Best Travel SIM whose data packages/credits don’t expire?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Montreal
Posts: 247
Best Travel SIM whose data packages/credits don’t expire?
I travel internationally infrequently (1x/year in the summer) and have always relied on WiFi but now feel like a small amount of data (eg. 500MB) would make my trips a bit smoother.
However after hours of research I’ve had a hard time finding travel SIMs that won’t expire before my next trip (for example any data packages purchased with KnowRoaming, SurfRoam, etc would all expire by the time of my next trip and would make no sense considering my low needs).
Any advice for me? I wouldn’t mind buying a bigger data package as long as it lasts for at least a few years...
However after hours of research I’ve had a hard time finding travel SIMs that won’t expire before my next trip (for example any data packages purchased with KnowRoaming, SurfRoam, etc would all expire by the time of my next trip and would make no sense considering my low needs).
Any advice for me? I wouldn’t mind buying a bigger data package as long as it lasts for at least a few years...
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,027
I travel internationally infrequently (1x/year in the summer) and have always relied on WiFi but now feel like a small amount of data (eg. 500MB) would make my trips a bit smoother.
However after hours of research I’ve had a hard time finding travel SIMs that won’t expire before my next trip (for example any data packages purchased with KnowRoaming, SurfRoam, etc would all expire by the time of my next trip and would make no sense considering my low needs).
Any advice for me? I wouldn’t mind buying a bigger data package as long as it lasts for at least a few years...
However after hours of research I’ve had a hard time finding travel SIMs that won’t expire before my next trip (for example any data packages purchased with KnowRoaming, SurfRoam, etc would all expire by the time of my next trip and would make no sense considering my low needs).
Any advice for me? I wouldn’t mind buying a bigger data package as long as it lasts for at least a few years...
List of Prepaid SIM threads (country-specific and multi-country)
eSIM thread
Three Travelsim
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Montreal
Posts: 247
Probably better to buy a new SIM for each country when you arrive. Cost may be ~$20~$30 (wild guess) for a month/30 days. Will vary a lot by destination. Where do you travel to?
List of Prepaid SIM threads (country-specific and multi-country)
eSIM thread
Three Travelsim
List of Prepaid SIM threads (country-specific and multi-country)
eSIM thread
Three Travelsim
Mostly just Europe (Belgium and Spain this year) but with two countries on the docket, the idea of getting a unique SIM for each spot was a hassle I was hoping to avoid...
i just stumbled on www.wraptel.com, not sure how legit they are but they seem to have what I’m looking for...
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,027
i just stumbled on www.wraptel.com, not sure how legit they are but they seem to have what I’m looking for...
Nothing is free
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Montreal
Posts: 247
What is cost? For phone & data? ---> "Data is charged in 10kb increments"
Nothing is free
Nothing is free
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,689
#7
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 592
There are inexpensive 30 day Pay As You Go plans from carriers in Europe like Three and Vodaphone that might suit your needs. Three has plans that give 3,000 voice minutes, 3,000 texts, and 1-4 Gb of data for $13-$14.
What phone do you use, and what does your current carrier charge for Euro roaming? Sometimes it's worth the extra fee to deal with them and keep your phone number active. There are also esim services that you can possibly add to your device for a dual sim function. I wouldn't focus on what you might leave on the table if you pay less in the long run.
What phone do you use, and what does your current carrier charge for Euro roaming? Sometimes it's worth the extra fee to deal with them and keep your phone number active. There are also esim services that you can possibly add to your device for a dual sim function. I wouldn't focus on what you might leave on the table if you pay less in the long run.
#8
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
For Europe, either buy a Three UK SIM from amazon.com/.ca ahead of time or just buy a month of prepaid wherever you land and call it a day. €15 will usually take care of it. When you come back a year later, do the same thing again.
The special "roaming SIMs" are universally a terrible deal.
The special "roaming SIMs" are universally a terrible deal.
#9
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: YUL
Posts: 1,001
I use a 3 mobile SIM. Yes the package expires afte rone month, but they are dirt cheap compared to my Canadian phone plan. I usually pay about 10GBP for 8 gb data and unlimited text calls in 70 countries worldwide. If I could get away with using it at home I would.
#10
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,618
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Mobile-Pay-Broadband-Data-Black/dp/B01M3VJ2B2/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=3%2Bsim%2Bcard&qid=1583250572&sr=8-2-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExSVdKSktONkNaTElOJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjgyMzgwMkszRTZHNUs4OEo4TCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDQ5ODI3Mkw2NVFPTzE1VzNDSyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Montreal
Posts: 247
There are inexpensive 30 day Pay As You Go plans from carriers in Europe like Three and Vodaphone that might suit your needs. Three has plans that give 3,000 voice minutes, 3,000 texts, and 1-4 Gb of data for $13-$14.
What phone do you use, and what does your current carrier charge for Euro roaming? Sometimes it's worth the extra fee to deal with them and keep your phone number active. There are also esim services that you can possibly add to your device for a dual sim function. I wouldn't focus on what you might leave on the table if you pay less in the long run.
What phone do you use, and what does your current carrier charge for Euro roaming? Sometimes it's worth the extra fee to deal with them and keep your phone number active. There are also esim services that you can possibly add to your device for a dual sim function. I wouldn't focus on what you might leave on the table if you pay less in the long run.
I’ve decided to go with WrapTel and I’ll report back in case it might be helpful to others
#13
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
I have used giffgaff for several recent trips. You start by putting some credit (I remember it being 10 pounds GBP) in your account and then can choose a PAYG plan or get a 30-day plan (called a Goodybag) with the data expiring after 30 days. For the amount you seem to be seeking, you'd have a cost of 6-8 GBP for the month you travel. When your Goodybag expires, you don't need to purchase another Goodybag immediately, and a text or a call every six months (using the credit you originally deposited in your account which doesn't expire) keeps your SIM alive so that you wouldn't have to pay anything between your yearly trips and then could recharge once in time for your next trip.
Note that giffgaff has increased their data allowance for each of their Goodybag plans over the past couple of years so that the base amount could possibly rise from 500MB. I also like giffgaff (a MVNO that piggybacks on the O2 network) because they allow recharging with a non-UK credit card. And while UK-based, roaming in the EU, including Belgium and Spain, is charged at the same rate as use within the UK--unless you run over, in which case, giffgaff is not for you because the rates become extremely expensive. It's one of the reasons I buy the 20 pound GBP Goodybag which has an overall 80 GB limit but a 20 GB limit in the EU. I've never exceeded 10 GB for a trip of roughly two weeks.
More information here: https://www.giffgaff.com/sim-only-plans
Note that giffgaff has increased their data allowance for each of their Goodybag plans over the past couple of years so that the base amount could possibly rise from 500MB. I also like giffgaff (a MVNO that piggybacks on the O2 network) because they allow recharging with a non-UK credit card. And while UK-based, roaming in the EU, including Belgium and Spain, is charged at the same rate as use within the UK--unless you run over, in which case, giffgaff is not for you because the rates become extremely expensive. It's one of the reasons I buy the 20 pound GBP Goodybag which has an overall 80 GB limit but a 20 GB limit in the EU. I've never exceeded 10 GB for a trip of roughly two weeks.
More information here: https://www.giffgaff.com/sim-only-plans
#15
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 592
You'll laugh, but because I’m pretty cheap and pretty minimalist, I use an old iPhone 5 and my carrier is Public Mobile, a low-cost alternative that is super cheap but so bare bones that they have no service in Europe.
I’ve decided to go with WrapTel and I’ll report back in case it might be helpful to others
I’ve decided to go with WrapTel and I’ll report back in case it might be helpful to others
Last edited by draver; Mar 16, 2020 at 10:28 am Reason: a waste of time