Mobile Internet in Europe and abroad while traveling is of great importance. Using the World Wide Web, you can call a taxi, contact the hotel, pave the optimal route for sightseeing, and so on. However, not all tourists understand how to use mobile Internet in another country, where there are no Russian mobile operators. In our article we will try to deal with this issue in more detail.
How to choose a SIM card for a tourist?
So, the mobile Internet in Europe is simply irreplaceable for tourists, but how to choose a SIM card so that you can travel to different countries with it and not pay big money for the tariff? There are three common options:
- buy a special travel SIM card in a mobile phone salon;
- purchase a SIM card from local mobile operators;
- Take a trip with a Russian map.
The first option is ideal for those who travel frequently and use mobile Internet in every country. The second is the lot of people who intend to return to the place of purchase after a while. With a Russian SIM card, you can go to Europe only if it has a favorable rate.
Traveling in Europe: is it worth it to go with the Russian SIM card?
Cheap mobile Internet in Europe is a rarity, especially if you use Russian SIM cards switched to international roaming. The cost of Internet traffic and free calls can be adjusted through a special mobile application, however, for such a service you will have to pay a monthly fee. Having analyzed all kinds of tariffs and options, we came to the conclusion that the most favorable option for a Russian tourist is a tariff with the following conditions:
- the cost of one minute for an outgoing call within the country is 5 rubles;
- the cost of one minute for an outgoing call to Russia is 15 rubles;
- the cost of 10 megabytes of Internet traffic - 5 rubles;
Moreover, it is worth noting that mobile Internet is limited by daily traffic of 200 megabytes, exceeding which you will not be able to access the Internet. A similar trend is observed in all operators of the "Big Three", and tariffs practically do not differ in cost. Unfortunately, Russian SIM cards do not have any advantages, so it is best to pick up one of the following options.
Advantages of European SIM Cards
As noted earlier, a fairly profitable mobile Internet in Europe is one that is based on the use of a SIM card purchased from local mobile operators. It will be most advantageous to purchase a card for those tourists who are constantly returning to the same country for business or pleasure. Study the proposed options in advance to find the most optimal conditions for use.
Many tourists worry about paperwork for a SIM card - and in vain. You can buy a card of any mobile operator using your passport or any other identification card that confirms your identity (driver’s license, business card, and so on). The cost of communication services from local operators is much cheaper than from Russian, but the following remains the most advantageous offer for a person who travels all the time.
What are good tourist maps?
The best mobile Internet in Europe is the one that is accepted with the help of travel SIM cards designed specifically for travelers. You can buy them in almost any mobile phone salon in Russia or abroad or in stores specializing in travel goods and equipment.
Why are such cards considered the most beneficial for tourists? It is all about the cost of services that local operators offer. They have much cheaper tariffs than Russian mobile companies. In addition, most tariffs have removed the restriction on Internet traffic, that is, you can watch movies on the trip, listen to music, download games - and all this without any restrictions.
Orange SIM card with Go Europe tariff
Many tourists have used these SIM cards at least once, since they offer some of the best conditions for those who use mobile Internet. Ideal for a person who goes on a business trip or on vacation for several weeks. Well, the tariff "Forward to Europe" is suitable for those who like to travel to different countries and always stay in touch with family and friends. The cost of mobile Internet is 35 rubles per day - a relatively low cost for Europe.
Also, the Orange SIM card is interesting in that it allows you to distribute Wi-Fi to other devices. It will be enough to purchase one card and insert it into a telephone or modem that the Internet can distribute. After that, your family will have virtually unlimited access for all devices. Judging by user reviews, mobile Internet has a fairly high speed. You can download a movie in high quality on a laptop or tablet in just 30 minutes.
Three mobile card
To connect mobile Internet in Europe, you can purchase a SIM card from Three, which gives its customers the right to use 3G and 4G Internet for only 48 euros per month. However, the card can be used for only 30 days, after which it ceases to be active. The Smart Passport option allows you to distribute the Internet to other devices and use communication services in unlimited quantities.
For those who plan to visit the UK, Three’s SIM card is just the way to go, because in addition to unlimited Internet, the owner will also receive the possibility of free calls in the amount of 3000 minutes to local numbers. Also, this "SIM card" is valid not only in Europe, but also in Asian countries. Check with the operator for a complete list, but today it includes 43 countries.
Ortel Sims with Internet Flat
If you want to connect unlimited mobile Internet in Europe, you should definitely look at the possibility of using SIM cards from the German company Ortel, which is best suited for those subscribers who are accustomed to traveling to European countries for business trips for a long time. The range of services includes not only unlimited Internet, but also minutes of free communication.
The Internet Flat option allows you to use a SIM card throughout the European Union. However, the "sim card" is designed for use no more than a month, because after 30 days it is automatically blocked. For only 30 euros, the client is given access to 3G Internet, the traffic quota of which should not exceed 11 gigabytes, as well as 250 minutes of free calls. As for communication with the owners of Russian SIM cards, the call rate is 1 euro per minute.
Global Sim and its terms of use
This SIM card is most suitable for people who like to travel to countries not only in Europe but also in Asia. In addition, Global Sim is the best option for those who plan not only to use the mobile Internet, but also to call relatives in Russia, because the cost of calls is only 3 rubles per minute! The best offer in this area is simply not to be found.
However, with the mobile Internet, the Estonian SIM cards are not as rosy as we would like. Firstly, access is limited to 5 gigabytes per month, which is quite small for travelers who like to chat on social networks and watch videos about cats. Secondly, for such a service you will have to pay an additional $ 29 per month, which today is about 1900 rubles.
Global Sim New for Turkish guests
Also worthy of special attention is a SIM card called Global Sim New, which was designed specifically for tourists who visit Turkey and Europe. This tariff offers users 5 gigabytes of mobile Internet for $ 29 in Turkey. As for Europe, the cost of the Internet is only one cent per 1 megabyte. That is, for the same $ 29, the client will receive the right to use mobile Internet, whose quota is limited to 2.9 GB of traffic. A very good option for those who travel a lot between Europe and Asia.
As for outgoing calls in Russia, they amount to 0.39 dollars per minute from Turkey and 0.49 dollars per minute from any European country. Of course, there are much more favorable tariffs for use in Europe, so we placed this SIM card in last place. In the following sections, you will find information about what tourists write about which SIM card is best used abroad and what you should pay attention to when buying a SIM card.
Tourists reviews
If you believe the reviews that tourists have left on all kinds of thematic forums, then the most preferred option for mobile Internet in Europe is SIM cards from Orange, which have already managed to prove their worth among many travelers. However, many tourists in their comments note that they purchased SIM cards from other operators, as they provide services that are so necessary for them. For example, for many people, it’s far more important than not completely unlimited Internet, but the ability to communicate with subscribers of the country in which they are located. Therefore, before purchasing a SIM card, be sure to study the conditions that are offered to you so as not to overpay extra funds for those services that you will not use.
Video and conclusion
As you can see, in order to use mobile Internet in Europe, it is not at all necessary to connect additional options on Russian SIM cards or to purchase cards from local operators. Although if you watch the short video below, you will understand that the acquisition of SIM cards in European countries is a very outdated option that is almost devoid of perspective.
We hope our article helped you determine the choice of a SIM card for access to mobile Internet in Europe. Try to analyze as many options as possible, read reviews, because, as practice shows, many operators without any hesitation lure customers with bonuses, and simultaneously impose unnecessary services at a great cost. For example, if you use only social networks and a search engine, you should have enough 3G Internet with traffic up to 5 gigabytes. I would also like to ask our readers to share their opinions on which SIM card is the best for Europe. Perhaps you will be able to help determine the choice of someone from other people.