Ways to stay in touch when overseas from Australia for the not so tech savvy

eatwell365 on 16/09/2015 - 07:47
Last edited 16/09/2015 - 07:48

Wife is going to Phuket in 2 weeks with few school mums and young kids.
None are tech savvy, so I try to sort out their telecommunication needs before they fly.
I normally use Skype/Viber/FaceTime, but they would not know how to find free wifi and setup.

Using iPhone/Android. Current local mobile providers Optus/Virgin.

What would be the better option (contactability/cost)?

  1. Woolworth global roaming - never try, but found when I google international sim.
  2. Buy a local sim through travelsimdirect or simcorner (found them in OZB threads) prior travel. My thinking is : Divert my wife's Virgin phone number to this local Thailand sim number. The Virgin mobile simple plan has cheap international call rate. The local Thailand sim also has data, so they can get email/Internet when travel.
  3. Others.

Thank you in advance for your helpful suggestions/comments.

Travel

Comments

  • inherentchoice on 16/09/2015 - 08:40

    Won't the hotel/s they're in have wifi? The hotel receptionist could probably help them to connect.

    • eatwell365 on 16/09/2015 - 13:50

      thanks. very likely. only because there will be no male, all women and kids. would rather contactable at all time, in case something happens in a foreign place.

  • shadowarrior on 16/09/2015 - 08:42
    +3

    Vodafone Red Roaming
    $5 per day, she can use her domestic data allowance. Calls/Text receiving and sending from Thailand to AU are free…unlimited. Calls within Thailand are free, unlimited.

    I have been using Red Roaming in Singapore and pretty impressed.

    • eatwell365 on 16/09/2015 - 13:59

      Thanks. Just checked with the Vodafone shop. Red Roaming is for post paid only. Since we are not currently with them, need sign up an account with minimum sim only plan is $30 + $5 each day x 10 days in my case, then disconnect when back.
      Optus has similar for $10 a day travel pack.
      Virgin has nothing other than the usual expensive roaming - like a $1 a min.

      • shadowarrior on 16/09/2015 - 15:00
        +1

        $80 All up for any time contactable solution is worth it IMO. Who knows, you guys might like Vodafone and stay with them on sim only plans after that :)

  • retiredfeline on 16/09/2015 - 09:08
    +1

    I think using hotel WiFi is the least bad option. The others are either crazy expensive or too complicated. They should be able to get some help from the hotel.

    • eatwell365 on 16/09/2015 - 13:59

      need for emergency when outside hotel.

  • battler on 16/09/2015 - 10:17
    +2

    At airport on arrival, get a truemove sim, 350baht for 15 days gives unlimited gigs and 80mins of calls.
    Use whatsapp for all your texting and calling needs.

    Remove Aus sim before turning on phone in Thailand.
    Make sure your phones are not locked to a network in Aus.

    If can't find a truemove booth, use dtac, but more expensive.

    Booth assistants will set up phones for you in 5mins, just dial up a Web page to check connectivity before leaving the vicinity of the booth.

    Make sure you are whatsapp users in Australia before you leave, against your existing Aus number. It will still work even though you change to a Thai sim.
    If whatsapp gives you notification to change number when inserting Thai sim, DO NOT do change it (thereby keeping whatsapp set up against aussie number)

    Have done this process many times - and in fact are doing it now :)

    EDIT: note that you (and people calling you) will not have access to your Australian phone number for the duration of your trip, but you can receive/make calls using whatsapp back to Australia (to others that have whatsapp).

  • eatwell365 on 16/09/2015 - 14:05

    Plan:
    1. Test her phone to make sure not locked by inserting another telco sim.
    2. Buy a Thai sim online.
    3. Divert calls before leaving.
    Cost around $26.
    May look at the Woolies global roaming sim tonight.

    • battler on 16/09/2015 - 17:05

      Divert calls to where?

      • eatwell365 on 16/09/2015 - 19:25
        +1

        To local Thai SIM card purchased online ($19+$7delivery). Virgin international calls to Thailand (simple plan) are not expensive.

  • eatwell365 on 17/09/2015 - 01:06

    Thanks grasstown's link on Woolworth global Roaming SIM on this thread.
    This is probably one of the better option to talk. Data is expensive though,

    We did say we do not to support Woolworth : )

  • Randxyz123 on 23/09/2015 - 11:17
    +1

    For wifi just do a little demo for her (disconnect the iPad from the home wifi and show her how to reconnect).

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