Martin Lewis warning to EE, Vodafone and Three customers going on holiday this summer
A number of companies, including EE, Vodafone and Three, have reintroduced fees for using their phone when 'roaming' in Europe.
Martin Lewis discusses credit card payment holidays
How to cut your mobile costs and avoid any nasty surprises when you get your post-holiday bill
1. Play it safe and turn roaming off
2. Most providers have automatic spending caps for roaming, but for safety you can also set your own
3. Be aware of your provider's 'fair use' policy – going over the limit could cost you dear
4. Use Wi-Fi wherever possible – plus use free apps to 'call home'
5. Turn off voicemail
6. Get 'beach mobile ready' – download music, films & boarding passes before you go
7. Be extra careful if you're on a cruise or at sea
What the firms are doing:
EE - Extra charges: £2.47/day (or £25/month) for contracts: £2.50/day (£10 for 7 days) for pay-as-you-go. Fair usage cap of 50GB.
Three - Extra charges: £2/day for contracts. None for pay-as-you-go.
If you need more than your UK data allowance, you can buy a Data Passport for £5 for unlimited data in 89 countries (valid until midnight after activating to a maximum of 24 hours). Fair usage cap of 12GB
Vodafone: £2.25/day (or £10 for 8 days or £15 for 15 days) for contracts. From £7 for 8 days for pay-as-you-go. Fair usage cap 25GB.
How to beat roaming charges in Europe
* Try an international eSim.
An eSim ("embedded Sim") is a digital version of the plastic physical Sim cards we all have that control our call and data allowances. If you've got one of the latest iPhone, Google or Samsung smartphones, it's likely to be compatible with an eSim.
An eSim plan for many destinations can be a lot cheaper than using your home network and buying roaming add-ons whilst abroad, as eSims work as if you were a local. You can buy and load one onto your phone before you leave the UK.
But be aware, international eSims generally only give you data – so you can't make calls or texts, though you can make calls and send messages using internet-based apps, like WhatsApp, Skype and Facetime.
As it's a digital Sim, it can be added to your phone alongside your UK Sim (whether physical or digital), so you can keep your same mobile number and get calls and texts as normal (though you may be charged pricey international rates to receive these). Then you can just use the prepaid eSim for data.
There are plenty of providers online offering eSims for virtually every country, and you can get ones that cover multiple countries if you're off on a world tour. For an idea of how much they cost, we looked at buying at least 10GB of data in the US and India. See our full eSims guide for more info.
* Switch to a provider that still offers free roaming in Europe. While three of the big four firms have reintroduced charges for roaming in Europe, O2 and some smaller networks haven't yet. If you take out a new contract now, it's likely you'll keep the roaming benefits for the length of the contract, even if the firm introduces charges later.