Phone use in Andorra

[Allthesims]

Son is going to Andorra with school in a couple of weeks. He currently has a PAYG phone. I think I need to get him an Andorra SIM card but the whole process confuses me.

Hoping someone would be kind enough to advise.

Does he need to put the SIM in when he arrives in Andorra or before? (Worried about him loosing his regular SIM). School have asked them to take devices as the travel time is over 30 hours. So he will want to use his phone at some point during the outward bound trip.

I hear things about eSIMs - is this what I need to get?

We don’t travel much as a family, only really it’s country. So the whole roaming/abroad charges are an unknown to us.

Any advice, really appreciated, thank you.

Does he need to use the phone when he's there, as in phone and text, or can he use just internet services? When we went we just used WiFi and WhatsApp etc. Most places have free WiFi (even some towns have universal free WiFi from memory).

Make sure he knows not to try to phone or text as the charges are extortionate.

Seems a bit of a faff, can't he just use the WiFi at his accommodation and WhatsApp if he needs to contact you?

Jetpac offer esims, I used one when we were in Canada last year as Vodafone wanted me to pay £7 a day to use my phone.

eSIM use was extremely easy - download app, buy however many gb you want for use in the country you specify and then use app to activate when you travel.

In your phone settings the esim
number will show alongside the main line. He’ll need to turn off the main line roaming to avoid roaming charges so will be able to what’s app when not on WiFi but not text or call with the normal number. Normal number should be able to be used when on WiFi.

Most phones work fine in Andorra, you don't need a special sim, Sky mobile definitely doesn't others do. There is WiFi everywhere also. Andorra costs are huge though. Maybe call your provider to see the options, sometimes you can just buy add ons.

Thanks for this thread. I have the same problem and my child's phone isn't compatible with eSims - help!

Andorra is not EU so the charges are high / not necessarily capped.

If he can just use on WiFi whilst in Andorra. It's a much better option. And use it on free roaming on the way.

He just needs to put it onto WiFi / airplane mode before he crosses the border and it's fine. He will not need to get specialist coverage then. Andorra is so small I'm sure he can cope from entering Andorra under he can get on the WiFi.

Worse case Lebara cover the EU with no roaming charges. It's £5 if current provider isn't cheap/doesn't work.

I went on holiday to Andorra a few years ago. The reps reminded us as we were on the bus from the airport in Spain, to turn off all data roaming services as they are crazy expensive. We just used WiFi everywhere and it was fine - most restaurants/public places seemed to have it, even the ski lifts! This was 2019 so I imagine the coverage will be even better now. I'd be surprised if an eSIM was necessary