Phones

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Phones

Ltravels · Member

I am wondering if anyone has any tips for cell phones in Northern Ireland and Ireland? The current phone I have through AT&T will not work in Northern Ireland and Ireland. Years ago, I traveled without a phone and it was not a problem. Now everyone has a phone. If I want to get a phone, what are some options?

murphy · Guru

Ltravels,

I think your best bet is to get a phone from Tesco in Ireland (unlocked). Not sure if they work in both NI and Ireland. We bought a sim card for a phone purchased in Ireland in 08, which included 10Euros of time. It lasted for the better part of 2 weeks...made 5-6 calls back to the US and a few local calls. It can be easily topped up at any Tesco. We did top up with an additional 10 Euros , but used very little of it. Your sim card expires (if you don't use it) after 6 months if I remember correctly, unless you call them or go online...whereby you get an additional 6 months. Tony will probably chime in....he IS the phone guru over there! Dan

Sharon Duffy Miller · Member

I will be traveling to Ireland next month. I just called AT&T (my cell phone provider) and they set it all up for me for the time that I will be in Ireland. A few Extra fees so that texting and talking will be at a cheaper rate. They said I should not have any problems using the phone now that I set it up. I also set it up for the other people who are on my plan so that they can also reach me at a lower rate. It will expire once I am back here in the states.

Michele Erdvig · Host

I have the Mobal phone that is on my website simply because I don't make a lot of calls and it is good in many different countries without changing out the SIM card. Since I never know where my travels will take me it is an idiot-proof phone for a cell-phone-challenged person (me!).

As I recall, Tony said that the Tesco mobile phones can be used in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (with roaming fees).

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

Here is a good discussion about cell phones: http://ireland.activeboard.com/t41010749/cell-phones/

tony2phones · Guru

Depends where you will be 1st. Tesco Ireland mobile network covers the Island of Ireland and gives the 1cent per min calls to the US. Tesco UK requires you to purchase an Ireland Bundle to cover use in the republic and call charges are greater.

Tesco Ireland changed operator in 2010/11 so the old sim cards only give 2g O2 network which does not include data or the cheap rate international calls. The 3g sim operate on the Hutchinson network cheap calls and data but as yet no Blackberry compatibility.

Basically if you are in Ireland for a week or two then 30euro gets you a phone and all the calls you should need. If AT&T offer a comparable cost then stick with them.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Thanks Bob & Tony!

Veteran Member

I purchased a Meteor SIM card in Dublin for 10. I made calls and sent texts from Ireland, Germany, and even back home in the U.S. and still had some credit left over. It was probably the best 10 I spent on the entire trip. All you need is a phone that will take their SIM. You probably have an old cellphone laying around that will and if not, you can buy one cheap on eBay.

Lucky Traveler · Veteran Member

In our past travels, we have used an international calling card. For this trip (coming soon!) we thought a cell phone might come in handy. I see from the forums some of the options include:

Mobal (buy here before we leave) Can use in other countries

Meteor (buy a phone or sim card when arrive) Can use in other countries

Tesco (buy a phone or sim card in Dublin when we arrive) For use in Ireland only

Is this an accurate summary? I have a Blackberry phone and just called to get the info to unlock the phone. From other posts, it looks like either the Meteor or Tesco sim cards will work with Blackberry phones, right? This seems like an easy way to go if the sim card will work!

Am I on the right track with this info here?

Thanks!

Nancy

-- Edited by Lucky Traveler on Friday 30th of March 2012 06:41:19 PM

tony2phones · Guru

Tesco will support calls and texts only..on a Blackberry. If you want all functions then a Meteor or 3 sim could be better.

Lucky Traveler · Veteran Member

Thanks, Tony. I think I'll be fine with calls and text only. Just had my phone unlocked so am good to go.

Nancy

bobdurk · Member

Mobal is the way to go. Inexpensive, own it forever and works everywhere!

Richard Leeds · Veteran Member

Re: Dan Dooley Car Rental.

Hello Everyone, first let me say Ireland was amazing. I will post a complete report next week on my accommodation, restaurant highlights and other reactions.

But first, readers should hear about my experience with Dan Dooley Car Rental.

I read about the roads, the pot holes and the car rental agencies, but I was not prepared for the encounter in spite of everything. All the small roads had pot holes. I drove mostly at 50km per hour (30 miles per hour) on these roads. I hit the pot holes over and over.

Maybe the rain hides the pot holes and it rained on 33 of our 35 days. When the car was turned in Dan Dooley said they had to replace two of the small tires on the Puegeot 308. Remember this car had 36,000 kilometers on it and the tires were used. The Manager said the price was 300 Euros for two tires. That was $400 U.S. at the exchange rate at the time. (May 2012).

My friends in Dublin said I had been ripped off. Their words, not mine. They were actually flabbergasted.

This left a bad taste in my mouth. I asked them what they would charge if we lost the GPS and they said 250E. This is for the cheapest model with the cheapest functions.

If something goes wrong with Dan Dooley and you did not purchase the super cover insurance supplement, they will do to you what they did to us. $400 for TWO TIRES. RENTER BEWARE, I would have used another company.

Bertrand · Veteran Member

Richard:

Has been my experience that all the rental cars in Ireland take that approach with tires, and Dooley is no different. They at least have their fees up front, unlike many of the others.

I always take the super insurance for peace of mind. The car rental thing is one of the real challenges of Ireland. Would have been insensed to pay what you did for tires, but again Dooley is not alone on that practice!

Frustrating for sure.

Bert

Michele Erdvig · Host

Richard,

Sorry to hear about the problem with the tires and Dooley. evileye Unfortunately, most of the insurance you purchase does not cover tires. Bob (Itallian Chauffeur) had a problem with them and potholes also. It does help to protest then and there. Have you contacted Dooley to ask them why you were charged that price?

Like Bert said, all the car companies have similar rules. It is one of the hazards of renting a car in Ireland. If the same had happened with any other car company in Ireland you probably would have had the same experience. I know that doesn't make it any easier to accept.

We are looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip. I hope the positives outweighted the negatives.

Michele