MiamiBeachMomma

Looking at renting a portable hotspot that gets delivered to the hotel upon arrival and then you drop it in the mail before you leave the country. We did this in Japan and it was a perfect. Also way better than renting a GPS- would rather use my phone and map apps.

SO many companies online to choose from - would prefer somewhere that people recommended from experience.

Thanks!!

bvlenci

Personal mifi devices are pretty much obsolete. If you have an Android phone, you can use it as a personal hotspot. If you don't have one, you can buy a cheap unlocked Android phone on Amazon or EBay, get a local SIM card to put in it, and use it as a GPS, or to create a hotspot for other devices, and even to make phone calls.

Robert2016

The use of a MiFi device is pretty outdated, at least if you have access to a service provider like T-Mobile, or can use a local SIM card in your unlocked phone.

WiFi hotspots are becoming fairly common, including in Portugal.

MiamiBeachMomma

We have ATT iPhones that are new and not unlocked and I honestly find the whole SIM card swap thing a royal pain. I guess Im being old school.

Getting the mifi allows all of us (we are 4 people) to have full access to our phones and other devices. To rent one of these for 10 days is like 60 bucks - easy peesy. Just wanted to make sure the places are legit before giving them $$.

In Japan it was life changing - without google translate and the rail app we would have been very lost!

ribeirasacra

You will find hotels, bars, restaurants, trains (maybe) will have WIFI. If you are using the phone as GPS then download the maps before you leave for the day.
If you want to call use Whatsapp via WIFI. Or purchase a cheap unlocked phone with which you can use ans a hotspot for all the other travels.
Age is no excuse for not keeping up with technology.

bvlenci

Using your phone as a hotspot works <b> exactly </b> like a mifi device. All four of you can connect to its wifi signal. You can buy a cheap phone, as I said above, for about the same amount, and then you'll have it for your next trip. The people who sell you the SIM card usually will put it in the phone for you and make sure you're connected.

Here's an example of a suitable phone.

https://www.amazon.com/Alcatel-Ideal...phones+android

I don't know what a SIM card plus appropriate data plan cost in Portugal, but I would guess €25-€30.

To activate the hotspot, you go to settings. The right setting will be in one of the choices under wireless and networks. I can't tell you the exact words, because my phone speaks Italian.

If you still prefer to use the mifi device, I'm afraid I can't help you with the reliability of the companies. As time goes on, fewer and fewer people use these devices. Actually, my daughter just bought one, although I advised her not to.