Mobile roaming in the Cook Islands.

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maoriboy

1007 posts

Uber Geek

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#251020 5-Jun-2019 10:14

As per the heading. The wife is going to a wedding and will be there 5 days. As a 2 Degrees customer there doesn't seem to be a roaming arrangement with the Cook Islands that is particularly attractive. What options does she have? Suck it up and pay the casual roaming rates? Buy a prepay from another NZ provider with a better roaming deal? Get a sim card over there, or just suck it up and use the wifi when she can?

Ohhh - Spark......Mobile Data currently unavailable. Spark is working closely with the local provider to restore data services as soon as possible. Local WiFi services available in hotels and centres.

Cheers

Linux

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#2251865 5-Jun-2019 10:17

If you are a 2degrees customer then use
Wi-Fi calling when attached to Wi-Fi it's free and you get to use the NZ mobile number

gmball

568 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2251879 5-Jun-2019 10:28

In Rarotonga every few weeks, would suggest a $25 Bluesky sim which includes $25 credit. Can then select data packs, eg $10 for 450mb, $30 for 1.5gb, $50 for 3gb etc.

Often wifi at hotels is quite expensive so the above would be a more affordable and more convenient option.

teihoata

100 posts

Master Geek

#2251882 5-Jun-2019 10:38

Just came back from my own wedding in raro. Most people ended up getting the $50 Bluesky traveler sim with 3gb of data. Most hotels and AirBnbs have a paid wifi option, very rare to find one thats not paid. This paid wifi is run by the same bluesky network and costs about the same but you're limited to the wifi zones.
Note the airport has half an hour of free data you can use when you land.
I don't believe anyone was able to get a better roaming plan on any of the NZ networks.

frankv

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#2251884 5-Jun-2019 10:40

https://www.enjoycookislands.com/essentials

SaltyNZ

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2degrees

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#2251890 5-Jun-2019 10:51

teihoata:

Just came back from my own wedding in raro. Most people ended up getting the $50 Bluesky traveler sim with 3gb of data. Most hotels and AirBnbs have a paid wifi option, very rare to find one thats not paid. This paid wifi is run by the same bluesky network and costs about the same but you're limited to the wifi zones.
Note the airport has half an hour of free data you can use when you land.
I don't believe anyone was able to get a better roaming plan on any of the NZ networks.

I would be surprised if there was any roaming plan on any network that you would consider "good". Maybe somewhat cheaper than ours, but still not one you'd willingly use. Roaming wholesale revenue is a huge part of their business, to the point that it subsidises what the locals pay for their own service. They're not giving cheap wholesale rates to anyone.

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These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

smcc

205 posts

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#2251947 5-Jun-2019 11:33

teihoata:

Just came back from my own wedding in raro. Most people ended up getting the $50 Bluesky traveler sim with 3gb of data. Most hotels and AirBnbs have a paid wifi option, very rare to find one thats not paid. This paid wifi is run by the same bluesky network and costs about the same but you're limited to the wifi zones.
Note the airport has half an hour of free data you can use when you land.
I don't believe anyone was able to get a better roaming plan on any of the NZ networks.

If Roaming works it will be very expensive. I too am just back there are basically 2 options to buy a BlueSKy Sim (BlueSKy is the monopoly mobile provider), the traveller sim (outlined above) or a local sim ($25 + with $25 credit) data addons at similar Prices ($50 for 3Gb being the best value/Mb). If you think you will use more than 3Gb I would recommend getting a local sim as you can top it up to purchase more data, + they give you bonus $ to use at standard rates. Top up is via the app and Paypal (and CC for that). You need to go to a BlueSky store to By the local sim (the tourist one is available in many local shops). There are BlueSky stores are in Avaruia and Miri.

Info can be found here: http://www.bluesky.co.ck/

allan

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#2252016 5-Jun-2019 12:21

In Rarotonga at present, also went for the Bluesky visitor SIM. 4G available most places we've been to, with occasional fall back to 3G.

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maoriboy

1007 posts

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#2252040 5-Jun-2019 12:55

Thanks folks. Sounds like buying a local sim is the way to go. I'll let her know to pick up a BlueSky sim while she's over there.