Pre-paid SIM for Spain

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shifty

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Looking for advice with people's experiences for a pre-paid SIM for use in Spain only. Will only be in major cities.

Network carrier / provider, coverage, data speeds, where to buy, easy to top up and management etc.

Mainly interested in using data, calls and txt whilst I want the ability are not very important to me.

Any advice would be appreciated.
 
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If you want one before you go, mobi passport are ok.
However you can get much better value by picking one up from a mobile phone shop when you're there.

I'm in Spain at the moment and have an Orange pre-paid sim. 15 EUR a month gives 1 GB of data (I don't use calls/texts either but they are quite cheap too), and the SIM itself was free. And after 1 GB you're just slowed to 64kbps, not cut off completely.

If you want to do that, go into any Orange shop and ask for the "Ballena 12". You can also top up in any Orange store, they have automated machines so you don't even need to talk to someone for that!

Remember to take your passport with you to actually buy the SIM.
 
Arrived today and went looking for an Orange store, however the closest phone store I could find was Movistar, so I checked it out and ended up with a sim from there.

You pay 3 Euro for the sim and add whatever credit you need. There is a product that is 2.28 Euro (1.80 before tax) per day that gives you unlimited data for each 24 hour period and keeps debiting automatically each day until you tell it not to. So 20 Euro or so and you have unlimited data for 10 days.

It's awesome. Unlimited data, very quick and allows tethering (hotspot sharing) which is handy to get all my other wifi devices online.

...to summarise, if I was staying longer and only needed 1gb for a month, Orange would work out cheaper at 15 Euro, however for shorter stays and if you want to smash data Movistar seems a good option.
 
Just adding some other current info. I am currently using a Vodafone sim that can be tethered. Cost 15 Euro including sim, 1gb data, 60 min of phone & 60 sms, can be used over the next month. Have used it in Capileira & Canilas de Albaida. Sales guy in Granada ( Orange & Movistar did not speak any English) wasn't sure how the speed would be in the 2 mountain places but it has been fine for 2 users at a time. Can be recharged.
 
Advise from a local here,

I have been with all 3 major carriers (voda, orange, Movistar).
for short stays Movistar is the best deal, they offer daily unlimited plans, have the best coverage in Spain however ironically not the best 4G. Think of it as the Spanish Telstra, good coverages, lots of shops all over Spain and expensive with not so friendly staff.

For longer stays the best deals are Voda, they have the second best coverage and one of the best 4G networks in Spain, they offer much more generous monthly pre paid data allowances than the competition and have good stores with friendly staff.
if you are roaming around Europe, voda is also great, they allow international roaming for very few euro (top of my head can't remember how much but it was pocket change) and works on networks all over Europe for the same cost on your same plan, even worked a treat at DXB! Think of it as the Spanish Optus, cheap, good data allowance with fast speed and acceptable coverage, very friendly staff.

Orange, I only recommend to people who have a crippling fear of fast internet speeds and enjoy constant drop outs when walking inside buildings. Jokes aside, Orange provides adequate coverage in major cities (Madrid or Barcelona). So if you are staying in the city, it's viable choice. Price wise, heir pre paid plans are a bit odd, depending on how much data you use, for instance there isn't a monthly pre paid plan that offers more than 1gb. Think about it as the Spanish Vodafone, slow and unreliable when you get off the city, fewer shops than the others and very inflexible plans.

Finally, I'd like to give a shout to a new carrier called Yoigo, they are new to the Spanish scene and offer what some consider the best 4G network in Spain, reminds me of EE in the UK. I haven't tried it so I can't recommend it, but if someone wants to give them a shot, let us know.
 
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