Going to Fiji sometime soon, easier with 30 day term contract?

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tripp

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#169683 23-Mar-2015 07:01

So off to fiji for a week, just having a look at the roaming and found that vodafone is a lot cheaper than spark for calls/text and data.

I have had a look at their plans and am I right in thinking that I could sign up for a 30 day term on account (bring your own phone red+ Essential @ $69 new number) then use the $5 a day roaming (7 days @ $5) meaning i get unlimited calls/text (NZ/AU) and 4.5gigs of data while over in fiji.

Now I only need this "new number" while I am over in fiji (will leave my spark sim at home). Does this mean as soon as I signup I give the 30 days notice so I don't get billed again for the plan.

Anyone else done this before?

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#1265417 23-Mar-2015 07:15

I regularly fly to Seychelles for holiday. There was 2 years when I was with 2Degrees and the other year with Spark - but only Vodafone has roaming coverage in that island.

2 weeks prior to leaving NZ, I ported my number to vodafone. As soon as I get back here, I ported the number back to Spark/2Degrees... I never need to notify them when doing this. At one point I was with Vodafone less than 1 month - so they charge me part month only.

I have stopped doing this in the last 2 years as vodafone local coverage improve.

tripp

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#1265418 23-Mar-2015 07:21

nakedmolerat: I regularly fly to Seychelles for holiday. There was 2 years when I was with 2Degrees and the other year with Spark - but only Vodafone has roaming coverage in that island.

2 weeks prior to leaving NZ, I ported my number to vodafone. As soon as I get back here, I ported the number back to Spark/2Degrees... I never need to notify them when doing this. At one point I was with Vodafone less than 1 month - so they charge me part month only.

I have stopped doing this in the last 2 years as vodafone local coverage improve.

Ok thanks, I don't want to port my number as it's still on contract, porting would mean i get charged.
Just need a new number for the time I am over there.

timmmay

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#1265420 23-Mar-2015 07:48

Where are you staying?

Since you'd be getting a new number anyway just buy a SIM in Fiji. In most countries you just buy them in the airport, but the arrivals area in Fiji is pretty primitive, so you should check that. It'll be much cheaper than NZ roaming. You'll want to check if there's coverage where you're going, with the carrier you choose. Most resorts have WiFi, but expect it to be fairly slow.

Or better yet turn your phone off and enjoy your holiday :)

Random Fiji tips:
- The ferry is pretty good, but a sea plane transfer is really fun
- If you're going to an island stock up on snacks, mixers (coke etc) and such before you leave the mainland. If you're going by ferry there's a store about 5 doors down that's ok. On the island you pay NZ$4+ for a can of coke.

May have more tips depending where you're going.

tripp

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#1265421 23-Mar-2015 07:56

timmmay: Where are you staying?

Since you'd be getting a new number anyway just buy a SIM in Fiji. In most countries you just buy them in the airport, but the arrivals area in Fiji is pretty primitive, so you should check that. It'll be much cheaper than NZ roaming. You'll want to check if there's coverage where you're going, with the carrier you choose. Most resorts have WiFi, but expect it to be fairly slow.

Or better yet turn your phone off and enjoy your holiday :)

Random Fiji tips:
- The ferry is pretty good, but a sea plane transfer is really fun
- If you're going to an island stock up on snacks, mixers (coke etc) and such before you leave the mainland. If you're going by ferry there's a store about 5 doors down that's ok. On the island you pay NZ$4+ for a can of coke.

May have more tips depending where you're going.

I looked at that but it seems that data on a handset is really costly over there on prepay (they do have a starter data sim) but it looks like this is for a 3g/4g usb data device.

there $100 data pack only comes with 90 megs (and $75 dollars credit).

andrewNZ

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#1265451 23-Mar-2015 09:02

It appears you can get a sim for free at the airport http://www.vodafone.com.fj/pages.cfm/business/services-1/roaming-1/visiting-fiji.html

timmmay

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#1265463 23-Mar-2015 09:13

andrewNZ: It appears you can get a sim for free at the airport http://www.vodafone.com.fj/pages.cfm/business/services-1/roaming-1/visiting-fiji.html

That gets you very little data, and it's $3/MB. It'd be fine if you used WiFi though.

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tripp

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#1265466 23-Mar-2015 09:17

andrewNZ: It appears you can get a sim for free at the airport http://www.vodafone.com.fj/pages.cfm/business/services-1/roaming-1/visiting-fiji.html

That is what i was looking at, was thinking of getting the $100 pack and using the $75 credit for the data starter pack but then saw it was for their "flashnet" devices and not for a mobile.

I think i will just be easier to sign up for 30 days with vodafone here and do the $5 roaming

Andib

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#1265497 23-Mar-2015 09:47

When I went over in december last year, I roamed using Vodafone (Yay for $5/day 4G Roaming) and my partner picked up a $50 Vodafone Fiji prepaid sim which included 3GB of data and something along the lines of 10International Minutes.
IMO roaming was the better deal as I already was paying for 5GB of data so paying an extra $30 (6 days) was the best option and getting to keep my NZ number was a big plus.

Advantage of roaming was you can switch between Digicell and Vodafone Fiji depending on the coverage. Sadly they're not like NZ where we have 2 networks which almost mirror each other so the abillity to switch between the two was great.

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timmmay

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#1265553 23-Mar-2015 10:21

Maybe we should back up a step - why do you need a phone overseas? To get calls on your regular number? To surf the web? To make calls back home? Those answers will help us recommend the best solution.

tripp

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#1265569 23-Mar-2015 10:39

timmmay: Maybe we should back up a step - why do you need a phone overseas? To get calls on your regular number? To surf the web? To make calls back home? Those answers will help us recommend the best solution.

It will be for text (to NZ numbers) and data, a lot of data, trying not to rely on hotel wifi etc.

1eStar

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#1265572 23-Mar-2015 10:48

I'm in Fiji right now, so i can tell you for certain. All you need is a SIM which you pick up from the voda outlet just through the glass doors on the left once you are through immigration. They will present you with some options, which will include generous data caps as mobile data on your phone. And yes you can tether. The typical cost is $20 for the SIM and then 1.5GB $15, 2.5GB $20 etc. I think i paid a total of $70 for a package that had 100mins local talk 100 local text, 2.5GB data lasts 30days, and still $30 credit for overseas calls etc. BTW if you are calling out of the country use a 01 code rather than 00 and you get 15c per min calling.
If you end up getting a sim from any other voda outlet then a blank sim is $20 load any amount credit then use the *777# menu to buy a custom data package. Its about a third of the cost of NZ mobile data.

Edit im talking fiji dollars here. 1.5FJD = 1NZD

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tripp

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#1265575 23-Mar-2015 10:54

1eStar: I'm in Fiji right now, so i can tell you for certain. All you need is a SIM which you pick up from the voda outlet just through the glass doors on the left once you are through immigration. They will present you with some options, which will include generous data caps as mobile data on your phone. And yes you can tether. The typical cost is $20 for the SIM and then 1.5GB $15, 2.5GB $20 etc. I think i paid a total of $70 for a package that had 100mins local talk 100 local text, 2.5GB data lasts 30days, and still $30 credit for overseas calls etc. BTW if you are calling out of the country use a 01 code rather than 00 and you get 15c per min calling.
If you end up getting a sim from any other voda outlet then a blank sim is $20 load any amount credit then use the *777# menu to buy a custom data package. Its about a third of the cost of NZ mobile data.

Edit im talking fiji dollars here. 1.5FJD = 1NZD

Cheers this is great, wish the info was on their website :)

timmmay

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#1265586 23-Mar-2015 11:12

Why do you need so much data when you're on holiday? The whole point of Fiji is to relax and unplug!

1eStar

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#1265590 23-Mar-2015 11:16

Their website is seriously lacking, they mainly use posters around the town and text promos to communicate. I can't even find the *777# promo in their archived specials. If you have a 4G phone tell them and they will give you the right sim. Lots of 4G in conjested areas, that doesn't necessarily mean 4G speeds tho... :-)

1eStar

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#1265591 23-Mar-2015 11:18

timmmay: Why do you need so much data when you're on holiday? The whole point of Fiji is to relax and unplug!

Ultimate holiday? Lying on the beach reading Geekzone.co.nz?

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