Mobile phone & data in France

Davearp
Davearp Forum Participant Posts: 13
edited July 2016 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Looking forward to our big trip to Brittany end for a month in September.

What is the best deal for mobile phones in France.

We are currently with Tescos.However their roaming deal ends 3/9/16.

So  any assistance would be very useful.

many thanks

Dave

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Comments

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #2

    Most PAYG mobiles now  charge a penny to send a text fom here in France, 4 pence a minute to phone home, and am using  campsite wi fi to send you this and read BBC news to see what our great statesmen are up to ! 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,872 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #3

    I am on Virgin and they sell a Travel Pass of 250mb for £5. Its lasts a fair while on the phone but if you tether your phone and use the data allowance that way it soon eats into it. Site wifi is still the best option if its cheap or free. The Three Network
    have a good deal at the moment but you have to decide whether its for phone use or data.

    David

  • DJG
    DJG Forum Participant Posts: 277
    edited July 2016 #4

    Just a thought, when in Croatia two years ago, calls were £1.49 on 1st July they joined the EU and calls were suddenly .17p. This is well worth the UK paying 10 billion a year, if for nothing else.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2016 #5
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited July 2016 #6

    I just talk to family when I get back.

  • Kartman60
    Kartman60 Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited July 2016 #7

    We are with 3 and their 'Feel at Home' destinations covers France, Spain, Austria and a number of other european & international destinations.  My O/H has a £10/mnth contract which gives 600 minutes / 1Gb of data & unlimited texts...  All of which is free
    to use at 'Feel at Home' destinations.  According to text just received from 3 we 'saved' over £100 this year in when we were in Spain & France for 7wks.  Last year when we were in Australia & New Zealand for 2 months we 'saved' even more.  We use 3G for sending
    WhatsApp's, searching sites via the ACSI App & keeping in touch with news & emails to home & UK. Type 'Feel at Home' into a google search & check it out..

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,392 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #8

    We also use 3. No roaming charges in many if not all EU countries 

    Peedee 

  • path
    path Forum Participant Posts: 77
    edited July 2016 #9

    I got a good Vodaphone deal.£14 a month for 4GB Data at home, 2GB in France and rest of Europe, unlimited calls and texts to all phones in France and home, I get a loyalty discount.

    I just paired my phone to my iPad for use in caravan.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited July 2016 #10

    Another vote for Three.

    Good coverage too.

    My only gripe is that you cannot use your data allowance as a personal hotspot abroad, so cannot use the iPad unless there is wifi.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited July 2016 #11

    Another vote for Three.

    Good coverage too.

    My only gripe is that you cannot use your data allowance as a personal hotspot abroad, so cannot use the iPad unless there is wifi.

    You are quite right Ian but how would they know?

    I asked in a 3 shop a few months back and they had not got a clue.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited July 2016 #12

    I don't know, Fysherman.....but when you come home, you get a text message from them telling you how much you saved with their 'feel at home', so I would guess that they do know.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,693 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #13

    Another vote for 3 network here, although I wish they would do a deal with Germany too.

    David 

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,392 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #14

    I don't know, Fysherman.....but when you come home, you get a text message from them telling you how much you saved with their 'feel at home', so I would guess that they do know.

     They do know,I have had a message saying it is not allowed when I tried to connect a tab to FB using my hotspot 

    Peedee 

  • KenAndKathleenReay
    KenAndKathleenReay Forum Participant Posts: 61
    edited July 2016 #15

    Another vote for "3". I use a 3 PAYG SIM in a Mobile wifi dongle. I can share the connection with upto eight devices (ie tablet, laptop, phone) at same time. The dongle I have is any Network, to allow me to use local SIM if in country where "3" do not have
    "free" roaming, but, 3 do market the same dongle, so, they presumably sanction its use in Europe. I have never had a problem using it.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited July 2016 #16

    Neither my Orange or 3 PAYG SIM will let me use the phone as a modem even with it connected via a USB.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited July 2016 #17

    Neither my Orange or 3 PAYG SIM will let me use the phone as a modem even with it connected via a USB.

    See my thread in General about Three and how they treat existing customers.

  • path
    path Forum Participant Posts: 77
    edited July 2016 #18

    My only gripe is that you cannot use your data allowance as a personal hotspot abroad, so cannot use the iPad unless there is wifi.

    I could use Personal Hotspot with my Ipad on Vodaphone 

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
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    edited July 2016 #19

    Another vote for Three.

    Good coverage too.

    My only gripe is that you cannot use your data allowance as a personal hotspot abroad, so cannot use the iPad unless there is wifi.

    I have for the last two years been using my Three SIM  only contact's phone as a WIFI hot spot in France, even this week. However, I can't use my wife's Three PAY as you GO  phone as a hot spot.  I think you will find it depends on type of package you have,
    it has to be a monthly contract for tethering.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited July 2016 #20

    I'm sorry ocside, but there is no Three contract that let's you use your 'feel at home' data allowance as a personal hotspot abroad. 

    Copied from tbe Three web site (Feel at Home section):

    • You can't use your phone as a personal hotspot (tethering) while you're abroad.

    I haven't researched it, but you may be able to use it as a hotspot and pay extra for doing so (in the same way as you can go over your data / calls allowance and pay for the extra usage).

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #21

    My only gripe is that you cannot use your data allowance as a personal hotspot abroad, so cannot use the iPad unless there is wifi.

    I could use Personal Hotspot with my Ipad on Vodaphone 

    i have the same deal as you do, except i only pay £12.50 a month....i am a VERY loyal customerWink....tethering is allowed.

  • Dunclair
    Dunclair Forum Participant Posts: 127
    edited July 2016 #22

    Another vote for "3". I use a 3 PAYG SIM in a Mobile wifi dongle. I can share the connection with upto eight devices (ie tablet, laptop, phone) at same time. The dongle I have is any Network, to allow me to use local SIM if in country where "3" do not have
    "free" roaming, but, 3 do market the same dongle, so, they presumably sanction its use in Europe. I have never had a problem using it.

    I would be very interested to know which dongle you have, if you don't mind telling us.

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #23

    I'm sorry ocside, but there is no Three contract that let's you use your 'feel at home' data allowance as a personal hotspot abroad. 

    Copied from tbe Three web site (Feel at Home section):

    • You can't use your phone as a personal hotspot (tethering) while you're abroad.

    I haven't researched it, but you may be able to use it as a hotspot and pay extra for doing so (in the same way as you can go over your data / calls allowance and pay for the extra usage).

    Whatever the currently offered Three contracts may or may not offer in their terms of use the one I have with them specifically does allow overseas phone tethering, and it assuredly works and is not a costed "add-on".

    As already said mine is a monthly SIM only contract, now about 6 years old. About 18 months ago they "gave" me the "Feel at home " package, again at no extra cost.  My wife's similarly aged pay as you go Three SIM only contract does not have that tethering feature.

  • KenAndKathleenReay
    KenAndKathleenReay Forum Participant Posts: 61
    edited August 2016 #24

    Another vote for "3". I use a 3 PAYG SIM in a Mobile wifi dongle. I can share the connection with upto eight devices (ie tablet, laptop, phone) at same time. The dongle I have is any Network, to allow me to use local SIM if in country where "3" do not have
    "free" roaming, but, 3 do market the same dongle, so, they presumably sanction its use in Europe. I have never had a problem using it.

    I would be very interested to know which dongle you have, if you don't mind telling us.

    Huawei 

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited August 2016 #25

    Another vote for "3". I use a 3 PAYG SIM in a Mobile wifi dongle. I can share the connection with upto eight devices (ie tablet, laptop, phone) at same time. The dongle I have is any Network, to allow me to use local SIM if in country where "3" do not have
    "free" roaming, but, 3 do market the same dongle, so, they presumably sanction its use in Europe. I have never had a problem using it.

    I would be very interested to know which dongle you have, if you don't mind telling us.

    Huawei 

    Write 

    Same here. £30 for 12gb, valid for 12 months. 

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited August 2016 #26

    Nutsytvr - I've been looking at these mifi packages and, as far as I can make out, a Three 'pay as you go' sim (like the one you describe) cannot be used in a Feel at Home destination.

    Apparantly you have to convert your credit to an 'Add On'.......which only appears to last for 30 days. And any unused credit cannot be rolled over to the next 30 days.

    So if my reading is correct, the 12 month period to use the 12GB is reduced to 30 days........or have I got this wrong?

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,693 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #27

    Three are also increasing the countries that come under 'feel at home'.  Italy and France ae included, but Germany and Belgium are soon to be included.

    David 

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #28

    Nutsytvr - I've been looking at these mifi packages and, as far as I can make out, a Three 'pay as you go' sim (like the one you describe) cannot be used in a Feel at Home destination.

    Apparantly you have to convert your credit to an 'Add On'.......which only appears to last for 30 days. And any unused credit cannot be rolled over to the next 30 days.

    So if my reading is correct, the 12 month period to use the 12GB is reduced to 30 days........or have I got this wrong?

    Any views on this?

    I'll try to check at a Three shop if I get chance over the next couple of days.

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited August 2016 #29

    Nutsytvr - I've been looking at these mifi packages and, as far as I can make out, a Three 'pay as you go' sim (like the one you describe) cannot be used in a Feel at Home destination.

    Apparantly you have to convert your credit to an 'Add On'.......which only appears to last for 30 days. And any unused credit cannot be rolled over to the next 30 days.

    So if my reading is correct, the 12 month period to use the 12GB is reduced to 30 days........or have I got this wrong?

    Write

    Ian

    My paygo 3 sim has feel at home. I've used it in France, Spain and USA without a problem. I've only had to buy an add on when my grandkids used up my 12gb on youtube. Add ons do only last a month. I've just bought a new 12 month sim and changed my wifi password.
    No more youtube!!

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited August 2016 #30

    Ian

    Just checked the 3 website. £30/12gb/12month Payg mobile data sim clearly states "use in 18 destinations worldwide"

    Paul

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited August 2016 #31

    Paul,

    Yes you are correct.

    Called at Three shop today and they said that it's only phone payg  sims that need to be converted to an Add On. 

    Mifi sims are supplied ready to use in any of the Feel at Home countries.

    Thanks for tbe information, very useful.

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