Stupid question re. Mobiles and roaming

[TooLongSinceITravelled]

I need to travel to another country but I still want to be able to receive iMessages and email, preferably also FaceTime calls. Does this all go over data? If I have roaming on this is going to be expensive, isn't it? Am I right in thinking that I only need to buy a "data only" package to access these?

You need to ask your provider. I recently went to Lanzarote and could use my data the same as here in the uk.

Depends on your provider but not all data can be used abroad now you'd have to buy a bundle or use wifi over there instead

@TooLongSinceITravelled who is your provider? Vodafone are very good when travelling but you need to chat to them / provider before you go abroad to make sure your data package covers what you need... also to make sure that Brexit hasn't affected some providers deals etc

@IloveJudgeJudy

You need to ask your provider. I recently went to Lanzarote and could use my data the same as here in the uk.

That's because it's in the EU. Be prepared for this not to be the same if you go again in future years. Some providers have already revoked the "free roaming within the EU" facility. Others might too.

I can't use what I have now abroad.

I can buy a travel data option. (Cheapest)

Or a travel call (only calls)
Or travel sms/mms (but I don't think I need this as all my family have iMessage)
Or I can pay to have my current plan valid in the EU, but I have to pay for three months because you need to give 2 months notice to cancel.

I want to be able to receive iMessages whenever and I want the DC's to be able to FaceTime me if there's an emergency (they have phones without SIM cards so can't "call" unless over WiFi). This would be covered by the travel data option wouldn't it?

Why don't you just do all your messaging etc over WiFi? It's free, although some hotels charge for excessive usage. Still cheaper than roaming though.
Do you really need to be contactable 24x7?

Why don't you just do all your messaging etc over WiFi?
I'll be travelling for 4 hours of the day and the hotel website says there is WiFi in the public rooms and "some" of the bedrooms. I'll have no idea until I get there whether or not mine will. I won't be staying in the hotel all day either.
Do you really need to be contactable 24x7? I don't know. I've never been away from the DC before! I think they would like to know they can contact me if they want to. Or maybe they won't at all. I've no idea!

How old are your DC? And how long will you be away?

I can't imagine any reason the DC will want to speak to you so urgently that they can't wait until the evening. You can give them the hotel phone number in case there's an emergency.

It's not that long ago we had to rely on letters and postcards, or very expensive landline calls if we wanted to contact people.

You can give them the hotel phone number in case there's an emergency.
That will be no use, they won't be able to call it. They're 9/10 and I'll be gone 4 days.

Presumably you're not leaving them on their own?

I think a 9 and 10 year old could manage with not being able to talk to their mother on demand for a few hours each day. I assume they don't call while they are at school and you're at work.

No, I'm leaving them with someone who might leave them on their own No, they don't talk to me whilst at school, but they do come home for lunch every day.

Why can't you use what you have now abroad, I thought that was standard. Where are you going, who is your provider, are you in a contract or is it PAYG?

Unless you're in a contract, it might be easier and cheaper to switch to a provider who does offer what you need within the bundle. But remember that if you're making Facetime calls, these take up a lot of data, but depending on the quality of the wifi, you might not be able to use that. Often hotel wifi is OK for basic internet use and written communication but not video calls, streaming etc, especially if more than one person is trying to do it at the same time.

But check the small print carefully. I'm on GiffGaff and recently went to Malta, where I could use all my allowances like at home, but then went to the Isle of Man, where none of it worked at all and I had no phone service at all until I found public wifi.

It's 4 days! You have WiFi, albeit limited. You won't lose the ability to make calls, they'll just cost more - so fine for an emergency.
I still don't get the issue.

You won't lose the ability to make calls
But my kids can only make and receive calls over face time i.e. over wifi. They do not have SIM cards!

Often hotel wifi is OK for basic internet use and written communication but not video calls, streaming I did not know that. Certainly hasn't been the case for any hotels I've stayed in before, is that standard in the UK not to expect decent wifi then?

From where and to which country are you travelling OP? Are you covered by EU roaming at all, does your provider still have an exception for the UK, if that’s your destination?

Do you have a landline at home? Do the children know to number and how to use the landline? They could always call you from there.

I’d contact your provider and ask them to activate a roaming bundle or data bundle that you can use at your destination just as you would at home. Make sure you also have £10 or so of extra credit on it, just in case it needs to be used in an emergency and your package doesn’t cover it.

Your number*

Also make sure the roaming option is turned on in your phone’s settings. Many people claim their roaming doesn’t work once they land abroad, but 90% of the time they’ve simply forgotten to turn this on in their settings.

Do you have a landline at home?
No we don't, they have a phone without a sim card, connected to the WiFi.
Thanks for the tip about streaming, will download stuff before I go.