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Giving a phone number for reservations

Posted by (New York City) on

I am planning to be in Scotland (mostly Edinburgh, with a couple of day trips elsewhere) for the last week of this month. I have already learned a great deal from this forum and will no doubt be pelting you all with questions in the next couple of weeks.

Here's the first one: In preparation for my trip, I bought an unlocked dual-SIM phone and ordered a Giffgaff SIM card for local calls and internet access in the UK. I set up my Giffgaff account and got my UK phone number, though it won't be active until I arrive in Edinburgh and activate the SIM.

I would like to make a few restaurant reservations in advance, while still in the US, and I am unsure which mobile number to give as a contact--my US number or my UK number?

Posted by
4444 posts

Use your home number and tell them it's for WhatsApp (assuming you have WhatsApp). Even if you get a local SIM card, WhatsApp will still use your home number.

Posted by
2267 posts

I always do what Allan suggests above. I try to mention somewhere in a notes/comments field that the number is “WhatsApp only from (my date of departure from the US)”

Posted by
613 posts

Everyone in Europe uses WhatsApp, and once you adopt it you will see why.

Posted by
199 posts

@ponygirl813, I actually have used WhatsApp—just not for this purpose.

Thank you all for the suggestion!

Posted by
1317 posts

They will only call you if you’re a no show so just put any number. I’ve never had a restaurant WhatsApp me. If they use an online booking system you’ll often get an email a few days before to cancel or confirm your booking.

Posted by
358 posts

The chances of them calling you are fairly slim - so just give either

Posted by
720 posts

I'd give them your giffgaff number, since in the remote case they do try to call, it will be the day of the reservation to let you know the kitchen had a fire. Some of the online booking systems won't accept an international number.

BTW, the GiffGaff activation process doesn't actually require you stick the sim card in a phone. It's all done online and you will get your (future) number at that time. I activate as soon as I hit 30 days before my return home since I only want to pay for one month, and swap sim cards while on the airplane. Also a tip, Giffgaff will auto-renew unless you explicitly turn it off despite thinking you bought a one month subscription.

Posted by
199 posts

@jjgurley, thanks for the Giffgaff tips!

I used the wrong word when I said "activate"; I just meant that the number won't really be operational until I get to the UK. I have already activated the SIM and received my UK phone number. I've even inserted the SIM into my phone. Since it's dual-SIM, I'm using the e-SIM for domestic service via prepaid T-Mobile and the physical slot for the Giffgaff SIM.

Posted by
332 posts

They will only call you if you’re a no show so just put any number

Not these days. Most restaurants are contacting people by text or other means the day before to ask them to confirm they are coming. With close to 50% no shows for restaurant bookings at the moment who can blame them.

Posted by
332 posts

The chances of them calling you are fairly slim - so just give either

Maybe 5 years ago. Those days are deader than A line flares with pockets in the knees.

Posted by
199 posts

Back from my trip and following up: Most of the restaurants I reserved with sent me an email to confirm the day before. IIRC, only one first sent an email a few days before, and then sent a text to my UK number the day before.

I also learned that you should wait until you arrive in the UK before you insert the Giffgaff SIM in your phone. I had inserted mine far in advance, and when I got to the UK the SIM wasn't recognized by my phone. So I opened the tray, removed it, and reinserted it, and voila! I was in business.

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