Internet when travelling in Europe (1 Viewer)

[Paddyfrog]

We live in France, but wonder if you know how to access the internet in France, Spain and Portugal? We want to keep in touch with the offspring. Hope it doesn't mean we have to use organised camping sites all the time? We love to disappear for a week into a very large forest...... can it be done and still remain in contact should they and we want it?

Any experience and recommendations? Thank you

 

[Boringfrog]

Hello Cousin Paddy, I recommend a 3 sim and a MiFi unit.

 

[Paddyfrog]

Geez Boringfrog, you were quick off the hop, a reply within 2 mins of posting!

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[Riverbankannie]

A lot of us have a Mifi device such as a HUAWEI. If you get an unlocked one, you can buy a data sim from 3 preloaded for use abroad. HOWEVER, you have to use it in UK first if you buy it here. I would imagine that you could get similar in France though.
With a Mifi you can use things like laptops, tablets and phones, up to 10 devices at a time I believe.

Another option is to get a smartphone with a large data allowance. They seem to be dropping in price and have plenty of data for emails and things like that. Mine from EE in U.K. allows me to use half my data allowance each month roaming abroad.

 

[Boringfrog]

Using a 3 sim in my phone now (in Spain). Should be a 60 day limit, but see how it goes.

 

[Boringfrog]

A lot of us have a Mifi device such as a HUAWEI. If you get an unlocked one, you can buy a data sim from 3 preloaded for use abroad. HOWEVER, you have to use it in UK first if you buy it here. I would imagine that you could get similar in France though.
With a Mifi you can use things like laptops, tablets and phones, up to 10 devices at a time I believe.

Another option is to get a smartphone with a large data allowance. They seem to be dropping in price and have plenty of data for emails and things like that. Mine from EE in U.K. allows me to use half my data allowance each month roaming abroad.

Sorry, but they don't need activating in the UK.

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[Riverbankannie]

Sorry, but they don't need activating in the UK.

Sorry if I am wrong.

 

[Madcaravanner]

IF you are wild camping then look out for truck stops as a lot of their cafes have wifi and a decent priced meal (Les Routiers especially in France) also find a Mcdonalds and sit out side

then there's MiFi as described above

Also there are USB Dongles that work on 3G/4G mine is PAYG so gets topped up as necessary

 

[MR. FUSION]

Sorry, but they don't need activating in the UK.

The official 3 line is they do, but I found mine would not activate in Europe over WiFi, as I remember I had to use my phone data 4G link to do it. Have you activated yours over WiFi ???

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[Huwmari]

We have always managed by finding either an Office de Tourisme or a bar with wifi so haven't needed to purchase anything extra.

 

[Boringfrog]

The official 3 line is they do, but I found mine would not activate in Europe over WiFi, as I remember I had to use my phone data 4G link to do it. Have you activated yours over WiFi ???

WiFi? Needs to be activated using the 3 data network. Put sim in MiFi unit turn on, done.

 

[Ridgeway]

i just connect via my phone, usually enough speed and capacity for what we need

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[MR. FUSION]

The official 3 line is they do, but I found mine would not activate in Europe over WiFi, as I remember I had to use my phone data 4G link to do it. Have you activated yours over WiFi ???

I meant mifi (senior moment) it wouldn't activate in my mifi but did in my phone

 

[colyboy]

Don't forget the "3" sim only lasts only fot two months while abroad.

Colyboy

 

[GWAYGWAY]

Sorry, but they don't need activating in the UK.

Mine neede to be activated in Europe. I got it and it worked just fine here but when I had a problem in France it DID NOT WORK, they had not activated roaming, that was EE and I also could not ring in either as they need +44 on the front of the UK code not ++44 or 0044 or 1944 or anything else, it had to be +44, all the websites i had contacted gave me the other code and not +44 so I just could not ring anybody. I do not know if different companies used the the other codes or just phone boxes over ther. That is the trouble on you first trip, you just do not know these things.

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[Just smiffy]

I have used about 7 data sims on the Three network in the last year all activated in France and Spain without any problems whatsoever.

We are data hungry and a 12gig sim lasts us about 2-3wks so the 2mth limit doesn't effect us and the huawei mifi has never failed to get a signal....

 

[Boringfrog]

Mine neede to be activated in Europe. I got it and it worked just fine here but when I had a problem in France it DID NOT WORK, they had not activated roaming, that was EE and I also could not ring in either as they need +44 on the front of the UK code not ++44 or 0044 or 1944 or anything else, it had to be +44, all the websites i had contacted gave me the other code and not +44 so I just could not ring anybody. I do not know if different companies used the the other codes or just phone boxes over ther. That is the trouble on you first trip, you just do not know these things.

EE......shudda gone with 3.

 

[DBK]

We live in France, but wonder if you know how to access the internet in France, Spain and Portugal? We want to keep in touch with the offspring. Hope it doesn't mean we have to use organised camping sites all the time? We love to disappear for a week into a very large forest...... can it be done and still remain in contact should they and we want it?

Any experience and recommendations? Thank you

If you are based in France your best bet is to see what roaming deals you can get from a French operator. For UK based folk Three are a good option but I doubt they are the best in your case.

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[Heyupluv]

Paddy frog.. what internet provider are you with in France... and what are you paying a month ..not being nosey

 

[Heyupluv]

There is one package on at the moment ( I think it is still activve )....40 gb of mobile data anywhere in europe..unlimited home live box internet..unlimited text sms ..mms..unlimted home phone...unlimited mobile in and out of france and also ulimited phone to mobile phone and to landline in europe also other mobiles whiile out of france in europe to france or other european countries also free mobile calls to USA & Canada ..plus what you may not be interested in french tv

 

[Northernraider]

I have a large data allowance on.my phone I can use anywhere in Europe with no extra cause and just got a tablet deal with 20gb from ee that can also be used anywhere in Europe so if the signals ok It should be fine

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[PeteH]

Caveat. Not tried outside he UK. But, I have a Cheap "Smart" phone, originally bought for Granddaughter to use whilst with us from America, with a 3 Sim (24gb lasts up to 2 year). I can Host up to 10 devices on it. Cost me £35 off fleabay. Plus £22 for the sim. (Also fleabay) worked up as far as the Isle of Skye. Earlier this year. It is alleged that you can use it all over the EU (Spit!) if you register for roaming?.

 

[filopastry]

How about these. I have used Lebara in the UK when visiting and found them very good .
https://mobile.lebara.com/fr/en/data-plans/c/payg-data

 

[Southdowners]

We have an EE dongle. It's faster than our wifi at home and, I think, really cheap to use.

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[Allanm]

No point getting a three sim if you live in France, so how about a Free sim?
http://mobile.free.fr/

 

[Munchie]

I have a contract with Orange in France, 30 gig a month for €25ish all data available for roaming.
In saying that it has not worked in Spain, will have to visit Orange shop on our return to France.
We carry 3 payg sims 12 gig and a 24 gig one. These are 12 month and 24 month.
3 has worked for us in France, Spain and Portugal!
Hope this helps.

 

[Solwaybuggier]

As OP is living in France, surely this will affect what options are best? French data tariffs always seem very dear (certainly compared to Portugal) - and a lot of options require you to have a French bank a/c (which OP presumably has.)

The best domestic sim option in France always used to be the Joe network - easy for a foreigner to get - but they were taken over by Virgin a couple of years back, and suddenly you needed a French bank a/c. Might still be worth looking at Virgin Fr though to see if they still offer that sort of tariff - similar to Giffgaff in the UK.

Another vote for Huawei mifi - preferably unlocked, although in the uk you can often buy them via a network (often EE) very cheap on a 30 day rolling contract (which you can then cancel immediately) and it’s easy enough to find unlock codes on eBay. Again, not sure what options there are in the French market?

(Edit - Started writing this before 2 previous responses, both of which relate to French accounts.)

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[DBK]

I have a contract with Orange in France, 30 gig a month for €25ish all data available for roaming.
In saying that it has not worked in Spain, will have to visit Orange shop on our return to France.
We carry 3 payg sims 12 gig and a 24 gig one. These are 12 month and 24 month.
3 has worked for us in France, Spain and Portugal!
Hope this helps.

Have you tried logging in to another network? If you get it to scan for networks and don't see orange try and get it to connect to another provider.

 

[teddybear]

Using my EE based smart phone,has worked fine through France, Spain and Portugal.I get 3/4 of my UK allowance for data and unlimited calls and texts per month

 

[maison]

We regularly use the free WiFi at French McDonalds outlets. It’s reasonably fast and reliable but, when we tried to do the same on our last visit to Spain, the McDonalds we found did not have free WiFi.

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