Are there "Pay as you go" phones available

Rusty Stumps · Veteran Member

Are there "Pay as you go" phones available

Rusty Stumps · Veteran Member

I stopped by T-Mobil and asked about a no-contract phone that would work in Ireland. Well they really didn't have a good offer but the clerk suggested that I go over to Fry Electronics. If you don't have a Fry's by you they are an extremely large store that makes Best Buy look like a taco stand.

Anyway, her suggestion was to buy a very cheap unlocked phone and then puchase a SIM card in Ireland to put in it. Fry's had such phones for as low at $39. Just a basic phone that I could use in case of emergency out on the back road after hitting a pot hole. disbelief

Has anyone puchased such a phone and a SIM card in Ireland? If so how much was the card? I'm debating between renting the phone in Ireland for $100 a week plus taxes and all or buying the cheap phone at $39 and the SIM card for possibly another $30.

Walt

Michele Erdvig · Host

Walt,

You can purchase a cell phone in Ireland on arrival if you want. There are shops all over the place including Tesco supermarkets. I personally have the Mobal Phone. It is $49 and pay-as-you-go. It doesn't have any bells and whistles. Just a plain cell phone that works anywhere in Europe.

Michele

Rusty Stumps · Veteran Member

Thanks Michele,

That's exactly what I was looking for. I have a T-Mobile t219 which is nothing but a phone. I just don't want to be stuck out in the "outback" with a flat tire and no way to call anyone.

Walt

Michele Erdvig · Host

Walt,

Happy to help. Do you have time to order that phone? If not, stop into Tesco and see what they have.

Michele

Rich207 · Veteran Member

As Michele said, Tesco sells pre-pay mobile phones. Last I looked they have a special with calls to the US at .02 per minute until the end of this year. I am going to use this to keep in touch with our son. No need for Skype at this rate. I believe calls in the ROI are .20 a minute.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

After having some difficulties with my old Vodaphone SIM, I dropped into a Tesco and bought a Pay As You Go SIM for 2 or 3 Euro AND 10 Euro of call credit -- at which time, they WAIVED the purchase price of the SIM -- biggrin

Still had time on that SIM (even after a couple of calls to the US!) when I accidently left the phone at Headley Court, on the morning we flew home to the US .... hmm

Kathleen was ever so kind as to mail the phone to us. smile

Bob

Have two GOOD unlocked Quad-Band phones, so I didn't pay too much attention to the price of their phones (though they probably are two band, LOCKED phones -- that would only work in Europe -- and possibly, ONLY with an Irish SIM!), but basic phones generally run about 20 Euro and up.

Tesco Mobile Phones

If you buy the phone from Fry's, make sure it is at LEAST a Tri-Band (or, PREFERABLY, a Quad-Band), so that it WILL work in the US AND Europe.

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Saturday 28th of August 2010 11:20:18 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob,

Was that Headley Court?

Michele

Rusty Stumps · Veteran Member

Michele,

No, it was Dundum Shopping Mall near Temple Bar.

In the meantime I've found my present T-Mobil IS International and I called T-Mobile to get the un-locking code. Unfortunately I'm late as it will take 7-10 working days to get the email.

What really P-O's me is the local T-Mobile offce told me it "wasn't" able to be used Internationally. Can't trust anyone these day. [smirk]

Walt

Michele Erdvig · Host

Walt,

It always pays to talk to more than one "clerk". They all make it up as they go. At least you have options. Choose the one that works best for you.

Michele

DeborahAnn · Veteran Member

This is very helpful information as our first trip is in less than 2 weeks now. I have two international sim cards that I have used in Europe but their rates are not great in Ireland. The Tesco sim card seems very reasonable. What is a Tesco store?? Can they be found in most Ireland towns? We will be at Smarmore Castle near Ardee our first two nights, would there most likely be a Tesco in the area? Thanks for any information, Deborah

Michele Erdvig · Host

Deborah,

Tesco is like Wal Mart. I found one in Navan. Likely Eamon at Smarmore Castle will know if that is the nearest one. Why don't you email him and ask?

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

Sim card date out after 6 months of none use so an old sim might be useless. tesco direct will deliver a phone direct to your Hotel in Most large town/city locations. just remember to order a top up at the same time.

http://www.tesco.ie/

Michele Erdvig · Host

Thanks Tony. That's why I have the Mobal phone that I do. It never expires. I just charge it and go. Rates are higher but I only use it for calling a few B&Bs or in an emergency. I think on my last trip I paid maybe 5 euro total for a months worth of calls. But I was not phoning the USA. That could get expensive. It all depends on how a person uses their phone as to which one they get.

Michele

DeborahAnn · Veteran Member

Thanks Tony, I know all about the expiration of sim cards because we've gone through all kinds of hoops to keep ours active.

I bought a call in europe sim card which is great in France but not so wonderful in the rest of Europe and for this last trip to Italy I bought a sim card by ekit purchased online with a Great Britain phone number which is slightly better than our T-mobile when in Ireland. I'm still searching for a reasonably priced universal sim card--just haven't found it yet!!

Tesco seems like it offers very affordable phone charges. My husband and I each have an unlocked T-mobile phone that last year had charges in Europe of 99 cents a minute for calls but this year it is $1.29 a minute.

With using so many B&B's in Ireland I'd like to have a sim card with more favorable rates. Deborah

Rusty Stumps · Veteran Member

That's good info Tony, Michele, DeborhaAnn, My thing is I only need it for 2 weeks and it's a lot cheaper than the $90 a week rental by the car companies.

Walt

tony2phones · Guru

When a Phone costs 20euro and a sim card is free with 10 euro credit (which tesco double to 20 if you register) that's up to 100 minutes of calls within Ireland for 30 euro. At 2c / min to the USA and other world wide destinations that's up to 1000 minutes (in 59 min measures) just remember that you need to top up on line or at tesco stores for their phones (because the other operators don't like them for some reason) possibly at ATM's (haven't tried) Other operators are in a group which you can top up at most filling stations, News agents and other shops. Calls are at tesco rates for the Island of Ireland which is not the case for some other networks who charge roaming rates in the 6 counties of (UK Ulster) Northern Ireland.

wckc · Guru

Tony -

Do you know if there is a Tesco in Roscommon town?

-wc

Michele Erdvig · Host

Wendy,

I did a Google search and found one in Roscommon. It is a 24 hour store.

Michele

wckc · Guru

That's great! i had tried their online store locator, but it wasn't working.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Wendy,

Yes, I noticed that their store locator has been down for a few days. I found a press release about the new hours of the Roscommon store. You will have great shopping for your self-catering cottage. My husband is addicted to Tesco dark chocolate bars and I like their lemon soap bars. We always bring lots back with us.

Michele

CowboyCraic · Guru

The Tesco in Roscommon is on Market road. There is a shopping centre of sorts there, just on teh outside hub of Roscommon.

wckc · Guru

Thanks for the info Bit.

Is Gleeson's store the best option in Roscommon for purchasing fresh baked goods (bread)? Keith will be cooking most of our meals, but since baking braed would require purchasing so many different ingredients, we figured we would just purchase it at a good bakery. Also, do you know if there is a good meat market in the area? Maybe Gleeson's store is the best option for that as well...

-- Edited by wckc on Wednesday 1st of September 2010 08:22:24 PM

CowboyCraic · Guru

Gleeson's Store is an Artisan food & wine shop. They do offer Mary's Brown soda bread and delicious scones. If you want a good breakfast treat, try Mary's brown bread with treacle. I do love the local made jams on offer there and the fresh country butter, also locally made. Most of what you would purchase there will have been produced or crafted in Ireland. Many items from the local area or surrounding counties. Okay, okay...I just realized I sound like one of those late night infomercials... biggrin

Siggghh....it is breakfast time here and I am suddenly longing for one of Mary's sausage rolls.

There is a butcher just up from them. That is a good place for meats. If you like lamb, you must try the local lamb. County Roscommon has some of the best lamb on offer in the country. There is a grocer across, the street and down towards Sambo, they will have baguettes on offer and other baked breads.

My lunch meals were often Red Cheddar and a Baguette. They come in fresh and warm every morning, are really inexpensive and fills the gaps as breakfast burns off. biggrin

wckc · Guru

Thanks Bit! I'm sure we will purchase something at Gleeson's - especially if they have artisanal cheeses (and of course the wine to go with). Keith will definately be trying the lamb, it's one of his favorites. I used to like it okay, but his first culinary competition was herb rosted rack of lamb. He practiced for two weeks straight (netted him a bronze medal) - as a result, I haven't eaten lamb since!

-- Edited by wckc on Thursday 2nd of September 2010 08:41:03 PM

CowboyCraic · Guru

You should really try some lamb whilst there. Most of the Irish stew will have lamb heavily disguised in a thick broth and loads of carrots and tatties of course.

If Keith is a Chef, you may be hard pressed to get him out of the shop! If you get a chance to chat with Mary tell her I was bragging about her scones and breads.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Well my mouth is watering. We sure have some crazy conversations here. We started with cell phones and ended up with lamb, red cheddar and scones! LOL

Michele

wckc · Guru

Michelle - obviously while talking and dreaming of Ireland many things come to mind!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Wendy,

The conversations here are like Irish roads. Long, winding and you never know where you will end up!

Michele

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Since we ARE digressing onto many various and seemingly unrelated topics ....

Remember that ALL pre-1920 Birth and Death documents for the Republic of Ireland are stored in Roscommon. While research can still be carried out in Dublin at the National Archives ( and also at the County Heritage Centers ), actual Birth and Death Certs are obtained from:

The General Registrar Office

Bob