3G

I wondered about how we would cope with emails and browsing on this trip and looking on the web before we left, it seemed there wasn't going to be a cost effective solution. So I decided to just see what happened. The first week in, the camp sites either offered Internet access around the site or more often a fee for a couple of hours but I had to sit near the office to get the signal which worked ok except that I could usually be found huddled up on a camping chair under a tree at 11.00 at night with a torch emailing and loading blog stuff. So the decision was taken to source a 3G Deal. Ideally without a contract and in Chartres we found an SFR shop. The kind Frenchman spoke good English and explained the deal for the sim card only was 40 euros as a starter, and Orange down the road were much cheaper. SFR was empty and Orange was packed out, so we patiently waited in the queue ( dogs were allowed in!) and bought an 8 euro sim card in the name of john collins as they needed an identify which I didn't have on me at the time. Great deal i thought. This included 100mg of data use. So off we went. The girl in the shop had already said that the SIM could be credited online.

So finally we could seek out the auto gas stations in France which was the pressing subject at the time and send a few emails. Then nothing. I had run out of sim time and of course couldn't credit the account online as I HAD NO ONLINe!!!!! No worries, the book that came with the SIM had a page in English."Welcome to the prepaid for IPAD services, when your current credit is finished, you will automatically be directed to a web page of information. To refill, you need to call 0800 224 224"
Hmmm, wasn't redirected and how come Orange France have a uk 0800 no. Hey, it's Orange. Big company. They know what they are at.

Dialled the number knowing this would cost a small fortune anyway. Scottish accent
" Hello, this is Highland fuels in Scotland".

Me: err, I want to put some credit on my orange sim card
Him: very nicely and patiently: " Ahhh, they seem to have printed the wrong telephone number. We have had thousands of calls"

I thanked him and rung off.

We managed for the next few days and then caught up at Gill and David's, but looked for an Orange shop in every place we stopped.

Aha, Albi had an orange shop. It was small and we were directed to the larger one on the other side of town. Entering this place filled me with despair. There were 3 assistants deep in French conversation with customers and another 4 people waiting. Jc had a sense of humour failure and it was agreed I return alone the next day when the queue was just as long. What is it with Orange!

Worth it though. Added 250mg to the account for 15 euros. They phoned the 0800 no which was working perfectly from a french landline and then tried to add the international code as per use of an english mobile. Number unobtainable. He shrugged. Set up an account on the Orange France website allowing me to see useage and add credit. Marvellous and not expensive.

So now we are in Spain, I need a similar system. Orange Spain want 20 euros for the sim and then 35 euros per month or 3.5 a day. Moviestar's branch had so many people queuing that I gave up and queued up at vodaphone instead. They offer a 1 gb sim all in which will last for 3 months for 29euros. Perfect.





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