SpaceBass
Sep 13, 06, 6:45 pm
Hey folks....
I'm sorry to be "that guy"...I did search, really!
I'm headed to France and then Spain for 2 weeks in October. Last time I was in Paris (feb) I grabbed a bouygues carte normande...once it ran out I was able, with my pathetic French, to go into a tobac and get a top-up code and after another 3 hours I managed to understand the menus enough to get the code in...I suspect I'll have to do that again, unless anyone has some hints. I've tried online until I'm blue in the face, but it looks like you cannot top up my particular carte normande online.
In Spain we'll be in San Sebastian, Rioja and Barcelona over about 8 days.
My main goals here are to be able to receive any emergency work calls- I expect non, I'm not that important , and to be able to make and receive calls b/t family and friends in the states. Also traveling with my father who will get work calls (he's more important ;) ) so I'll open this to him too....
Using my VoIP server and some linux fun, I set up my home "answering machine" so people can press 5 (instead of 1 for me or 2 for Mrs. SpaceBass) and then type a password and it will call my cell phone. The trick is that I have to get a SIM and then use a computer (travel with one, of course) and enter that number into my VoIP server.
I also get a local number (its so cheap...like $5 for one month) in whatever country I'm in. Then I can call that number, it recognizes my cell number and gives me a dialtone...just like I was in my house...then I can make calls anywhere in the US for free... I already have my Paris and Barcelona numbers...very useful for making reservations, etc... they ring my house now, they'll ring my cell when I'm there. So I have local numbers in Paris and Barcelona...but out of 14 days I'm only in each of those cities 2 and 4 days respectively. Is calling Barcelona from Rioja (Elcigo) going to kill me? What about Paris from Bordeaux?
So...back to the question at hand... What's my best option for 8 days across Basque country in Spain? Anything that will serve Spain and France? While I'm not trying to break the bank, but this is largely for fun too...I strangely enjoy this stuff. Its nice for pet and house sitters to be able to reach us....its nice for work... so I dont mind spending $40 / country/ SIM...but I'm not buying a $40 SIM in each city...not that dedicated :D
I'd really apericate any ideas on SIMs in Spain or ways to easily top off my bouygues SIM...or something that will work in both countries...
Oh, and I'm not entertaining the calling card option...just not as much fun!
I'm sorry to be "that guy"...I did search, really!
I'm headed to France and then Spain for 2 weeks in October. Last time I was in Paris (feb) I grabbed a bouygues carte normande...once it ran out I was able, with my pathetic French, to go into a tobac and get a top-up code and after another 3 hours I managed to understand the menus enough to get the code in...I suspect I'll have to do that again, unless anyone has some hints. I've tried online until I'm blue in the face, but it looks like you cannot top up my particular carte normande online.
In Spain we'll be in San Sebastian, Rioja and Barcelona over about 8 days.
My main goals here are to be able to receive any emergency work calls- I expect non, I'm not that important , and to be able to make and receive calls b/t family and friends in the states. Also traveling with my father who will get work calls (he's more important ;) ) so I'll open this to him too....
Using my VoIP server and some linux fun, I set up my home "answering machine" so people can press 5 (instead of 1 for me or 2 for Mrs. SpaceBass) and then type a password and it will call my cell phone. The trick is that I have to get a SIM and then use a computer (travel with one, of course) and enter that number into my VoIP server.
I also get a local number (its so cheap...like $5 for one month) in whatever country I'm in. Then I can call that number, it recognizes my cell number and gives me a dialtone...just like I was in my house...then I can make calls anywhere in the US for free... I already have my Paris and Barcelona numbers...very useful for making reservations, etc... they ring my house now, they'll ring my cell when I'm there. So I have local numbers in Paris and Barcelona...but out of 14 days I'm only in each of those cities 2 and 4 days respectively. Is calling Barcelona from Rioja (Elcigo) going to kill me? What about Paris from Bordeaux?
So...back to the question at hand... What's my best option for 8 days across Basque country in Spain? Anything that will serve Spain and France? While I'm not trying to break the bank, but this is largely for fun too...I strangely enjoy this stuff. Its nice for pet and house sitters to be able to reach us....its nice for work... so I dont mind spending $40 / country/ SIM...but I'm not buying a $40 SIM in each city...not that dedicated :D
I'd really apericate any ideas on SIMs in Spain or ways to easily top off my bouygues SIM...or something that will work in both countries...
Oh, and I'm not entertaining the calling card option...just not as much fun!