Sim card / Mobile data whilst in France
Discussion
Evening all,
Planning on taking an iPad Mini Retina to use as a SatNav / for the Interweb whilst at Le Mans. I don't have a sim card for it at the moment and am wondering what the best option is. What I do know is that I will need unlimited data but don't want to pay the ridiculous "roaming" charges.
Any ideas?
Planning on taking an iPad Mini Retina to use as a SatNav / for the Interweb whilst at Le Mans. I don't have a sim card for it at the moment and am wondering what the best option is. What I do know is that I will need unlimited data but don't want to pay the ridiculous "roaming" charges.
Any ideas?
Hey chief.
Just buy a pay as you go sim on the ferry or at the other end. Unlimited data is usually only applicable on contract's - which you won't be able to get, but you could buy a generous allowance. Also ensure that whatever you're going to put it in is unlocked for use with international cards.
Other option if you want something truly unlimited, is a contract with EE or 3. They have packages that allow you to use any allowance you have on your UK plan, before charging you roaming for additional data. My Vodafone plan has 8GB - but I'm not sure they have the same allowance to let you use bundled data first. Do some googling and see what you can come up with.
Cheers
Chris.
Just buy a pay as you go sim on the ferry or at the other end. Unlimited data is usually only applicable on contract's - which you won't be able to get, but you could buy a generous allowance. Also ensure that whatever you're going to put it in is unlocked for use with international cards.
Other option if you want something truly unlimited, is a contract with EE or 3. They have packages that allow you to use any allowance you have on your UK plan, before charging you roaming for additional data. My Vodafone plan has 8GB - but I'm not sure they have the same allowance to let you use bundled data first. Do some googling and see what you can come up with.
Cheers
Chris.
woodsypedia said:
Hey chief.
Just buy a pay as you go sim on the ferry or at the other end. Unlimited data is usually only applicable on contract's - which you won't be able to get, but you could buy a generous allowance. Also ensure that whatever you're going to put it in is unlocked for use with international cards.
Other option if you want something truly unlimited, is a contract with EE or 3. They have packages that allow you to use any allowance you have on your UK plan, before charging you roaming for additional data. My Vodafone plan has 8GB - but I'm not sure they have the same allowance to let you use bundled data first. Do some googling and see what you can come up with.
Cheers
Chris.
Thanks for the reply.Just buy a pay as you go sim on the ferry or at the other end. Unlimited data is usually only applicable on contract's - which you won't be able to get, but you could buy a generous allowance. Also ensure that whatever you're going to put it in is unlocked for use with international cards.
Other option if you want something truly unlimited, is a contract with EE or 3. They have packages that allow you to use any allowance you have on your UK plan, before charging you roaming for additional data. My Vodafone plan has 8GB - but I'm not sure they have the same allowance to let you use bundled data first. Do some googling and see what you can come up with.
Cheers
Chris.
I had considered a pay-as-you-go...we have an unlocked iPad Mini Retina that we want to use as a SatNav (it was partly bought for this purpose). I feel like I'm running out of time to get everything I need to sorted before Le Mans - currently trying to fit cruise control to my Discovery (it's the only option aside from a fuel burning heater it doesn't have!).
Hi,
You mention needing 'unlimited data' - would this be due to a desire to stream the race coverage or other video whilst you are at the circuit? I only ask as I suspect that with so many people, not to mention teams and support staff using a limited amount of local mobile capacity you may well find your own ability to do so severely restricted.
Would be thrilled to be proved wrong, but having considered such an option in the past I believe getting a fast enough connection would be very difficult.
Pauly
You mention needing 'unlimited data' - would this be due to a desire to stream the race coverage or other video whilst you are at the circuit? I only ask as I suspect that with so many people, not to mention teams and support staff using a limited amount of local mobile capacity you may well find your own ability to do so severely restricted.
Would be thrilled to be proved wrong, but having considered such an option in the past I believe getting a fast enough connection would be very difficult.
Pauly
paulyv said:
Hi,
You mention needing 'unlimited data' - would this be due to a desire to stream the race coverage or other video whilst you are at the circuit? I only ask as I suspect that with so many people, not to mention teams and support staff using a limited amount of local mobile capacity you may well find your own ability to do so severely restricted.
Would be thrilled to be proved wrong, but having considered such an option in the past I believe getting a fast enough connection would be very difficult.
Pauly
Good point...and the answer is "partly". Also, in the U.S. last year I bought a sim card (30-day thing with unlimited data) for an iPhone 5 and it worked brilliantly for the nav + Internet (3D live mapping, live traffic, opening times for restaurants etc. etc.) so would like to do the same thing again.You mention needing 'unlimited data' - would this be due to a desire to stream the race coverage or other video whilst you are at the circuit? I only ask as I suspect that with so many people, not to mention teams and support staff using a limited amount of local mobile capacity you may well find your own ability to do so severely restricted.
Would be thrilled to be proved wrong, but having considered such an option in the past I believe getting a fast enough connection would be very difficult.
Pauly
Dave200 said:
If you have a contract with 3 in the UK, they will allow you to take your existing data bundle (in my case, "unlimited") and use it in France for £5 a day.
I'll be using my phone throughout the trip (including as satnav), so £30 seems like a bit of a bargain to me.
Thanks for the tip. I might get a 3 sim for the iPad then! I think Virgin Media do something similar but when I phoned them last night, their systems were down. I'll be using my phone throughout the trip (including as satnav), so £30 seems like a bit of a bargain to me.
Clivey said:
Dave200 said:
If you have a contract with 3 in the UK, they will allow you to take your existing data bundle (in my case, "unlimited") and use it in France for £5 a day.
I'll be using my phone throughout the trip (including as satnav), so £30 seems like a bit of a bargain to me.
Thanks for the tip. I might get a 3 sim for the iPad then! I think Virgin Media do something similar but when I phoned them last night, their systems were down. I'll be using my phone throughout the trip (including as satnav), so £30 seems like a bit of a bargain to me.
Dave200 said:
If you have a contract with 3 in the UK, they will allow you to take your existing data bundle (in my case, "unlimited") and use it in France for £5 a day.
I'll be using my phone throughout the trip (including as satnav), so £30 seems like a bit of a bargain to me.
I've just spoken to 3 to get my phone activated abroad (I forgot when I went to Spa in April, what a pain that was!), and it turns out it's a bit more complicated than that.I'll be using my phone throughout the trip (including as satnav), so £30 seems like a bit of a bargain to me.
I am also on the unlimited data plan, but for this to work, you need to be in one of their 'Just like home' countries. These include the USA, Sri Lanka, Indonesia & others, but not France.
In order to use data abroad, you need to buy something called a Euro Internet pass, which costs £5 per day, but only allows web browsing (you cannot use applications such as Google Maps etc.). It's not very clear on their website, but I've just spoken to a couple of people on the phone who were able to confirm that this is correct.
ETA link - http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBISAPI.D...
Edited by 0llie on Thursday 29th May 13:54
RemaL said:
Thought I would ask I have the vodafone euro traveler on my sim only contract. Never used data abroad before. Anyone clarify that I can use my data, texts and minuets for only a extra £2 a day. and if I don't use it I won't get charged the extra?
My last phone was on Vodafone, and I got a text as I arrived abroad asking me if I wanted to activate this service. You should get the same, but I'm not 100% sure as this was 2012 & 2013.I was going to look into this too, and literally just had a text from EE/T-Mobile.
They say "it's cheaper when you buy an Internet Travel Booster, get 100MB for just £3 a day that only activiates when you use data within the EU. To buy just leave roaming switched on and open your browser"
I checked the site just now:
www.ee.co.uk/roaming (select EE, Orange or T-Mobile)
Here is the info:
Data
EURO - Internet Travel Booster 20MB
20MB of Data to use for 24 hours = £1
EURO - Internet Travel Booster 100MB
100MB of Data to use for 24 hours = £3
Make sure data roaming is enabled on your phone, Open your internet browser to purchase.
The internet won’t work on your phone abroad unless you buy a Booster. This is to prevent you running up a large bill for internet usage by mistake.
If your Booster runs out and you need more internet, we’ll give you the option to buy another one. It’s as simple as that.
Can only be purchased while abroad.
They say "it's cheaper when you buy an Internet Travel Booster, get 100MB for just £3 a day that only activiates when you use data within the EU. To buy just leave roaming switched on and open your browser"
I checked the site just now:
www.ee.co.uk/roaming (select EE, Orange or T-Mobile)
Here is the info:
Data
EURO - Internet Travel Booster 20MB
20MB of Data to use for 24 hours = £1
EURO - Internet Travel Booster 100MB
100MB of Data to use for 24 hours = £3
Make sure data roaming is enabled on your phone, Open your internet browser to purchase.
The internet won’t work on your phone abroad unless you buy a Booster. This is to prevent you running up a large bill for internet usage by mistake.
If your Booster runs out and you need more internet, we’ll give you the option to buy another one. It’s as simple as that.
Can only be purchased while abroad.
0llie said:
I've just spoken to 3 to get my phone activated abroad (I forgot when I went to Spa in April, what a pain that was!), and it turns out it's a bit more complicated than that.
I am also on the unlimited data plan, but for this to work, you need to be in one of their 'Just like home' countries. These include the USA, Sri Lanka, Indonesia & others, but not France.
In order to use data abroad, you need to buy something called a Euro Internet pass, which costs £5 per day, but only allows web browsing (you cannot use applications such as Google Maps etc.). It's not very clear on their website, but I've just spoken to a couple of people on the phone who were able to confirm that this is correct.
ETA link - http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBISAPI.D...
I have used the Euro Internet pass whilst abroad and can confirm that everything works via the internet connection, not just the browser. I streamed music, used Facetime, used maps, etc. This was in Paris, and in Spain. I am also on the unlimited data plan, but for this to work, you need to be in one of their 'Just like home' countries. These include the USA, Sri Lanka, Indonesia & others, but not France.
In order to use data abroad, you need to buy something called a Euro Internet pass, which costs £5 per day, but only allows web browsing (you cannot use applications such as Google Maps etc.). It's not very clear on their website, but I've just spoken to a couple of people on the phone who were able to confirm that this is correct.
ETA link - http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBISAPI.D...
Edited by 0llie on Thursday 29th May 13:54
You can only consume the data on the phone though, you cannot tether another device
It is £5 per day (midnight UK time to midnight) and the data is unlimited. You buy it on the phone, once you receive the link via SMS on arrival.
RobbyJ said:
Why use google maps on a phone for Nav, buy a cheap nav app and download the full French map. I use the "SatNav" app with the purchased maps, it was pretty cheap from memory, certainly not in the same ball park as TomTom.
I think on EE you can also buy 1gb for £35 to use in a month.
I have a TomTom etc. and proper road atlases as backup but just find the features of Google Maps really useful. I intend to take the scenic route and maybe do a few other things on the way. - As someone else said: Le Mans is as much of a driving holiday as it is a motor race.I think on EE you can also buy 1gb for £35 to use in a month.
I used my iPad as a sat nav last year. Never again. £500 data roaming bill!!!.
Purchased a TomTom wide screen and Europe maps.
Checked that the house we are staying in has wifi.
Data roaming turned off (I am in France at the moment collecting a new toy) and will be for my Le Mans trip.
Be vary careful with these packs. By agreeing to use one you wave the government imposed daily limit the companies are allowing you to spend. Get it wrong and you could come back to a bill larger than the rest of your trip cost.
Paul
Purchased a TomTom wide screen and Europe maps.
Checked that the house we are staying in has wifi.
Data roaming turned off (I am in France at the moment collecting a new toy) and will be for my Le Mans trip.
Be vary careful with these packs. By agreeing to use one you wave the government imposed daily limit the companies are allowing you to spend. Get it wrong and you could come back to a bill larger than the rest of your trip cost.
Paul
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