Dutch SIM recommendation required

[Biscuit]

Hi, I'm going to be cycling around the Netherlands shortly. I need to be able to phone ahead and book accommodation etc. I don't need the internet just able to phone dutch numbers cheaply. I have an unlocked phone and am currently with Vodafone in the UK.

Any recommendations for Dutch or international SIMs for travelling? If I could sort it over the interweb before I leave then that would be even better.

Thx for any help / advice

 

[snorri]

Thx for any help / advice

Leave the phone at home, you are on holiday, away from the restrictions of work and home life, get out of your comfort zone.
Just like thinking of what vision will unfold around the next corner, the increasing concern/anticipation as the sun goes low in the sky and you wonder where the heck you are going to sleep that night is just another aspect of the freedom and joy of cycle touring.

 

[andym]

It depends a lot on how long you are going to be there and how many calls you expect to make, but if you just want a phone to make the odd call then you might be better off looking at simply taking your normal phone - or buying a booster. The prices of phone calls within the EU/EEA are capped. the last time I looked at this TescoMobile offered the best deal at 35p/min but IIRC Vodafone weren't very far behind. Tesco were cheaper than the International SIMs.

By the time you've paid for a SIM and then quite probably left some credit on it you may not sve very much - but as with all of these things it depends on your 'call profile'.

Leave the phone at home, you are on holiday, away from the restrictions of work and home life, get out of your comfort zone.
Just like thinking of what vision will unfold around the next corner, the increasing concern/anticipation as the sun goes low in the sky and you wonder where the heck you are going to sleep that night is just another aspect of the freedom and joy of cycle touring.

Hmm, I wonder whether you've travelled to somewhere and found that the only place to stay for miles around was closed or full (OK probably not a likely scenario in the Netherlands). Or needed a phone in an emergency.

There's nothing to stop you simply leaving the phone switched off until you need it. (Although one advantage of getting a third-party SIM is that you have a number your boss doesn't have).

 

[Biscuit]

Thx @andym I'll be using it internally on a daily basis to secure accomodation for the coming eve. I've heard some horror stories about international mobile use and didn't want to run up a massive bill, as the whole point is to do it on a fairly tight budget. I'll check back with Vodafone tariffs.

 

[snorri]

m, I wonder whether you've travelled to somewhere and found that the only place to stay for miles around was closed or full (OK probably not a likely scenario in the Netherlands). Or needed a phone in an emergency.

I've never been stuck for a place to stay overnight and never had a problem that could have been resolved had I been carrying a mobile 'phone, but accept that being 'phone free on tour is not everyones cup of tea.

 

[andym]

This is a useful-ish article (-ish because but doesn't solve your problem):

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-roaming-calls

The international roaming rates have actually gone down since I last looked - they're now about between 28p and a smidge under 30p.

The Vodafone booster seems to aimed really at heavy, business users.

Mort's deal is pretty good if you want the data but if you just want the calls, you'd have to use it a fair bit to break even. (Quick bit of mental arithmetic) - assuming their rate is 10c less than you'd get from a UK operator you start saving money after 150 minutes . Which is possible in a month. A prepaid card does of course mean that you don't have any unexpected surprises when you get home. EDIT: this calculation is wrong - it's much less than 150 minutes I *think* it would be' 43 minutes.

If you have a smartphone then I wouldn't reject the internet option out of hand - I find Booking.com extremely useful (for Italy - I don't know about the Netherlands).

Data roaming charges are more of an issue than calls - as you can be downloading data at very expensive rates without realising it.

 

[Biscuit]

Thanks guys that's really useful info. I didn't know about half that stuff.