work, I had loaded the maps for Aust - put the route in, turned off blue tooth wifi and data - and hey presto it worked like a charm. So rather excited by that - I think it will cost me $30 or so to purchase the European maps - but when you consider the cost of a map book or sheet maps its nothing. We dont need to make many phone calls while we are away, and everywhere we stay has free internet at night so it works

 

[TheRealTMA]

Sygic have periodic sales. We bought world maps version with free HUD and Camera for special offer a few months back. Maybe GIYF.

 

[Mal]

3 UK is probably best at the moment but things are likely to change over the next month as the first EU directive comes into play

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/roaming-tariffs

As much as I currently hate 3, their PAYG (prepaid) card is probably still the best European option.

 

[PLANT]

Yeah but you cannot get 3 in Amsterdam at start of trip right?

 

[JessicaTam]

I will be in Germany (mostly Berlin) at the end of the year for about three weeks. Looks like I have a choice of O2, Vodafone, T-Mobil and E-Plus as the main carriers.

Any thoughts on a preferred carrier? Mostly for data.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I will be in Germany (mostly Berlin) at the end of the year for about three weeks. Looks like I have a choice of O2, Vodafone, T-Mobil and E-Plus as the main carriers.

Any thoughts on a preferred carrier? Mostly for data.

We use O2. There's a merger between Three and O2. Not sure if it's finalised yet.

 

[JessicaTam]

We use O2. There's a merger between Three and O2. Not sure if it's finalised yet.

Thanks for that. I would hope that a tie-up with Three will help if I travel outside Germany for a day or two.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Thanks for that. I would hope that a tie-up with Three will help if I travel outside Germany for a day or two.

Don't know but Three sims from UK have free data roaming in Europe, plus there always plus/extra packs. Look up the O2 German sites maybe.

 

[boomy]

I'm very happy with the UK 3 mobile sim I bought at SimCorner in SYD Int. Cost $50, valid for 30 days and works very well for data usage in Europe.

 

[JessicaTam]

Don't know but Three sims from UK have free data roaming in Europe, plus there always plus/extra packs. Look up the O2 German sites maybe.

I'm very happy with the UK 3 mobile sim I bought at SimCorner in SYD Int. Cost $50, valid for 30 days and works very well for data usage in Europe.

Sounds like a plan. And I am transiting SYD too.

 

[marki]

Telstra Premium mobile plan 195 AUD with 1.5 gig to use overseas

 

[PLANT]

So If leaving Brisbane and arriving Amsterdam, then multiple European destinations as a backup phone....TRUphone still the cheapest option?
Just activate Auto topup to and deactivate on return?
Get the sim in the mail.

Not possible to get Uk 3 sim in mail with european phone call access?

Does Telstra have a 25cents a minute prepaid option as family member told....all I can find is "plan" and $2.50 minute rates on website?

 

[moa999]

Came across another Euro data only option here:
Mobile Internet plans

Euro 9 for the SIM including E5 credit for worldwide delivery.
Most Euro countries at 2.5-4.5c/Mb

So call it approx Euro 35/Gb - good for casual style usage.

---

Also the SimCorner GoEurope offering which offers an Optus style $days plan.
https://www.simcorner.com/europe-sim-card.html

 

[Mal]

there is now another free calls/text (back to UK) and data prepaid sim available. Only works for 28 days overseas, and this offer is only for the UK Summer (23rd May until 4th September 2016). Sims and topups can be obtained from Tesco stores (and there are vouchers for free Sims if topping up £10 or more)

Home From Home | Tesco Mobile

I don't use Tesco Mobile, but they use the O2 network in the UK. I expect the roaming data will be capped at 3G speed.

You would load one of the packages for a month from this table.
Pay as you go data bundles | Help & Support | Tesco Mobile

If you wanted texts and/or calls back to the UK while roaming, you'd be better to add either or both of these £5 packages.
Pay as you go call and text bundles | Help & Support | Tesco Mobile

(topping up £10+ does triple the value of credits, but the bonus credit has many restrictions and I'm not sure yet how it works when roaming in Europe under this offer )

While about the same price as 3 mobile, it has one additional benefit - roaming within more countries in Europe (all euro plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Unlike Three it doesn't cover Hong Kong /Australia / New Zealand etc.

 

[PLANT]

Which is better Truphone or Travelsim?
Travelsim has more expensive calls coming in.....