Burner Phone for Travel to Europe

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Tatou

235 posts

Master Geek

#214042 25-Apr-2017 14:34

Looking for some advice.

Off to England, Ireland and France in a week.

Partner has a Samsung S6 and will be getting new SIM from travel insurance company so can use in Ireland, England and France. Data and call costs are mega cheaper than Roaming from 2 degrees.

I am think of getting myself a burner phone from Warehouse Stationary so I have txt and phone (in case we get separated). They have an 3G 2 degrees Actel for $19. Apparently costs $30 to get unlocked. So for $49 dollars I get an unlocked phone.

Questions

1 I plan to buy a SIM in the UK and Ireland and use in the Actel phone. Would that work? Forget France as only there for a short period.

2 Could buy another SIM from the insurance people- Cover-More but may not have time

3 Warehouse Person said it would be better to buy a burner from each country (UK and Ireland and get a local SIM as would guarantee connectivity in the country.

Any thoughts appreciated

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1770234 25-Apr-2017 16:07

Why do you need a "burner" do you not have a phone? Why not just take that and buy a SIM? I just grab one in the airport in most places I have been.

Tatou

235 posts

Master Geek

#1770246 25-Apr-2017 16:36

Thanks

I may not have explained it well

Wife will have Samsung S6 with a SIM either the insurance one or one bought at airport in country.

I don't have a cell phone but was going to get one so could keep in contact - txt- if needed

Will take unlocked $19 phone and get SIM in country airport.

blackjack17

1705 posts

Uber Geek

#1770248 25-Apr-2017 16:41

Well if you don't have nor want a cell phone, why not just wait and get the cheapest you can find over there that way you know it will work.

I don't think burner is the right term to be using, maybe disposable?

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rscole86

4973 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1770252 25-Apr-2017 16:49

Get any phone you want and buy a SIM from the first country you arrive in. All the big players have good rates for roaming in the EU as well. I have used Vodafone UK and Vodafone HU throughout Europe without any issues.

Go into a store and explain which countries you want to use it in and how long you will be there. You will just want a basic pay as you go plan, often you get free minutes/data/txt on any top ups. You may need your passport and hotel address to first sign up.

Tatou

235 posts

Master Geek

#1770272 25-Apr-2017 17:18

Thanks all for comments

Tatou

235 posts

Master Geek

#1770273 25-Apr-2017 17:20

Yep burner is not the right word. I mean one that is not a problem if it is lost

PolicyGuy

1726 posts

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#1770286 25-Apr-2017 17:55

I bought an unlocked phone from the Warehouse for about $30 - more expensive that a locked phone but much cheaper than buying a locked phone and paying for it to be unlocked. I bought a local SIM prepaid card at the airport on arrival (did need my passport), bought a bunch of credit, bunged it in the phone and bingo, off and running.

Spent the first few dollars on sending texts to everyone saying "This is me, as you can tell, my number here is +9999999999. Arrived safely, flight nice and dull." &c.

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Tatou

235 posts

Master Geek

#1770291 25-Apr-2017 18:13

I looked for an unlocked one at the Warehouse Stationary but the cheapest they had was about $69.

I will grab the $19 - it comes with free 2 degrees SIM and I will get it unlocked for $30.

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1770345 25-Apr-2017 20:23

I used GiffGaff in the U.K. And they roam throughout the EU (by law not charging more!)

Here's a link that gets you a bonus £5 credit when you start if you like?

https://www.giffgaff.com/orders/affiliate/neil_v

Here's there Sim-Only plans: https://www.giffgaff.com/sim-only-plans

lxsw20

3552 posts

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Subscriber

#1770356 25-Apr-2017 21:07

I'd just buy a 3 SIM when you get here. Pretty sure I got one from a vending machine at Heathrow.

openmedia

3324 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1770365 25-Apr-2017 21:57

I'm in the UK right now on GiffGaff.

If you want one of their GoodyBag bundles then make sure you turn data off on the phone before adding the credit, otherwise you'll use some credit due to background data and find you don't have enough. The only downside I've found with giffgaff is you can only topup 10 GBP at a time

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

Dulouz

883 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1770406 26-Apr-2017 08:11

If the popo roll past and carry out a street sweep and you're slinging a g-pack next to a hooptie with the hoppers packing glocks and some punk is dropped a burner won't save you. You'll be a gump.

Amanon

old3eyes

9119 posts

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#1770463 26-Apr-2017 09:01

blackjack17:

Well if you don't have nor want a cell phone, why not just wait and get the cheapest you can find over there that way you know it will work.

I don't think burner is the right term to be using, maybe disposable?

Burner phone seems to be the intl common term for a throw away phone..

Regards,

Old3eyes