Question about What's App

I use WhatsApp but not a lot, mainly for text when I’m in Europe. Yes, both parties have to have the app downloaded. If more than two are on the chat, all need to have downloaded the app. You can set up a group chat but I don’t know how.
It works only on WiFi or data, not on landline.

As for your US friends, they may not know to check the app. It’s not commonly used in the US. You can call/text your UK friend from the US if you want to test the app.

WhatsApp uses phone numbers as identifiers, like a name. But it doesnt use phone service. Both of you must have WhatsApp because you are calling from App to App. Most of my US friends have it, but they dont live in AZ. Why have it when calls are free in the US? Video calls and transferring pictures and documents mostly. Oh and for calling me in Europe.

Oh, and if tgey have WhatsApp and dont answer you, it's either because they don't have notifications turned on or they are avoiding you
With me, its usually the later.

Go to YouTube and search for " how to use WhatsApp ". Many quite recent videos will pop up, aimed at beginners and the not tech savvy.

And yes, anyone you want to contact must also have the app. And have notifications turned on. We've used it many places on several continents. We prefer to just text - which gets around sometimes major time zone differences. Video and "phone" calls are also possible. I put phone in quotes because you aren't really phoning them, just doing a audio call between the 2 apps.

What kind of garble was being produced when you searched here for WhatsApp? I only saw threads that appeared to be in readable form.

CJean

I just put in WhatsApp in the search bar and got results. Previously i had put in something like what's app and an entirely different word came up. Then the results came up on the left hand side of the page in a column and I think I remember only one result.

I get free text messages with my phone plan. Calls will be something like 7 cents a minute unless I want to buy a $10 a day plan. I am very comfortable with texting only.

I had heard so much about WhatsApp that I downloaded the app but I do not know if it would be of any value to me.

Mr E and Horsewoofie

Thank you for the information.

I had heard so much about What's App but do not know if it would be of any value to me.

And here is the word that came up when i typed what's app in the search bar: Appenzell

and then some or all of my account came up in the left hand column but in a long row.

I tried to duplicate but can not seem to.

We used What’s App to communicate with our guide in Pompeii (chat, 2024) and self guided bike tour companies Italy (phone and chats 2024) and Germany (chat 2025). And for a chat with a hotel in Mississippi (2026)

Since Microsoft killed Skype, we also use it to call our son in California regularly now, as well as a friend in Madrid.

The App also can look Into my contact list, so I can type in a name … and voila!

And yes, it seems to be popular in Europe.

Plus, it saves money by using hotel wi-fi and avoiding charges on our US based cell phone acct.

We used WhatsApp to communicate with the taxi driver who picked us up at the Athens airport. We were flying from US with a connection in Munich and I was able to send a message from the plane letting him know we would be arriving on schedule.

Our initial contact was via Gmail but he sent me his WhatsApp number, saying he preferred using WhatsApp for future messages.

Bostonphil, I’m having the same problem with the search feature that you are having. I didn’t pay attention at first thinking our beloved webmaster was working on the site. But I just tried searching “WhatsApp” and got the same gobblygoog as you (formatted like an old site map). This is on my IPhone 17. When I use search on my computer it is “normal.”
I’m forwarding this to the webmaster for repair.

BP, are you using WiFi? I just tried turning off WiFi and using data only on my phone. Search feature returned to its normal self. Cox Communications changed to Spectrum in September while I was in Italy. There's a glitch in the communication somewhere. I let the webmaster know this too.

BP since you mentioned hotels., you may want to read this thread so you don’t get caught in any more scams:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/paris-hotel-whats-app-confirmation-scam

WhatsApp is ubiquitous in Europe, I am traveling now. However, as already helpfully noted, both parties must have the app or you will get a message that # doesn't.
You can (and should) let it sync with your phone contacts. (I can't remember if that was just a permission or automatic.)
My cell carrier is 5-10$ a day to use outside N America. So I try to use only wifi, which is how you use/make WhatsApp calls. It will ring.
Once you are familiar with it it's just like what you're used to with your phone for texts. I text and send photos to family, I created a group with their names.
Do you know someone to practice with?
Good luck!

First learned about What’s App from a woman who I rented an apartment from during a London visit.

She used it to contact me while she was visiting family in China.

I use it to communicate with friends in London.

I have heard that it is popular in Europe and used so as to get free
calls.

A WhatsApp call is only "free" if you use a free internet connection, such as a hotel's free Wi-Fi.

If you aren't connected to local Wi-Fi:

WhatsApp will use very little data from your regular mobile plan if you only send or receive text messages, however, if you send or receive photos or files, and especially if you make audio or video calls, data usage can be significant.

So, as long as you stick to text, the impact on your data allowance is negligible.

As mentioned above, make sure everyone you might want to contact has WhatsApp installed on their device.

bostonphil7, when you travel its sort of nice. I am not sure how much it gets used from EU citizen to EU citizen. The reason Americans keep running into it might have somethng to do with the fact that they have a US phone number and the tour guide doest want to pay for an international call to tell you that they are standing outside your hotel. All my guides and transfer services have used it, as well as hotels and the couple of short-term rental owners that I have done business with.

My EU friends have for the same reason, but generally use a regular telephone, or texts except for photos ... photos are another typcial tourist thing. You and the guide took photo and so did your S.O. then set up a group on WhatsApp and all of you post your photos to share. But set the app where you only download that stuff when you are on WiFi so you dont trash your data account.

Whatsapp basically gives you the functionality of Apple iMessage and Facetime in a cross platform app.

Apple never gained the same level of market dominance over here they did in the US so other services filled the gap.

I can only talk from my UK experience but it is used very commonly over here.
I can’t think of the last time I sent a ‘traditional’ text to a friend or called them using my mobile service.
The hotel you want to be in contact with does need to be on WhatsApp, but I doubt you will find one who isn't these days. Save the hotel phone number in your phone and it will work.

Regarding use from EU citizen to EU citizen... tho I am no longer an EU citizen (maybe one day I will be again...) I can say that personally I use WhatsApp for all communications (including many work communications), and so does everyone I know in the UK. I also use it with people in other European countries, and it's the main mode of communication across African countries as well, at least all the ones I've been to. It's extremely common in Asia, except of course for China which has WeChat (they have their own systems for everything!). I really think the US and maybe Canada are the main countries NOT using it (besides the aforementioned China). It's very rare I use the phone line for calling or texting- everything is done via WhatsApp.

One thing about sharing photos- WhatsApp very annoyingly degrades the quality. So if someone is sending me a photo and I care about it being high resolution, I ask them to send it via iMessage if they have an iPhone. On the other hand, this means someone sending you photos over WhatsApp won't use up much of your data if you're not on wifi.

A slightly annoying thing about WhatsApp is you need to have the contact saved in your phone to contact them- you can't enter a number in WhatsApp. So if I want to message e.g. a taxi driver while I'm travelling, I need to save their number even tho I'll probably only use it once.

Just to square the circle for bostonphil; even though hotels et al may use whatsapp a visiting tourist doesn't need to. If it all sounds complicated don't worry and don't bother with whatsapp.

The only time a tourist might need whatsapp is to sync up with a private guide or maybe a private driver they are dealing with outside one of the big apps/services. But I'd expect that to be agreed ahead of time so no big deal.

What’s app works with esims as well. I turn off my US line and use What’s App while traveling with an eSIM. I can both text and call. I find it useful.

Thank you to everyone for all your helpful messages.

I do not think I will need What's App but I will keep it on my phone.

And I will try to answer some of your responses individually.

UK local here - I live on WhatsApp. Encrypted end to end, I send and receive voice messages, text messages, photos and videos with friends and contacts around the world. Frequently in communications with local community members, medical staff, utilities, folks in Canada, the US, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Australia.

You can install - and I have - on multiple devices and they all sync. I have it on the iPhone and iPad as well as the laptop.

I find it very intuitive.

Same as everyone else here. All my communication is done on WhatsApp. Even the BBC now tell you to WhatsApp your comments rather than text them. Nobody uses text. The only text messages I get are spam.

In Germany, everyone uses it too, and we have lots of small groups. Good for video calls too. In Spain and Portugal on the Camino, it is used almost exclusively. I used it in the US, because I didn't have a sim card to use there, but every place that had wifi, I could use Whatsapp. Made it all very easy.
Agree about the text stuff. It is either spam or used to verify signing into one of my accounts.

Phil I sent you a PM about the gobblygoog problem.

"Nobody uses text. The only text messages I get are spam."

And nobody calls either using the traditional phone network. For me, personal and work calls via WhatsApp, and rhe only time I get normal phone calls it's a spam call.

I appreciate all comments. Thank you everyone.

Once I did not care for texting on my regular cell phone number but I got so many texts, I had no choice but to get used to them. Most of them on my cell phone are genuine but there are some spam.

I have a home land line and the majority of calls are spam but every so often, I get a genuine phone call on my home land line.

I will try Whats App when in London just to test it and see what happens.

I will try calling my Premier Inn. Maybe I will try calling it before I leave.

it would be good for you to become familiar with the app before you go. It is possible that your friend has WhatsApp. Bearing in mind the time difference you send her a test message. When that's successful you could have an audio or video call with her. As long as both of you have wifi you'll be fine. And it is completely free.

I'd be surprised if the Premier Inn is on WhatsApp. According to the website it has a standard landline only. It would have to publish a mobile / cell number to be on WhatsApp. They aren't big on high customer service.

WhatsApp was bought-out from the original owners about 8 yrs ago and is now fully owned by Meta. I deleted Facebook and Messenger from my mobile due to Meta's unsubstantial privacy policy and commonplace reports from aquaintances of being hacked, I'm not a user of WhatsApp. (Simply my preference, not suggesting I know better than anyone else, so thanks in advance for affording me the same courtesy.)

Nigel, interestingly, I thought the same thing about Premier Inn not having a WhatsApp number, but I just checked, and it looks like they do.

I would be surprised if anyone would get much of a response from it, but you never know. Here is the number: +447484920968

I will try Whats App when in London just to test it and see what
happens.

You can do it anywhere, might as well try from the US if you want to test it? Please do NOT respond to messages that might look legit asking for your personal details, credit card info, etc. That will be spam!

ok so let me be certain that I understand how to do it right

Let's say that I want to call Premier Inn . I click on my What's App and dial the number that Mardee has posted.

And it should at a minimum ring. I would be shocked if anyone answers but maybe I would get a voice mail.

And that leads me to another question about Premier Inn. Doing research a few years back, I came across angry guests who were trying to call Premier Inn. They were usually put on hold and it took a very long time before they got picked up if they did get picked up.

But unless I misunderstood, Premier Inn charged the guest something every minute while they were on hold. It was not from their phone plan. It was from Premier Inn.

Is that correct?

Let's say, something goes wrong with my flight and I want to contact Premier Inn to let them know. How do I best do that?

I do have a landline phone number to my Premier Inn but it would cost me something every minute going through my phone plan.

Nigel, my friend is not big on technology. I can send her a message and not hear from her until days later.

Ok so I added the What's App number for Premier Inn that Mardee gave me and I did get the message that it was a valid What's App number.

I called it and got the message that the business did not accept phone calls but I could chat instead.

I called a friend and it rang several times. I know that she has voice mail but it never picked up

I was able to chat with Meta AI and it gave me a lot of information about how to use What App in London for free but I am going to call Spectrum before I leave and talk to a human being before leaving.

The Whats App number is only answered between 9am and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday (it is now 6.49pm UK time) or 8am to 6pm on a weekday.

The London Victoria PI direct 'phone number is 0333 321 1276.

0333 is a non geographic code which is included in most landline or mobile call packages. Whether it is included from a non UK sim is a moot point. You should also get a hotel specific e-mail address a few days before your stay.

I am unclear why you need WhatsApp at all. You have traveled with your cell phone plan many times before and it worked for your needs. If you truly only need to make calls in emergency situations, then just use your cell phone. The minimal cost will be worth skipping the stress of trying to use an app you don't know how to use or that may not work with your hotel or friends. Yes, it is used by many people and businesses in Europe but it is not the only way to communicate. Since you are leaving rather soon, save the learning about WhatsApp for your next trip when you have time to practice and get comfortable with it. Also given the possibility for scams (see Mardee's recent post), I suggest removing it from your phone before you leave.

Let's say, something goes wrong with my flight and I want to contact Premier Inn to let them know

You are landing in the morning, and Premier Inn has 24 hour check in. So, the only reason you will need to contact Premier Inn in almost all circumstances is if your flight is delayed by 24 hours or more.

In most normal circumstances, even if you have a 12 to 15 hour delay you will still arrive at Heathrow before the overnight flight curfew at almost midnight.
It doesn't then matter what time you leave Heathrow into London as there are still tube services, Elizabeth Line and National Express departures until gone midnight (Nat Ex until 1am).
Then the night bus to Trafalgar Square all night, so it is impossible to ever get stranded at Heathrow, or not be able to reach any central London hotel.

Thank you CL

and also thank you isn31c

It's worth noting that a person's voicemail is independent of WhatsApp. WhatsApp has no voice messaging function. One can use it to send a text message, though.

I used WhatsApp last night for a video call to my granddaughter. She's in New York, I'm in Bordeaux. Worked perfectly (as would FaceTime, but I'm not an Apple guy). It's been a big money saver when calling back to the USA.

voice messages are easy in WhatsApp. In the text box on a laptop, next to the text box and the camera icon there is a microphone symbol labelled Voice Message. Press, talk. presto.

On an iPhone it is in green. When recording it turns red.

Thank you folks

I am going to leave What's App on my phone but chances are I will not be needing it.

I will not be calling back to the USA or I have no plans to call back to the USA.

I am going to want to communicate with my friend and my cousin, both who will be in London. I think that email and text message will do fine for my cousin and friend. .

Of course, I hope to post pictures on facebook and I will be sending emails to friends in the USA. And text some friends in the USA. But that will be done through Apple email and ordinary text

I do not think I will be needing What's App but I plan to keep it on my phone just in case.

I am only going to be gone a week.