Mobile phones abroad....

In October we're off on hols and my network, 3 charge exorbitant fees in our destination. Now, I know when we get there I can buy one of the local sim cards but with my phone being under contract and locked, I guess it won't work.
Is there a way round this, other than going to dodgy Dave on the market who unlocks phones. If that is the only way, are there dangers to this, like losing stuff off the phone?
Ta

 

You don’t need to go to dodgy Dave, you just text a number. The law changed a while ago to say everyone phone operator must unlock phones for free. You won’t lose anything off it. Let me just find the number…

 

Are you sure it’s locked? Most phones haven’t been locked to a network for the best part of two years.

There are SIM providers like Smarty (3 Network) and Lebara that do good roaming sims. For example - https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/le...s318pm-for-3-months-ps12-tcb-possible-4180162

 

If you bought your phone after 2013 from Three it won’t be locked as they don’t lock them anymore.

 

My advice? Just don't use it. Have a week off. Enjoy the sunshine, read a book, talk to each other. If an emergency, then just take the hit, otherwise just use the WiFi for the BBS and make the most of your holiday.

 

Cheers, I've only had it a year, just thought they were if you were in a contract, excellent news! Guess I could test it by borrowing some else's sim.

 

You could but you won’t need to.

 

My phone goes in the safe each morning and only comes out in the evenings when we’re back in the hotel for the night.

 

Great title for a song. Give me 10 minutes..

 

We are with Tesco (O2) and go to Spain a lot and we are still on roaming. Only charge 25p if you send a photo. You get around that my using What’s App. Check with your Operator re roaming.

 

Switch to GiffGaff, I get 20GB of data a month for £10 with an allowance 5GB of roaming a month at no extra cost.

 

Like the sentiment, but a week off from what? I don't do owt here .
We're going for a month, as have friends out there and the missus phones her mum everyday. Wifi is notoriously slow. We are also new grandparents, so we have to keep in touch. And.....I'm hoping the firestick will still access our matches!

 

He's with 3 so checking with them rob-dogs is a waste of time. I left them when my free roaming contract ran out last year and their offers were shockingly bad with regard to roaming.

 

I told my wife it was a business trip..
Aw now you’re worried..

 

Yes, I now realise my error, I'll be leaving when the contract ends.

 

I'm with Vodaphone and I just buy a 8 or 15 day pass, costing €1 per day, which allows me to use my U.K. tariff. I've just spent 65 days at my house in Spain without touching the limits ( of limilitless calls, same for messages, and 25gig of data download per month ( which I haven't troubled) while watching the Port Vale game. I would expect thete to be deals out there similar...

 

My wife is with 3 till January unfortunately...

 

Lebara or O2 both free roaming.

 

Where are you going?

Most major destinationd will have 'packs' you can buy as others have said. We went to Turkey this year and I couldn't believe the cost for that. It was something like £5 a day plus £1 per 200meg of data - which would have run up a mental amount.

I used a company called Holafly to buy an esim that gave me unlimited data. Not cheap, but worth it. Your phone would have to be compatible though.

 

Seychelles, 3 claim it charges £6 per MB! So £1200 a day for 200MB. I thought it was a typo, but the woman on their "helpline" confirmed it, although she didn't really understand it.
I'll do some research but likely to be Lebara or one of their local things, on first glance it'll be under £40 for unlimited anyway. Cheers all.