People flying to Greece may get 'strange' text that could cost them £300
Holidaymakers jetting off to Greece may face an unwelcome surprise that could leave them hundreds of pounds worse off this summer. Some British tourists visiting the Greek island of Corfu have been receiving 'welcome to Albania ' text messages, only to discover eye-watering phone bills afterwards.
This travel blunder is called inadvertent roaming or network drift, and it can cost holidaymakers up to £300. A spokesperson from eSIM travel firm Airalo has revealed why this occurs and shared advice on dodging the fee.
Whilst Corfu belongs to Greece, it sits geographically nearer to Albania, reports the Liverpool Echo. The island's north-eastern point lies mere kilometres from Ksamil, one of Albania's most picturesque seaside destinations.
Because of this proximity, Albanian mobile signals can be detected by visitors' phones whilst in Corfu, triggering this expensive mix-up. The Airalo representative commented: "This cross-border signal interference isn't new, especially where countries are separated by just a few miles of water or land.
"It usually happens because holidaymakers' phones accidentally connect to the networks of nearby nations, which are not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home (RLAH) regulation. Tourists can avoid accidental connections to the wrong provider by manually selecting a Greek network or using a Europe eSIM."
They noted that an eSIM enables travellers to maintain control over their mobile data whilst overseas. "By activating a Europe eSIM before travelling, you can significantly reduce roaming charges," they added. "In some cases, you can avoid and start using your data as soon as you land, even if your phone briefly connects to the wrong network."
Holiday hotspots where tourists need to be cautious:
Experts at Airalo have noticed that holidaymakers have been tripped up by this travel blunder in several locations, not just when visiting Greece. They advise that travellers exercise caution in the following destinations:
In Corfu, mobiles can inadvertently connect to Albanian networks, even if you haven't left Greece, leading to non-EU roaming charges.
In Dubrovnik, some users report connecting to Bosnian networks, which are outside the EU roaming zone.
Unintentional roaming is possible in border areas like Germany/Switzerland or France/Monaco. Switzerland and Monaco aren't covered by Roam Like at Home, so roaming fees may apply depending on your provider.
When island-hopping in the Eastern Aegean, mobiles may latch onto Turkish networks, especially on islands like Kos, Chios, Lesvos, or Samos. It's safest to manually select a Greek network.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM that enables you to activate a cellular plan from your carrier without the need for a physical SIM card. You can purchase an eSIM tailored for Europe from different providers, guaranteeing data coverage across several countries without facing roaming charges.
eSIMs offer a handy and cost-effective way to stay connected whilst travelling, removing the hassle of physical SIM cards and potential roaming charges. For example, Vodafone offers a Travel eSIM for Greece, which can be purchased and activated either before or after your arrival.
What can you do to avoid the problem?
When travelling, your mobile typically connects automatically to the strongest available network. But in certain border areas, this might accidentally connect you to a network from a neighbouring country (such as Turkey on some Greek islands).
To prevent this, navigate to your phone's settings, find the network options (usually under "Connections" or "Mobile Networks"), and switch from automatic network selection to manual selection. You can then choose from a list of Greek networks like Cosmote, Vodafone, or Nova (previously known as Wind).
By manually selecting a Greek network, you can guarantee you're only using a Greece-based provider, thereby avoiding any potential charges from other countries, as highlighted by EE.
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