Latest news with #roamingcharges
The Independent
21-07-2025
- The Independent
Simon Calder issues mobile roaming warning for summer holidaymakers
British holidaymakers are being advised to be vigilant about potential mobile phone roaming charges while abroad. Holidaymakers in Corfu have recently faced bills of up to £300 due to their phones connecting to Albanian mobile phone masts. This issue of unexpected roaming charges is not confined solely to the Corfu and Albania region. The Independent 's travel expert, Simon Calder, provides essential information on how to avoid these additional costs. Watch the video above.
The Independent
21-07-2025
- The Independent
How to avoid ridiculous phone roaming bills on your summer holiday
Showing now | News 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.
The Independent
18-07-2025
- The Independent
Ridiculous phone roaming bills and how to avoid them
Holidaymakers in Corfu have been hit with bills for roaming charges of up to £300 after their phones latched on to Albanian mobile phone masts. At their closest, the Greek island and the Balkan nation are barely one mile apart. The Mail reports that holidaymaker Maria Pratt wrote on Facebook: 'We got caught out 298 pound bill when we got home x.' This issue is not limited to Corfu/Albania confusion. Most British travellers have some sort of deal for low roaming charges within the European Union, and often the wider Schengen area (including Switzerland, Iceland and Norway). Costs are kept down to perhaps a few pounds per day. But in border areas with non-EU nations, or on ships connected to maritime satellite networks, travellers can inadvertently lock onto networks where charges are extremely high. These are the key questions and answers. I fly to an EU country. I switch on my phone. What could possibly go wrong? So long as you are staying well away from any borders with non-EU nations, and coastlines where you could connect inadvertently with a maritime network, not much. Typical roaming arrangements allow you a reasonable deal for Schengen area nations plus Ireland, the Isle of Man, Channel Islands, San Marino and Vatican City. Because a number of remote islands and territories are part of France, the plan often includes some far-flung destinations, including Guyane, Guadeloupe, St-Martin and Reunion. Notably, though, plans usually exclude some key Balkan, Mediterranean and Pyrenean nations: These territories are priced at high rates. Maritime tariffs – as applied on some ferries and cruise ships – are even more expensive. What are the possible roaming risks? The main problem is connecting to a network in another destination without meaning to. Phones are constantly probing to detect the optimum mast, and that may lay on the other side of an international border – or even on a vessel at seas. Where are the most likely problems? Holidaymakers on some Greek islands are prone to locking on to other countries' providers. Besides the Corfu-Albania example, the northern tip of Kos is only three miles from Turkey, while part of Lesbos is six miles from the Turkish mainland. Little-visited Chios is four miles from Turkey. In Cyprus, close to the 'Green Line', phones may select a network from the self-styled Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In Croatia, the main problems concern the narrow coastal strip in the south, where Bosnia is never far away. Some of the most enticing locations in northeast Romania, including elaborately painted monasteries, are close to the Moldovan frontier. In the Suwalki Gap – where Poland and Lithuania meet, pinched between Belarus and Russian exclave Kaliningrad – you may lock on to a network that will either not work or cost you a fortune. The same applies in northeast Estonia, at the spectacular city of Narva, overlooking Russia. Even in the UK, at some locations in Kent, your phone may find a network in France more appealing. Travellers to French locations in the Caribbean might find potential issues, too. St-Martin (French) and the Dutch outpost of Sint Maarten share an island; the French part has cheap roaming, the Dutch part not. How can I avoid inadvertent roaming? You could turn off roaming altogether. On Android phones such as the Samsung Galaxy, go to "settings", "connections", "mobile networks" then select "roaming off". On an iPhone, from 'settings', go into 'mobile service' then 'mobile data options'. Select 'roaming off'. Then rely on local free wifi. If you want to roam without unpleasant surprises, start with 'roaming off'. On arrival in the destination, for an Android, from 'mobile networks' select "network mode", then "network operators" and disable "select automatically". On an iPhone, go to 'settings' and 'network selection'; disable 'automatic'. Choose a local provider; your phone should not opt for anyone else. Then switch on roaming. I am going to a country where roaming costs a fortune Get a local SIM or an eSIM that will allow you to make and receive calls, and use data, at a low price – which you can top up as necessary as you go. Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key travel issue – and what it means for you.
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Tourists issued warning over hidden £300 charge in popular European holiday destination as people call it 'disgusting'
Holidaymakers heading to Corfu this summer have been warned of a hidden network charge that could cost them hundreds before they've even stepped out of the airport. Tourists have been left baffled by a 'Welcome to Albania' text message they'd received shortly after touching down at Corfu Airport - despite being on a Greek island. An employee from MailOnline, who recently holidayed at the popular European hotspot, shared a text he'd received upon landing from a service named 'Rate Advice.' It reads: 'Welcome to Albania! Calls, texts and data in Albania are chargeable and do not come out of your standard allowances or UK data add-ons. Roam Beyond data add-ons for this destination are available in the iD Mobile app for as little as GBP5.00. 'If you haven't already purchased a Roam Beyond data add-on, it will cost GBP1.50 per MB. Minutes and texts are not included , and will cost GBP0.60 per text to roam. To protect you from excessive charges, a GBP45.00 roaming data cap is in place.' Though Corfu in the northwestern corner of Greece, it is situated only a short stretch (48.2 km) from Ksamil, a small coastal village in the riviera of Southern Albania. Because of the island's location, the strength of the Albanian mobile phone signals near the coast can cause phones to connect to them automatically, even when the user is in Greece. Some holidaymakers have taken to social media over the summer to warn others of unexpected charges and sky-high phone bills. An employee from MailOnline, who recently holidayed at the popular European hotspot, shared a text he'd received upon landing from a service named 'Rate Advice' Steve Moore, from Chesterfield, shared his experience in the popular Facebook group, We Love Sidari, writing: 'I arrived Sunday, usual welcome text to corfu charges just the same as UK - 2 days later message welcome to Albania this is your charges. 'Wow what a rip off, phoned company and after 45 mins of conversation was told the network must of changed to a different mast. You need to keep an eye on it otherwise it will cost you a lot.' Another Facebook user chimed, 'Only if you go to the east of the island. I did that mistake while on a quad. Using google maps. £128 to drive up road lol,' while a third added, 'We got caught out £298 bill when we got home.' To avoid these charges, travellers are urged to either inform their provider of the situation, turn off 'roaming,' or manually select a Greek network in their phone's settings instead of relying on automatic network selection. One Facebook user suggested: 'All you do is let your phone set it's paired Greek network automatically when you arrive on the island at the airport. 'Once it's selected the correct Greek network, go into your settings and turn OFF "automatically select network". This means your phone will not hunt for or connect to anything else other than your correct Greek network.' They also warned users to 'remember to turn it back on when you get back to UK'. Another urged: 'Just carry on then when you get back tell your provider to do one. You're not gonna pay for a different provider. I did and got all charges stopped,' while a third shared, 'We keep our roaming off at all times and just log into WiFi in bars, hotels, etc.' Some holidaymakers have taken to social media over the summer to warn others of unexpected charges and sky-high phone bills It comes after a travel expert revealed an overlooked phone setting that could end up costing holidaymakers hundreds in unexpected roaming charges. Georgia Brivida, of international SIM provider Sim Local, is urging Brits to switch off the 'autoplay' feature on their phones before boarding their next flight. The setting, she says, could quietly drain data and rack up a significant phone bill - often without users even realising it. She explained: 'Autoplay is a feature that automatically plays videos as you scroll through apps like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube, often without you even tapping play.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Spain delivers ANOTHER blow to British holidaymakers by blocking cheap data roaming in Europe as part of Brexit reset deal - following latest wave of anti-tourist protests
British holidaymakers have been delivered another blow as Spain and Italy block cheap data roaming for UK tourists despite Brexit reset talks with the European Union. Millions of Brits visit Spain and Italy every year, with UK tourism significantly boosting the country's local economy. But the southern European nations have delivered a new blow to British visitors after they thwarted a call by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to scrap roaming charges for UK holidaymakers. The move from the southern European states comes as Britain and the EU sealed a 'Brexit reset' deal on Monday aimed at bringing down food prices and reviving exports. After the EU ditched roaming charges for European tourists in 2016, the UK government had estimated British travellers would save £1.4 billion a year. But since Brexit, most British providers now charge their customers extra for roaming bundles so that they can use mobile data while travelling abroad. The rejection on roaming charges for UK tourists comes as Spain braces for a summer of even bigger anti-tourism protests, after the country was rocked by massive demonstrations last year. Anti-tourism campaigners have long been contesting the current tourism model, claiming that many locals have been priced out by holidaymakers, expats and foreign buyers. Last year, Spain saw a record-breaking number of tourists, with over 15 million visitors flocking to the island of Mallorca alone. In response, protestors took to the streets across Spain, leaving countless visitors fuming after paying hundreds of pounds to enjoy their holidays abroad. Actions included marches on the street with protesters chanting 'tourists go home', as well as demonstrations on beaches which saw locals boo and jeer at sun-soaked tourists. In one particular instance, up to 50,000 locals descended onto the streets of the Mallorca capital Palma. Meanwhile in Barcelona, some 2,800 people marched along a waterfront district of Barcelona to demand a new economic model that would reduce the millions of tourists that visit every year. Protesters carried signs reading 'Barcelona is not for sale,' and, 'Tourists go home,' before some used water guns on tourists eating outdoors at restaurants in popular tourist hotspots. Last month, anti-tourism campaigners issued a chilling warning to British holidaymakers after they threatened to unleash more chaos. Over the weekend, thousands of fed-up locals kicked off demonstrations across the Canary Islands. Spain was rocked by anti-tourism protests last summer, which saw tens of thousands of fed up locals filling streets across the country Holidaymakers were forced to cower in hotels on Sunday as anti-tourist protests stormed the streets of the Canary Islands, disrupting bliss for the thousands of Brits abroad. Demonstrators marched with the slogan 'Canarias tiene un limite' (The Canaries has a limit, while slogan were chanted such as: 'El dinero del turismo, donde está?', meaning 'The money from tourism, where is it?' One placard read: 'Stop excessive tourism… this is our home,' while another said: 'My misery is your paradise'. A banner declared the Canary Islands 'is no longer a paradise' thanks to tourism. Another sign was inscribed with the words: 'tourists swim in s**t', referencing the large amount of sewage water that is dumped into the sea - the majority of it, activists say, coming from hotels and tourist accommodations. Other placards in Spanish said: 'Don't sell your homes to guiris!' Guiri is a Spanish slang word for British and other tourists. Demonstrators could also be heard shouting 'Canarias No Se Vende', meaning 'The Canary Islands Are Not For Sale,' while the blew whistles and proudly held Canary Island flags in the sky. Last month, locals also took to the streets in Barcelona, Valencia as well as Madrid. The PM's calls for cheaper roaming come after he declared 'Britain is back on the world stage' on Monday as he held a joint press conference with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen at a summit in London. As part of the deal, European fishing boats will be guaranteed access to UK waters on the current terms for 12 years. Starmer has also signed the UK up to a 'youth experience' arrangement giving potentially millions of Europeans rights to live, study and work in the EU. Sir Keir stressed it would be 'capped and time limited', arguing the government's crackdown on immigration will not be compromised. In return, the deal would see checks on lorries taking food to the continent lifted permanently - ending the so-called 'sausage wars'. That is supposed to boost the economy by £9billion by 2040.
