How to avoid ridiculous phone roaming bills on your summer holiday
01:30
Simon Calder
The summer holidays are officially underway with thousands of Britons jetting off into the sun for a week of relaxation or two.
Whether you have been saving for months for your 2025 holiday, or managed to book a great-value late deal, make sure you do not succumb to extra charges on holiday when using your mobile phone.
Holidaymakers in Corfu have recently been hit with bills for roaming charges of up to £300 after their phones latched on to Albanian mobile phone masts.
This issue is not limited to Corfu/ Albania confusion. The Independent's travel expert Simon Calder explains all you need to know.
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Dinners can be enjoyed in two distinct restaurants and are fantastically French — work up an appetite on the slopes to indulge in regional specialties like fondue Savoyarde and tartiflette topped off with blueberry pie. • Best all-inclusive ski hotels £££ | HOT TUB | POOL | SLEEPS 10 | Fully catered | Best for luxury Just a short hop from Salzburg lies one of Austria's largest ski areas, the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. Spanning 167 miles of predominantly intermediate pistes and the four villages that make up its trips-off-the-tongue name, the Skicircus remains mystifyingly little-known by British skiers. Tranquil Leogang is particularly appealing for families, with sunny nursery slopes and gentle local blue runs at its base as well as easy access to the more challenging sections of the Skicircus. The plush Chalet Henne, with wraparound full-height windows affording exceptional views, is a knockout property for multigenerational families. 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Set at the foot of the towering Sella massif, Selva is ideally placed to tackle its jaw-droppingly scenic 25 mile-long circumnavigation, the Sellaronda. Toast your successful circuit with a glass of prosecco at Chalet Sondanella, where aperitivos are taken each evening before four-course dinners, with unlimited wine. Served family-style, with all guests seated at the same time at shared tables if desired, dinners are convivial affairs and span a wide range of cuisines, from a classic French boeuf bourguignon to authentic Italian lasagne. Breakfasts are equally generous, with continental options served each morning and cooked ingredients, like a hearty full English, available on all but one day. The charming chalet staff also bake fresh cakes each day for afternoon tea, served with tea, coffee or beers if requested. The comfortable chalet, which is set just paces off a blue piste that leads down to the Ciampinoi gondola, offers 13 spacious bedrooms, some with balconies, and an inviting top-floor lounge with far-reaching views of the Dolomites. • Best ski resorts in Italy £ | SPA | POOL | SLEEPS 10 | Fully catered | Best for groups of friends Located in a quiet residential part of St Anton — whose Ski Arlberg is the largest ski resort in Austria — just beyond Rendl mountain, Chalet Albona is one of four chalets in the contemporary Mountain Lodge, which has a communal spa area and plunge pool. Whether you team up with mates to secure the whole five-bedroom chalet or just take a double room or two, you'll enjoy generous chalet catering and a warm welcome from your hosts. Note that, outside of peak dates, children 11 years and under are only welcome when a group books the property exclusively. A free bus service stops 300m away from the chalet, whisking you off to the main ski lifts in under five minutes. Bookings include flights, transfers and all your food and drinks, including a generous continental buffet or cooked breakfast, afternoon tea, a four-course set menu every evening, and local wines. One evening a week is all about Austrian cuisine, with a range of local delicacies served. • Best ski resorts in Austria ££ | SLEEPS 6 | Fully catered | Best for culture vultures Japan is one of the snowiest places on earth, lending the bountiful white stuff the nickname 'Japow'. More than merely incredibly fluffy powder, skiing in Japan also serves up a rich cultural experience, with authentic sushi and ramen for lunch and saké and traditional outdoor onsen (hot springs) for après. Let ski specialist Powder Byrne arrange a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Japan with catered accommodation in a beautifully restored kominka (traditional folk house). 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There's a regular, complimentary shuttle bus from Mottaret to the centre of Méribel, which is great for exploring the town's nightlife. • Best ski chalets in France • Best ski resorts for beginners
