Prepaid mobile for travelling to Australia & NZ ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2017, 02:39:36 pm
content: I will be travelling to Australia and New Zealand in a few weeks. I have an unlocked phone with good coverage of various worldwide GSM/LTE bands. I'd like to use my phone in both countries, only approximately 1 week in each, only in major cities. I would prefer talk, text, and data, but could manage with only texting and some data (don't need much data).In my research so far I have not found a prepaid service that covers both countries without high roaming charges (no surprise of course).Does anyone have advice on which prepaid services to use or to avoid? I am looking for one with reasonable rates (including calls/text to Canada) and an inexpensive start kit. I see Vodafone in both OZ & NZ. I see Virgin only in OZ (correct me if I'm wrong). I use Virgin prepaid in Canada and am happy with it. Any others I should look into?

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2017, 09:51:03 pm
content: Nothing really exists for what you want, there are some international roaming deals available for people on contract (check with your carrier for their rates) but when it comes to prepaid (by the month) roaming becomes unrealistic:http://www.vodafone.com.au/prepaid/plans/international-roamingSo its usually cheaper to just buy a prepaid plan separately in each country.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 09, 2017, 06:30:37 am
content: In Australia, there are three carriers: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone (then there are literally dozens of MVNOs which piggyback off one of those three carriers). Coverage generally isn't an issue here (it's almost "expected" here that as long as you're near some kind of civilisation, you'll probably have coverage). Telstra has by far the best coverage if you're thinking about going anywhere "out bush" (you could be in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere and be streaming EEVblog on YouTube. I have done exactly thatHEREon my LG G4 handset.) Telstra also has coverage ~50KM out to sea in most places and around our islands.Roaming is VERY expensive (you're almost better off renting a satellite phone). You may be just better off grabbing a pre-paid SIM in each country you're visiting. In Australia, you can buy pre-paid SIM cards in most supermarkets, service stations and news agencies. Just research pricing before you arrive.For example, for AUD$40 you can get a Telstra Pre-paid SIM which gives you 6GB data and unlimited calls/SMSs to Australian numbers which is valid for 28 days. There areother optionsavailable. You can also order online from most places (whether they deliver internationally is another issue, I've never tried).As good as Telstra is (in terms of its network speed and coverage), they aren't the cheapest. You might get a better deal with Vodafone or Optus. If you're within 100KM of a capital city, all three will have coverage excellent coverage (including indoors). Also, in Australia, we don't have "domestic roaming" any more (not since the old AMPS/CDMA days). As long as you're on the continent of Australia (or roughly thereabouts), everywhere is a "local" call.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2017, 06:47:53 am
content: Here in NZ I use VF and a "Smart 19" prepaid plan. $19/mth for 100mins (NZ/AU), 500 Mbs and unlimited txts.(carry over)Hopefully Aussie has similar deals, then all you need is a phone that can save your contacts etc while you swap Sim cards.One of the tricks we use when travelling IF you have a free wireless connection (hotels, airports or friends) is to leave your phone in flight/airplane mode but turn on wireless and log into whatever connection you have available.Then you can browse, email (browser based) and if you and recipients have an iPhone's, iMessage.

author: hendorog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2017, 06:50:57 am
content: As per others I'd say just get a prepay SIM in each country at the airport when you arrive.That was what I used to do when travelling to Oz. Nowadays (for on-account) it's cheap enough to roam when travelling to Oz. That doesn't seem to be the case for prepay.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2017, 08:35:38 am
content: Quote from: hendorog on March 09, 2017, 06:50:57 amAvoid the airport, they often don't have the cheap deals available at supermarkets/newsagents and instead push their overpriced options as if there is no alternative.

author: meeko
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2017, 09:35:03 pm
content: It's been a few years, but when I visited Australia, I just went to the Optus store at the shopping centre and picked up a prepaid SIM. For the 2 weeks I was there, I think it worked out to a couple of $/day for unlimited talk and data.

author: iainwhite
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 09, 2017, 09:49:11 pm
content: I have a Simple choice plan with T-Mobile (US) that give unlimited data and texts in most of the popular countries you might travel to, but calls are 20c /minute when roaming internationally (I travel a lot to Europe, and mostly use text/data, with just a few calls).Probably not worth getting a plan like this for one trip, but thought i'd mention it.I think you would be better to just buy a SIM when you get there.