Think I have it figured out for Italy/France/UK trip

[tmb]

Originally Posted by andy

I don't understand the question, as I can't see a big roaming data bundle on Wind.

The Mega No Limit plan includes 2.6 GB/month for €20.00/month. And for roaming:

Roaming No Limit

With this offer you get the usual national rates for data (web only, € 0.003/KB) also while you are roaming abroad. It has a monthly fee of € 3.00

So for €23 I don't see how I could use that much data in 10 days! Even at €.51 for roaming outside of Italy I think it will be ok since I don't plan to do much talking.

[petkow]

I think you might be missing something here. Were you thinking that you would continue using your 2.6GB allowance when you leave Italy?

L'opzione non è valida per il traffico generato all'Estero. In questo caso si applicano le tariffe a consumo previste all'Estero.

(from: Wind - Privati - Mega No Limit)

Basically, you cannot use your allowance of Mega no Limit when you are in UK and France. The 3 Euro option you are buying into is merely guaranteeing your rate of around 3 Euros per MB whilst you are roaming. That is all. You will still need to pay for that separately. As Andy points out, 3Euros/MB is hardly a rate to write home about!

At least for the UK you are much better off using a UK SIM for your data requirements. Some UK SIMs even have similar prices of roaming within Europe to the Wind rate, but without needing to cough up 3 euros for the 'privilege' of doing so.

[tmb]

Originally Posted by petkow

I think you might be missing something here. Were you thinking that you would continue using your 2.6GB allowance when you leave Italy?

Yes, I was thinking that based on the quote from this page: PrePaidGSM: Wind (Italy)

Roaming No Limit

With this offer you get the usual national rates for data (web only, € 0.003/KB) also while you are roaming abroad. It has a monthly fee of € 3.00

I was reading it as you get €8000.00/month (~2.6GB) data bundle for €30/month, and the Roaming No Limit option lets you use that bundle for roaming as well. I guess I'm reading it wrong? Would help if I could speak Italian

So then it sounds like I'm back to the drawing board again. Will any one sim from Italy/France/UK get me reasonably priced data roaming in the other two countries? I looked around and don't see any reasonable data offers for the International providers either.

So should I just get 3 different sims?

[Bossman]

IMO, if you main need is data, then the best solution is probably to get a separate sim for each country. That's the only way you can get cheap data rates. Data roaming is expensive in general. And the international sims are not any better. In most cases, they are more expensive.

Originally Posted by tmb

Yes, I was thinking that based on the quote from this page: PrePaidGSM: Wind (Italy)



I was reading it as you get €8000.00/month (~2.6GB) data bundle for €30/month, and the Roaming No Limit option lets you use that bundle for roaming as well. I guess I'm reading it wrong? Would help if I could speak Italian

So then it sounds like I'm back to the drawing board again. Will any one sim from Italy/France/UK get me reasonably priced data roaming in the other two countries? I looked around and don't see any reasonable data offers for the International providers either.

So should I just get 3 different sims?

[tmb]

Originally Posted by Bossman

IMO, if you main need is data, then the best solution is probably to get a separate sim for each country

I'm realizing that makes the most sense. Any suggestions for providers with a good but inexpensive data plan in France and the UK? I did some brief research but need to do some more. Wish there were more pages like this PrePaidGSM: Prepaid Data in Italy for other countries!

[petkow]

Originally Posted by tmb

I'm realizing that makes the most sense. Any suggestions for providers with a good but inexpensive data plan in France and the UK? I did some brief research but need to do some more. Wish there were more pages like this PrePaidGSM: Prepaid Data in Italy for other countries!

Yes 3 separate national SIMs will certainly make more financial sense. I am not sure about France, but in the UK you are spoilt for choice. Most UK prepaid SIMs are free, and many will give you a free bundle of data just for topping up with £10 (or in some cases less). If yours is a 3G phone you could consider "Three". https://www.three.co.uk/Pay_As_You_G...der_a_free_SIM
The other advantage with three is that they give you free Skype access which does not count towards your data allowance. o2 have a similar deal where a £10 topup entitles you to free SMS and internet (I believe 500MB). http://freesim.o2.co.uk. I think T-Mobile have something similar too.

Other SIM's have capped data, no matter how much you use per day (within reason). Perhaps a UK member will be more up to date with the prepaid data deals than me?

[powerlifter]

Have you looked at Low-cost Europe cell phones and European SIM cards they have a data system to work in all three countries. Look at the T&C I think there is a $60.00 a year charge to keep active. I have never used them so I do not know how the service is. They charge your credit card after you use the service. It is not prepaid. They are based in NY so you get the sim before you go. I myself use local sims. This is just another Idea.