Cell Phones/International Call Charges

Lucky Traveler · Veteran Member

Cell Phones/International Call Charges

tony2phones · Guru

Tesco UK and Tesco Ireland are two separate animals. They operate (piggy back) on separate networks.

Tesco Ireland (3G) run on the Hutchinson network which is why the cheap international rates. Tesco (the company) double the credit and set the national charges which are standard on the Island of Ireland.http://www.tescomobile.ie/

Tesco UK (3G) run on the UK 02 network which is why there are no dirt cheap international calls and the Republic incurs roaming charges. 02 have an add on which costs £1.99 and negates roaming charges this bundle can be purchased on the Tesco UK network if you are considering entering the republic as part of your trip. Tesco UK will treble your credit and will support Blackberry phones fully (only calls and text on tesco Ireland) and give a greater data package than the Irish network.
http://phone-shop.tesco.com/tesco-mobile/

Tesco UK cover GB which is the UK plus NI, so a sim purchaced in NI or Scotland (or the rest of the UK) will be a +44 (0) 7**** number

Tesco Ireland sim is a +353 (0) 8**** number,

-- Edited by tony2phones on Saturday 14th of April 2012 02:20:45 PM

tony2phones · Guru

No charges to receive calls and Tesco have the best over all coverage and by far the cheapest rates.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I second what Tony said.

Also, those people that you call 'States-side' would only be charged if their Calling Plan NORMALLY charges for Incoming calls -- Certain, 'Pay-As-You-Go' Cell Phone plans, for example.

If THEY call YOU, it would be a Long-Distance, Foreign call, for THEM, but absolutely NO cost for YOU, at the receiving end, because INCOMING calls are Free, in Ireland. They would, of course, have to dial your Irish number (complete with Country code).

If you anticipate the need (or have expectation) of being called from the US, I recommend that your caller use an International Calling Card as their rates to Ireland are MUCH cheaper than Standard phone rates.

Bob

murphy · Guru

Tony,

Is Tesco as good in NI as in the Republic and what about Scotland? Thinking of a combo NI/Scotland trip in the fall, and thinking about how my current cell phone, that I purchased in the Republic, and is unlocked to take a sim card, will work in NI and/or Scotland. Thanks Dan

murphy · Guru

Thanks Tony!

We might end up flying into Dublin in order to get our free flights using Visa rewards, and then get a Hertz car using Journey Through Ireland. JTI says they can rent us a car in Dublin, and then there would be extra charges at the Hertz desk in Dublin to take the car over to Scotland. Should I forget this idea? and just get a car for NI and then get another one in Scotland?

As for the phone, from Dublin, I would probably head straight away to NI and pick up a UK sim card there with the 1.99 add on, in case we happen to slip back into the Repulic over by Derry/Donegal. Sounds like a UK sim card would be ok for Scotland. Hoping to do this trip open jaw (into Ireland, out of Scotland, or vice versa). Dan

-- Edited by murphy on Saturday 14th of April 2012 11:10:14 PM

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Dan -- Car hire in the UK (Northern Ireland and Scotland) should be MUCH cheaper and less complicated than in the Republic. We've flown Open-Jaw into Edinburgh, in '07 and Cardiff, in '10.

Would think the Ferry Fees AND the 'ADD-ON' would FAR excede any savings.

Look to Scotrail for Train and Ferry Combo Tickets, called Rail-and-Sail. If arriving in DUB, I would suggest Train or Bus to Belfast, THEN get the Car Hire to avoid 'Drop Off' Fees, as well.

By the way -- I got a Quote from your people for Car Hire for my upcoming, 13 day Trip, but it was DOUBLE the price that I ended up paying with Dooley? ???

confuse confuse confuse confuse confuse

Dunno if it was just bad timing, or if they just didn't like something I said ... biggrin biggrin

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Sunday 15th of April 2012 09:06:45 AM

tony2phones · Guru

You have to return a rental to the Island from which you rent. Therefore renting in Ireland and returning in Scotland or anywhere on Big island is a non starter.

Will you benefit from paying for the add on? have you a sim from previous trips with a bit of credit left?

tony2phones · Guru

Rail and Sail I use Stena Line http://www.stenaline.ie/ferry/rail-and-sail/scotland/ you can book at the port or in some instances at a mainline rail station.

Lucky Traveler · Veteran Member

Thanks for the tip on the Tesco sim card. We'll buy one of those when we arrive in Dublin. We will be in NI for 4 of our 20 days near the end of the trip. Do we need to buy a different Tesco sim card for NI or will the one I buy in the Republic work up there as well? I see from Tony's post that these are different, but remember an earlier thread about the cards from the Republic work in NI, but not vice versa????

And, if I call a state-side "pay as you go" cell phone, is there an international charge or just the regular minute charge?

murphy · Guru

Soooooo envious! If anyone gets to Dan Murphy's Bar in Sneem, tip a pint for me! biggrin Have a great trip everybody! Dan

-- Edited by murphy on Sunday 15th of April 2012 08:07:32 PM

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Stateside, the 'Pay-As-You-Go' minutes should be at standard rates -- Point of Origin should be irrelevant.

As to Tesco in N.I., we'll need final confirmation from Tony, but I BELIEVE a SIM from the Republic works FINE in the Six Counties, but you are charged higher rates, as you are 'Roaming'. I know that's how it worked with my Vodaphone SIM, but I haven't crossed into the North with my Tesco, yet.

Had a Tesco SIM that I bought in Wales that worked just fine on the Ferry to Cork AND in and around Co. Cork as well, back in 2010, but once I used up the Call Credit, I just replaced it with a SIM from the Republic, to get the lower rates ....

Bob

murphy · Guru

Tony, I did have some credit left on my RofI Tesco sim card when we left there about a year ago now. We topped up for 10 Euro, and used about half of it. I doubt it is still there....it seems like I read where I would have had to go online or call them within 6 months in order to preserve the time. (and the sim card)

Bob, I was surprised to hear that JTI's price is double Dooley cry . They were as good as I could find last year for an all inclusive rate. I elected not to use the World Master Card since there were 2 couples involved, and so I paid the CDW & SCDW. Did you price CDW & SCDL with both JTI and Dooley, or are you using a World MC? I am waiting for the quote from JTI, and am now doubting it will be economical, since the majority of our driving will be in NI and Scotland. And, since renting in NI and Scotland are easier, less expensive, and less trouble than RofI, am leaning toward not using JTI. Now I will need to find out if I can rent one from Dooley in NI and then another from Dooley in Scotland, provided we do open jaw. Open jaw has been pricing out $100-200 higher per ticket,(x's 4 tickets) so wonder if it would be better to buy round trip tickets and dead head back to the original airport to fly out and drop the car. However, I fear that it would eat up the better part of a day. If Dooley doesn't operate in Scotland, I will probably look into AutoEurope, after my bad experience with EuropCar, unless someone has a better idea for a car rental company for Scotland.

The rail/sail sounds interesting, and will have to see how that all fits into the mix.

Thanks all for your help! Isn't this a great forum? biggrin

Dan

wckc · Guru

Dan -

Put the sim in your phone and give it a try. We had 2 Tesco sims from 9/2010. One of them is still active today, not sure why only one, but one is better than none...

We leave on Tuesday - getting really anxious and excited! We think we've got everything we need packed....

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Dan -- They quoted me $481 (plus 26 Euro Airport Fee payable on pickup) -- if I wanted to WAIVE the CDW -- $618 if I wanted CDW -- and the Super-CDW / Excess was 10 Euro per day extra, for the 13 days.

Dooley charged me $251, and all I still need to pay in DUB is the Inital Fuel -- and MAYBE -- the 25 Euro 'Handling Fee' for waiving the CDW.

I say maybe, because LAST year, they never DID charge me .... confuse confuse

That doesn't mean that YOU won't get a good rate, though. Time of year, etcetera, has EVERYTHING to do with pricing.

Leaving tomorrow (Monday) evening!!!! Can't wait! biggrin biggrin biggrin

And yes -- Being part of this Forum makes the Trips SO much better! biggrin biggrin

Bob

Lucky Traveler · Veteran Member

There are at least 4 of us from the forum that are leaving for Ireland in the next few days. Amazing!

Can't wait!!!!!!

DiCal · Veteran Member

We leave on Wednesday! All packed and ready to go. Thanks to everyone for all of the help in planning our trip. Safe travels!