UK/Europe SIM Card

mattoo on 05/07/2017 - 23:58

Hi guys,

I'm studying abroad in England and will be going to Europe first for a 1.5 month trip. After researching, I was keen on getting either a 3 UK or Vodafone PAYG sim card (since they have Europe roaming) but those can only be activated in the UK and I'll be landing in Europe (Italy) to begin my trip. Now I'm debating on whether I should buy a preloaded sim card which is much pricier then if I were to buy over there or just buy whatever sim card I find when I rock up at the airport in Venice, and then get a 3/Vodafone sim once I reach the UK. Any recommendations guys?

Travel

Comments

  • cockneylondoner on 06/07/2017 - 08:42

    I presume your phone is 'unlocked'. Be aware that unless your phone has a global ROM it might not work on the UK/Europe 4g systems, only on 3g GSM. Buy a local PAYG SIM for each area you'll be staying in unless your first 'port of call' is the UK in which case you're question is irrelevant.
    In the UK you have the choice of either PAYG or contract (30 day automatic renewal is popular with small/medium users - check Uswitch for the current best deal). If you're going to stick with PAYG go for 3 - their 3-2-1 SIM is competitive and has no expiry period.

    If you have already done a price comparison you will know that we have in the UK 'eat your heart out' rates compared to Australia - lol.

    Oh, by the way, welcome to the UK and I hope you enjoy your stay with us.

  • dasher86 on 06/07/2017 - 08:52

    to be fair I would just buy a giffgaff sim off ebay and charge it with a goody bag.

    • gregoz on 06/07/2017 - 10:07

      Have you done this successfully? There seems to be fair usage guidelines on giffgaff that might restrict use?

      • dasher86 on 06/07/2017 - 10:10

        Fair usage still applies but mainly to unlimited data packs.
        Tethering might not work either.
        EU roaming laws changed the goody bags UK use only.

        • dasher86 on 06/07/2017 - 10:12

          No I have not tried it. But if I were moving back to the UK it's still a no brainer.
          $1 for sim on eBay which comes with 5gbp credit.
          I can charge the lowest goody bag value to see if it works etc.
          If it doesn't work I'd just buy a local SIM in Europe.
          And still use the giff gaff when back in the UK.
          Still cheaper than the linked sim
          https://community.giffgaff.com/t5/Using-giffgaff/Using-your-…
          updated EU roaming as of 2017 it seems.

        • gregoz on 06/07/2017 - 10:53

          @dasher86:
          The original question is though- how do you use if you are going to the UK last, or not going to the UK at all? I have my doubts it can be activated if you are not in the UK. I bought a UK tesco sim of ebay for a trip to europe last year, but I could not activate it without being in the UK.

        • dasher86 on 06/07/2017 - 11:17

          @gregoz:
          should work activating overseas. > re other online forums
          https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g186216-i15-k835396… (post was prior to goody bags working in the UK).
          can also confirm with ebay seller.

        • gregoz on 06/07/2017 - 11:42

          @dasher86: OK thanks - that looks like good information

  • gregoz on 06/07/2017 - 09:54

    Get a sim card from MTX. Buying a local sim is fine if you are spending enough time in each country, but if you are just spending a small amount of time in each European country it gets hard. MTX is more expensive than the preloaded 3 sim card you link to, but we have used the MTX sim in europe and the speed and coverage is good. Also the MTX sim doesn't expire, you can reload it for another trip. Also you can run the MTX sim in a hotspot and tether which you can't do with the 3 prepaid card.
    https://www.mtxc.eu/en/index.html

  • mattoo on 14/07/2017 - 11:02

    Cheers for the tips fellas!

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join