iPhone abroad advice please

elbowpatches

Active member

Jul 7, 2003

1,177

Cambridge

• Jun 13, 2013

• #1

New owner of iPhone and going to Stuttgart tomorrow.

I've found out how to turn off roaming and 3g through the cellular setting but is there anything I need to know? Was just going to turn my phone off rather than incur charges but I need to be contactable.

What about maps? Can I use maps and not be charged? Or shall I be old school and get a paper map?

Also can anyone recommend apps as a guide? Lonely planet? Rough guide?

Help and advice appreciated!

 

Creaky

Well-known member

Mar 26, 2013

3,842

Hookwood - Nr Horley

• Jun 13, 2013

• #2

If you use maps on the iphone abroad you will be hit with the very high roaming data download charges.

The cost of calls abroad have fallen but data costs are still ridiculously high

Switch off cellular data under settings/general/cellular

 

KJP

Well-known member

Mar 2, 2011

2,407

Goring-by-Sea

• Jun 13, 2013

• #3

Download this app its sat nav for Germany but doesn't require data or roaming etc..


https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/navfree-gps-germany-+-street/id422587568?mt=8

I used the USA one and it worked most of the time you may have to download regions in the app before you go

 

Philzo-93

Well-known member

Jan 17, 2009

2,797

North Stand

• Jun 14, 2013

• #4

Switch off data roaming and you'll be fine!!!

 

K

kingcole

Well-known member

Jan 2, 2010

5,315

So far down Shoreham Beach, I am virtually back in

• Jun 14, 2013

• #5

Depending on the network you may be able to prepay data.

T mobile do euro data packages. In fact you cant use data without one. They start from less than a fiver and when I had a 2 week holiday in europe last year I managed to run my business (checking emails, skype calls) for less than £50.

 

Justice

Dangerous Idiot

Jun 21, 2012

18,587

Born In Shoreham

• Jun 14, 2013

• #6

Get a Samsung

 

Eastleigh Northstander

Member

Feb 28, 2006

317

Eastleigh

• Jun 14, 2013

• #7

If your with Vodafone then get Euro Traveller and you get all your UK contract package as normal for £3 per day and only when you actually use it

 

trueblue

Well-known member

Jul 5, 2003

10,376

Hove

• Jun 14, 2013

• #8

Use Hullomail. Divert all calls BEFORE you leave the country. Make sure it is set to email your messages and then check them if you have a wifi connection, when you can also make free or very cheap calls & text for nothing with whatsapp. .

 

W.C.

New member

Oct 31, 2011

4,927

• Jun 14, 2013

• #9

KJP said:

Download this app its sat nav for Germany but doesn't require data or roaming etc..


https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/navfree-gps-germany-+-street/id422587568?mt=8

I used the USA one and it worked most of the time you may have to download regions in the app before you go

Click to expand...

I used one like that for London. Wasn't brilliant but it worked.

If you can use free wifi somewhere then you can use all your internet type stuff, skype for calls

 

Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Jul 11, 2003

59,467

The Fatherland

• Jun 14, 2013

• #10

And if you're on O2 it's only £2 a day for data roaming. Worth considering for short visits.

 

elbowpatches

Active member

Jul 7, 2003

1,177

Cambridge

• Jun 14, 2013

• Thread starter
• #11

Thanks for all the advice.

 

The Antikythera Mechanism

The oldest known computer

NSC Patron

Aug 7, 2003

7,788

• Jun 14, 2013

• #12

I was abroad earlier this month and data roaming is far cheaper than last year

This is the O2 text I received;

Welcome to NETHERLANDS. You're on O2 Travel. Data costs £1.99 per day. Calls to the UK/EU cost 50p to connect, then it's free to talk for the first 60 minutes, after 60 minutes UK out of bundle rates apply. Answering your phone also costs 50p to connect then it's free to talk for up to 60 minutes, after 60 minutes UK out of bundle rates apply. Texts are 8.5p (and free to receive). Prices inc. VAT. Further info Freephone 2266. Emergency services call 112

 

itszamora

Go Jazz Go

Sep 21, 2003

7,282

London

• Jun 14, 2013

• #13

The Antikythera Mechanism said:

I was abroad earlier this month and data roaming is far cheaper than last year

This is the O2 text I received;

Welcome to NETHERLANDS. You're on O2 Travel. Data costs £1.99 per day. Calls to the UK/EU cost 50p to connect, then it's free to talk for the first 60 minutes, after 60 minutes UK out of bundle rates apply. Answering your phone also costs 50p to connect then it's free to talk for up to 60 minutes, after 60 minutes UK out of bundle rates apply. Texts are 8.5p (and free to receive). Prices inc. VAT. Further info Freephone 2266. Emergency services call 112

Click to expand...

I think it's 25Mb of data for that £1.99, so depending on what the OP wants to access, that may or may not be sufficient. O2 text you when you get close to the limit and allow you to pay another £1.99 for another 25Mb, though.

 

Bold Seagull

strong and stable with me, or...

Mar 18, 2010

29,781

Hove

• Jun 14, 2013

• #14

elbowpatches said:

New owner of iPhone and going to Stuttgart tomorrow.

I've found out how to turn off roaming and 3g through the cellular setting but is there anything I need to know? Was just going to turn my phone off rather than incur charges but I need to be contactable.

What about maps? Can I use maps and not be charged? Or shall I be old school and get a paper map?

Also can anyone recommend apps as a guide? Lonely planet? Rough guide?

Help and advice appreciated!

Click to expand...

Your iPhone has a GPS chip in it that will work without 3g / data etc. You can download a free app like MotionX.

 

S

soistes

Well-known member

Sep 12, 2012

2,643

Brighton

• Jun 14, 2013

• #15

Download an offline maps app like "OffMaps", which you can use without 3g, just runs off the GPS alongside the maps which you've downloaded beforehand. Need to remember to download a detailed map for the area you're going to, in the app before you go (or when you're abroad using wifi if you can find it).

Alternatively if you are travelling within the EU only, and you're on 3 network, they have a £5 a day service which enables you to use unlimited 3g for email, internet etc in the EU, with no extra costs (other than the £5). They send you a text when you arrive, then you turn on roaming, click the link in the text and that's it -- no extra charges. I've found it really useful.

 

B

Bad Ash

Unregistered User

Jul 18, 2003

1,900

Housewares

• Jun 14, 2013

• #16

KJP said:

Download this app its sat nav for Germany but doesn't require data or roaming etc..


https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/navfree-gps-germany-+-street/id422587568?mt=8

I used the USA one and it worked most of the time you may have to download regions in the app before you go

Click to expand...

I've used this in Germany and the US, definitely handy when you're trying to save on the data roaming costs or just if you're struggling to get the 3G signal for Google maps.

Also, as I Sky broadband customer I get free access to the Cloud network, which I found pickls up some WiFi in Germany, so worth looking into that.

 

elbowpatches

Active member

Jul 7, 2003

1,177

Cambridge

• Jun 17, 2013

• Thread starter
• #17

KJP said:

Download this app its sat nav for Germany but doesn't require data or roaming etc..


https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/navfree-gps-germany-+-street/id422587568?mt=8

I used the USA one and it worked most of the time you may have to download regions in the app before you go

Click to expand...

Although it took ages to load from iTunes onto my iPhone this app was invaluable. I would recommend it for any country.

Thank you.

Stuttgart was a great place to go, especially with children. The zoo was incredible and the parks were fantastic. Bloody hot too. Very chilly Monday at work in comparison.