Data only SIM card for England and Italy

Old Mar 9th, 2017, 06:00 AM
  #21  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,933
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Does anyone have a link for these Tre plans? I just checked their web page, and the only no-contract data-only plans I see have to be renewed monthly.

Data roaming costs are supposed to go away altogether within the EU by June 15th of this year. This was postponed once before, but it appears to be on track for this year. If so, there will be no reason to buy a new SIM card in each country, as long as you're staying within the EU. The last I heard, there was some provision to prevent cross-border provider shopping, so that if you bought a SIM card in Italy, but seemed to be mostly using it in France, there would be some sort of penalty. There were complaints that this would unfairly penalize students studying abroad within Europe, but I can see how such a provision might also hit tourists.
bvlenci is offline  
Old Mar 11th, 2017, 11:27 AM
  #22  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,273
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
We're going to be in Italy from mid-Sept to mid-Oct. Two questions: 1.) Is the SIM card good for 28-30 days no matter when it is purchased/activated, or only until the end of the month? 2.) Where can one purchase a Tre card in Florence? How about Rome?
Thanks for all the info!
Dave_Ohio is offline  
Old Mar 17th, 2017, 11:10 PM
  #23  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
@JenniferES - that is a great data plan. Can I ask where you bought the SIM card? I'm going to Italy (Rome to begin with) in Sept and would like to get one.
LaniM is offline  
Old Mar 18th, 2017, 01:47 AM
  #24  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,925
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dave_Ohio, normally a one month SIM would be good for 30 days from the day it is activated, not until the end of the calendar month.
Heimdall is offline  
Old Mar 18th, 2017, 06:16 AM
  #25  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,273
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
Heimdall, that's what I was hoping.

I'm asking for myself and on behalf of about a dozen fellow travelers. Want to be sure I get it right.
Dave_Ohio is offline  
Old Mar 18th, 2017, 07:42 AM
  #26  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,925
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dave_Ohio, here is an example from the UK provider EE. Scroll down to the FAQs and click on + How do packs work? The other providers, Vodafone, O2, Three etc work the same.
http://shop.ee.co.uk/sim-only/pay-as-you-go-phones
Heimdall is offline  
Old Mar 18th, 2017, 08:56 AM
  #27  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4,926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"You will need seperate SIMS for each country, since data roaming is still at a premium. Next year roaming charges are dropped (assuming the UK is still in the EU at that time). Prices for data roaming fall in May, but aren't abolished until 2017. If you decide you use a single sim and accept the extra roaming charges check that the sim you use will actually allow roaming. Not all do."

Actually, the EU free roaming is suppose to start on June 15. The EU has been touting Roam Like At Home for years. They just came to an agreement on February 1 for wholesale roaming charges so now the EU Parliament and the member states are suppose to ratify in time for June 15, less than 3 months away.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38825154

However, if you buy a prepaid SIM in the UK after Brexit occurs, it may not have RLAH features.
scrb11 is online now  
Old Mar 18th, 2017, 09:01 AM
  #28  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,925
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It will be another two years before Britain leaves the EU, so no worries about 2017.
Heimdall is offline  
Old Mar 18th, 2017, 09:28 AM
  #29  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4,926
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"Many hotels and restaurants provide free wifi in the UK and especially in London. I often go into pret a manger, buy a cup of soup and sit for an hour or so using their free wifi so it isn't that much of an issue. Have you looked at 3 UK? Like everything else, this is coming down."

Hotel wifi is often poor, especially if they hire some company to manage it for them, which means they try to control the speeds. Often means too slow for video streaming for example.

Public wifi can be risky, leaving yourself vulnerable to hackers. Consider getting VPN service when using public wifi.

If mobile data prices are decent, that's the way to go.
scrb11 is online now  
Old Mar 18th, 2017, 02:11 PM
  #30  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,271
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Also to contradict myself, some hotels charge an arm and a leg, well at least an arm, for their wifi. Indeed it is a catch as catch thing obviously. And I do agree that I would probably hesitate to do my banking on a public wifi network although I have to sometimes and indeed hold my breath.
xyz123 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Sue81
Europe
8
Aug 2nd, 2017 05:29 PM
thalitamd
Europe
5
Oct 7th, 2016 09:22 AM
Pawleys
Europe
4
Jul 25th, 2014 12:11 PM
jenmorg
Europe
10
Apr 27th, 2014 05:08 PM
macktec
Europe
8
Oct 7th, 2013 01:29 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -