A SIM card for short UK visit?

[bobMorane 54]

We planned to visit London for a few days. My current German SIM has no reasonable roaming plan for data and phone calls in the UK. So, my options are to buy a pay-as-you-go UK SIM card or a German one with a reasonable roaming plan. What is your recommendation? Thanks!

[pappnase 2,625]

Get a cheap one at the airport in the UK. There is a guide here to different prices and deals, pick one that suits.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/best-pay-as-you-go-sim-cards/

 

[bobMorane 54]

Thank you, Papp.

BTW, I contacted my phone operator again, and apparently, their roaming policy treats the UK and most of the other EU countries with the domestic conditions. So, I guess no need to spend on a pay as you go SIM anymore! 

[HH_Sailor 3,624]

Impressed that your provider treats the UK as still being part of the EU. Would you care to name them ?

 

My last sail-by of the UK coast, cost me a lot. I now set the phone to "no roaming" when sailing near the UK or the Channel Isles. (I use Winsim)

 

On the other hand - for those without your special provider, an alternative solution is to check if your phone is modern enough 

to have eSIM capability. If it does, then load the app from https://www.airalo.com/

and then choose a plan to install.

The eSIM is an electronic version of the SIM card. It just needs an app to use it. No fiddly swapping cards and such.

 

Just a thought...

 

 

[snowingagain 5,354]

On 11/03/2023, 10:12:53, bobMorane said:

Thank you, Papp.

BTW, I contacted my phone operator again, and apparently, their roaming policy treats the UK and most of the other EU countries with the domestic conditions. So, I guess no need to spend on a pay as you go SIM anymore! 

I would want that in writing.

[Jonny 1,325]

52 minutes ago, HH_Sailor said:

Impressed that your provider treats the UK as still being part of the EU. Would you care to name them?

Klarmobil has UK roaming included. 

[john_b 3,385]

1 hour ago, HH_Sailor said:

load the app from https://www.airalo.com/ and then choose a plan to install.

 

Looks like a very useful app, thanks for sharing

[Metall 14,539]

1 hour ago, john_b said:

 

Looks like a very useful app, thanks for sharing

Has anybody tried this for the US?

[Shenandoah 97]

I've used Airalo in the US and across Europe.  It works great and the prices are reasonable.  You need a phone that is esim capable.  Another esim option to consider is Truphone.  

 

S.

[syedalisajjad 66]

sim.de also has UK included in the EU-Roaming until 30.06.2023

[syedalisajjad 66]

3 hours ago, john_b said:

 

Looks like a very useful app, thanks for sharing

I used airalo in Switzerland. Worked great

[martinamr 260]

3 hours ago, Metall said:

Has anybody tried this for the US?

I have, and will try it again the week after next.

 

Worked great on our trip last September/October!

[yesterday 2,022]

On 11/03/2023, 23:12:53, bobMorane said:

Thank you, Papp.

BTW, I contacted my phone operator again, and apparently, their roaming policy treats the UK and most of the other EU countries with the domestic conditions. So, I guess no need to spend on a pay as you go SIM anymore! 

 

I use Netzclub, https://www.sir-apfelot.de/en/netzclub-free-sim-card-with-200-mb-lte-data-volume-46421/

 

You get 200Mb for free each month, you pay 10 Euro to get the SIM card, after that its totally free, I have been using it  for about 7 years without a problem. 

 

I installed it in my dual SIM phone, and only use data on that that SIM or WIFI, and it still works in the UK without charge.

 

Ok, 200MB is really nothing per month if you are power user, but if you just use it for Whatsapp, making telephone calls, reading emails the odd picture, no video !!!, then it works fine.

 

I use it with with a VOIP, calls over WIFI from all around the world to Germany/England/Europe for free

https://www.freevoipdeal.com/dashboard

[bobMorane 54]

23 hours ago, HH_Sailor said:

Impressed that your provider treats the UK as still being part of the EU. Would you care to name them ?

 

My last sail-by of the UK coast, cost me a lot. I now set the phone to "no roaming" when sailing near the UK or the Channel Isles. (I use Winsim)

Mine is Winsim too!!

I asked them, and apparently, UK is still on their zone1 list (covered EU roaming) until 30.06.2023. I may need to switch to prepaid options after that date! 

[Janx Spirit 11,153]

38 minutes ago, yesterday said:

 

I use Netzclub, https://www.sir-apfelot.de/en/netzclub-free-sim-card-with-200-mb-lte-data-volume-46421/

 

You get 200Mb for free each month, you pay 10 Euro to get the SIM card, after that its totally free, I have been using it  for about 7 years without a problem. 

 

I installed it in my dual SIM phone, and only use data on that that SIM or WIFI, and it still works in the UK without charge.

 

Ok, 200MB is really nothing per month if you are power user, but if you just use it for Whatsapp, making telephone calls, reading emails the odd picture, no video !!!, then it works fine.

 

I use it with with a VOIP, calls over WIFI from all around the world to Germany/England/Europe for free

 

Here's the direct link (the one above leads you to  "Seite nicht gefunden"):

 

https://www.netzclub.net/sim-karte-bestellen/sponsored-surf-basic

[yesterday 2,022]

... sorry

 

Thanks for the correction

[Williames 0]

If we are talking about just a trip for a short period of time, it will certainly be better to take a prepaid SIM card or activate the eSIM of the local operator. For example, the advantages of eSIM can be found in this article. But I would not recommend activating eSIM if you plan to stay there for a long time, because for a long trip will be more profitable to just buy a local physical SIM. I hope my first post on the form was helpful for you

[keith2011 2,648]

6 hours ago, Williames said:

I hope my first post on the form was helpful for you

Ha, ha, seems the spambot can't insert a link.

[paulwork 731]

If you're frequently visiting UK, I would recommend keeping your UK prepaid SIM active. They usually expire after 6 months, so to be on the safe side, set a reminder in your smartphone calendar to remind yourself to send a text / make a roaming call from it 5 months after you last used it. This will set the clock back to zero again.

 

Also, since it can be a pain to not have any data / credit left when e.g. you next arrive at a UK airport, and to save you scurrying around looking for somewhere to buy a top-up when you immediately land, I would recommend pre-buying for later one or two top-up vouchers while you are in UK (e.g. at supermarket self-checkout).

 

While still in Germany, the night before I travel to UK, I whip out my pre-purchased top up voucher, swap my UK Sim card over, top it up via voucher number, and book a data plan.

 

That way, from the moment I touch down in UK, there's no scurrying around, and I'm instantly contactable.

 

Yes, you can also top up via credit card, but I prefer using voucher numbers instead of having YET ANOTHER login to remember.

 

Pre-buying top-up vouchers and taking them back to Germany was an absolute life saver when COVID hit and nobody was allowed to travel anywhere for months. Quite a few friends with additional UK prepaid SIM cards found out their SIMS had expired due to inactivity during COVID, so they lost their usual UK phone number, and had to get a new one, and advise all their contacts of it.

 

Not me though :-)

[franklan 6,030]

On 3/11/2023, 11:31:28, bobMorane said:

We planned to visit London for a few days. My current German SIM has no reasonable roaming plan for data and phone calls in the UK. So, my options are to buy a pay-as-you-go UK SIM card or a German one with a reasonable roaming plan. What is your recommendation? Thanks!

AFAIK, all Telekom based SIMs still consider the UK as a European Roaming area, despite the fact that they left the EU.

 

Buying a prepaid card at Edeka (Edeka-Smart, they are a Telekom reseller) should be enough for your needs.