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Staying Connected via Mobile Phone or Hot Spot?

We will be in Scotland for 3 weeks in May and are trying to figure out how to stay connected and make any necessary calls while we are there (including calls ahead to B&B’s to let them know when we’ll be arriving, as well as calls home to US). Plus would love access to email and other web pages as necessary on the road..

Of course we understand with any options, cell (either via mobile or hot spot) coverage might be spotty in many parts of Scotland, at many times we’ll have no connection. Coverage Map: http://ukmobilecoverage.co.uk/

We are considering the following options and would LOVE feedback from anyone who has used any of these. OR any other options folks have used that are not listed here. (FYI: We do not have an unlocked GSM phone we can bring with us)

1) Buy a cheap mobile phone and a sim card for a local carrier (O2, Vodaphone, etc) when we get there. I’ve read recommendations for the following locations to purchase the phone/sim card: Argos, Tesco, Carphone Warehouse. This would give us a phone but then we’d need to rely on free local wifi for internet access for the tablets we'll have with us.

2) Buying a cheap phone before we go. I’ve found this company: http://www.telestial.com
Seems per call charge higher than other options, more like 35cents+ minute. From what I can see – better to buy in Scotland than ahead of time? Also wouldn’t give us mobile internet.

3) Rent a cheap phone from US before we leave. Companies I’ve seen are:
https://www.cellomobile.com/international-cellphone-rental/united-kingdom.html they offer $3 per day rental with 6cent per minute calling to UK and US. This seems like a good deal.
Also http://www.cellularabroad.com/phone-rentals-uk.php
(also no internet access as a downside)

4) Renting a Hot Spot ahead of time from US. In which case we’d also sign up for Skype calling to make calls (both within UK & to the US). Would allow us to both make calls AND browse internet. I’m looking at this company called https://www.skyroam.com/wifi-pricing. Ends up being about $230 for the 3 weeks – unlimited data. This works with a universal sim card, connecting to available mobile networks.

I have also seen other companies like:
https://www.xcomglobal.com/price
https://www.cellomobile.com/hotspot-rental/united-kingdom.html
http://www.cellularabroad.com/unlimitedeuropeRentalmifi.php

I’m not sure however if these connections will be as strong & reliable as those through mobile phones. Or since on the same networks, end up being just the same. I'd want to be sure fast/strong enough connection that can make audio Skype calls.

5) Renting a smart phone + sim card with data plan, so that have access to browsing while on the road if needed. Seems like the most expensive option, but open to suggestions here if best option to combine calling & web browsing. Though won’t give us access on tablets we’ll have with us. Would be my last choice unless gives us everything we need and isn't very expensive.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by our options. Cost is definitely an issue but we want what is going to be most reliable and useful.

THANK YOU!
Kim

Posted by
5678 posts

The last time I was i Scotland, which was a few years ago, I had an iPhone with AT&T. I upgraded to the international plan for the trip and used in minimally to check on reservations or connect with travel colleagues. I don't remember the exact costs but it did not bust the budget. The trick was to use wifi except when call someone. I've done the same more recently in England. It's not been an issue. You need to use wifi for internet access and email.

Do you know where you are staying? Most places offer wifi these days.

PAm

Posted by
1161 posts

I spoke to one of those rental places and even a week rental was much more than buying outright.
You can getting WiFi dongles for about £30 here, and data plans for 1GB for £10.
A decent enough smartphone minght be £45, and a month plan with hundreds off mins call time and data that is tetherable so you can use the tablet would be £20 top price

Posted by
11294 posts

I was going to speculate about what Richard confirmed - it's not necessarily expensive to get a local cell phone with data. If you just make sure that both the phone and plan allow tethering, you can then use your tablets, too.

Posted by
1161 posts

The company I use ,Giffgaff , allow tethering on all it's monthly packages except the £20 unlimited one.
Actually they had a shake up a few weeks back so £10 gets you unlimited UK txt, 500 mins UK call time and 2GB of data and registering the SIM gives you a introduction bonus of £5 credit.
The credit can be used for non UK calls..Or extra data .

Posted by
824 posts

Kim,

While in London a couple years ago, I purchased a pay-as-you-go SIM from O2 for a very reasonable price. It came with cheap (~5p a minute) airtime to the USA, cheap texts to/from the USA and plenty of data for web searches and mapping. You should be able to pick up an inexpensive unlocked GSM (Quad Band) smart phone before leaving. If you have a GSM capable phone already, another option is to call your phone provider and have your phone unlocked for the period of travel (it's probably already unlocked for overseas service) so you can use it with a pre-paid SIM.

If you plan on future overseas travel, you might consider purchasing a dedicated phone for travel. I have seen new unlocked GSM smart phones for around $100 at warehouse clubs. Other options are independent phone stores and purchasing used factory reset phones from Apple.

You will be surprised at how common WIFI is in the UK. You probably won't need a hotspot for internet access.

Lastly, when I looked at the various "travel phone" companies (mobal, telestial, ect.) I found their plans to extremely expensive. A pre-paid plan from a local provider is a much better deal...

Posted by
47 posts

We're going to Scotland in June and have the same dilema as we will be two weeks mostly out in the Highlands where free wifi will be rare and coverage will be spotty not matter what carrier we use.

After much research, I've found a pay-as-you-go phone (Alcatel Pixi 4 - smartphone) and 2gb data (+500 min talk) on the Vodaphone network at Carphone Warehouse for about 50 pounds ($63 US). Compared to the cost of AT&T International or any other plans I've found, this is the best route for us. We mostly want the phone for emergencies and for bookings. What little 'net we will be using will likely be in the evenings at out campsites (which usually have free wifi or at s small cost).

We're hoping we can donate the phone to a women's shelter or similar at the end of our stay.

Posted by
3 posts

I have an iPhone and Verizon. Verizon has Travel Pass. It is $10/day (24 hrs) in most countries and uses your regular bucket of data, texts and minutes. It roams on networks that partner with Verizon. If you want to use the phone for emergencies only, just don't turn on Cellular Roaming and you won't be charged. Travel Pass is $2/day in Mexico and Canada, or no charge if you have an XL or XXL data plan. The convenience of using my own phone is worth $10/day for me.