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Tesco Mobile: Roaming Options and International Plans

• Tesco Mobile: Roaming Options ...

In today’s interconnected world, staying connected while traveling internationally has become essential. Whether it’s for business or leisure, having reliable communication is paramount. Tesco Mobile understands this need and offers a range of roaming options and international plans to ensure that their customers can stay connected wherever they go. In this blog, we’ll explore Tesco Mobile’s offerings, highlighting the benefits and features of their roaming services.

Tesco Mobile, a leading mobile network operator in the UK, is known for its affordable plans and excellent customer service. With their roaming options, customers can enjoy seamless connectivity in over 100 destinations worldwide. Whether you’re traveling for work or pleasure, Tesco Mobile has you covered.

One of the standout features of Tesco Mobile’s roaming options is their flexibility. Customers have the freedom to choose from a variety of plans based on their specific needs. Whether you need data for browsing the web, making calls, or sending texts, Tesco Mobile has a plan that’s right for you.

For frequent travelers, Tesco Mobile offers international roaming bundles that provide great value for money. These bundles include a set amount of data, minutes, and texts that can be used in multiple destinations. With these bundles, customers can avoid hefty roaming charges and enjoy peace of mind while traveling abroad.

Another advantage of Tesco Mobile’s roaming options is their transparent pricing. Unlike some other providers that may surprise customers with hidden fees, Tesco Mobile offers straightforward pricing with no hidden costs. Customers can easily track their usage and manage their spending through the Tesco Mobile app or website.

Furthermore, Tesco Mobile understands the importance of customer support, especially when traveling abroad. That’s why they offer 24/7 customer service to assist customers with any issues they may encounter while roaming. Whether you have questions about your plan or need help troubleshooting a technical issue, Tesco Mobile’s dedicated support team is always available to help.

In addition to their roaming options, Tesco Mobile also offers international plans for customers who frequently call or text overseas. These plans provide discounted rates for international calls and texts, making it more affordable to stay in touch with friends, family, and colleagues abroad. Whether you’re conducting business or keeping in touch with loved ones, Tesco Mobile’s international plans make it easy to stay connected.

Tesco Mobile’s commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in their roaming options and international plans. By offering flexible plans, transparent pricing, and excellent customer support, they ensure that their customers can stay connected wherever they go. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you can trust Tesco Mobile to keep you connected every step of the way.

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Tesco Mobile roaming explained for international & EU countries

For all Tesco Mobile pay monthly customers, until 2025, you can use your normal allowance and roam in the EU for free with Tesco Mobile . This is called ‘Home From Home’, and works in 48 European destinations.

However, if you joined Tesco Mobile on or after 16 June 2022, you will no longer be able to roam for free from January 2025 onwards. You won’t be able to use your data allowance - instead, you will be charged separately at 10p / MB for data (calls and texts will continue to be free, however).

If you joined Tesco Mobile before 16 June 2022, you can continue to roam for free after January 2025 as long as you don’t upgrade or renew your contract. The moment you renew or upgrade your contract, the new rules for 2025 will apply, and you will be charged for EU roaming.

Tesco Mobile have pushed back the introduction of EU roaming charges 3 times. Initially, roaming charges were to be introduced from January 2023, however this was pushed back to May 2023, followed by another delay until 2024, and again until 2025.

To summarise, you can roam for free in the EU for the rest of 2023 and 2024, regardless of when you joined Tesco Mobile. However from 2025 onwards, you may be charged for EU roaming, depending on when you joined Tesco Mobile, or if you choose to upgrade or renew your contract.

What's the best Tesco Mobile SIM plan for roaming?

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With Tesco Mobile, all SIM Only contracts include free EU roaming for the rest of 2025, allowing you to use your regular allowance at no additional cost.

You can find the best Tesco Mobile SIM Only deals by using our comparison tools. Tesco Mobile SIMs will work with all phones, including the latest Samsung Galaxy S24 and Apple iPhone 15 .

Previously, Tesco Mobile stated they had no plans to introduce EU roaming charges after Brexit.

However, this policy has now changed, with charges being introduced from 1 January 2025 onwards.

Last year, Tesco Mobile announced they were introducing EU roaming charges from January 2023, before pushing the date back to May 2023, followed by a delay until 2024, and now until 2025.

Free EU roaming will remain for the rest of 2023 and 2024, regardless of when you joined Tesco Mobile.

If you joined Tesco Mobile before 16 June 2022, free EU roaming will continue from 1 January 2025 onwards, as long as you don’t upgrade or renew your contract. The moment you upgrade or renew your contract, the new rules will apply, and you will be charged for EU roaming.

If you joined Tesco Mobile on or after 16 June 2022, roaming charges will begin on 1 January 2025.

EU roaming charges for 2025 will be 10p / MB for data. However, calls and texts will continue to be free when roaming in the EU, including calls and texts back to the UK, and within EU countries.

For the rest of 2025, you can roam for free within the following 48 European destinations (called 'Home From Home'). If you go over your regular allowance, you will be charged at the same out of plan rate as if you were in the UK:

• Canary Islands
• Republic of Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• French Guyana
• Ireland (Republic of)
• Isle of Man
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Vatican City

There is no fair usage policy for the amount of data you can use when roaming in the EU with Tesco Mobile .

However, you must be considered as someone who resides most of their time in the UK. Tesco Mobile will monitor your usage over a 4 month period - if the amount of data you use for 2 months when in an EU country is more than your average UK usage for the previous 2 months, you will be considered as someone who is breaking the fair usage policy for free EU roaming.

If you break the fair usage policy for free EU roaming, you will be warned by text message, where you will have 2 weeks to reduce your EU usage. If you don't reduce your usage after 2 weeks, there will be a surcharge of 0.35p per MB of data you continue to use - this will be charged on top of your normal data allowance.

Further misuse may result in your service being limited or your SIM disconnected.

You can roam and use Tesco Mobile in most countries outside the EU.

You won’t be able to use your regular allowance. Instead, you will be charged at an out of plan rate.

These charges can be expensive, so it’s important to plan ahead. You can find a full list of roaming charges from Tesco Mobile roaming rates or the Tesco Mobile app.

Currently, Tesco Mobile 5G is only available within the UK. The maximum signal you can receive outside the UK is 4G.

Tesco Mobile data bundles will work in the EU for until 2025. From 1 January 2025 onwards, the new rules will apply, and you may not be able to use data bundles within the EU depending on when you joined Tesco Mobile (see above ).

The following shows the cost of data bundles for pay monthly and pay as you go customers. Your allowance will expire at the start of your next billing cycle, and will not rollover to the following month:

You can purchase a data bundle through a number of ways:

• Tesco Mobile app
• Tesco Mobile My Account

To ensure you don't receive an expensive bill, Tesco Mobile will automatically cap your data usage to £40 per month when roaming.

Once you reach the £40 limit, data will stop working until you pay the amount. You can pay by calling 4455 from your Tesco Mobile number. Once paid, data will start working again within 2 hours.

If you don't want the £40 limit, you can disable it via My Account or by calling 4455 from your Tesco Mobile number.

For the rest of 2023 and 2024, you can roam for free in 48 European destinations with Tesco Mobile .

However, roaming charges may apply from 1 January 2025 onwards. This depends on when you joined Tesco Mobile, and whether you have upgraded or renewed your contract.

Before roaming with Tesco Mobile , you must enable roaming in your phone’s settings.

For Android users:

• Go to Settings
• Go to Connections -> Mobile networks -> Roaming
• Enable Data roaming

For iPhone users:

• Go to Mobile data -> Mobile Data Options
• Enable Data Roaming

If you're roaming within the EU in 2023 or 2024 and you go over your regular allowance, you will be charged at the same rate as if you were in the UK (10p / MB). From 2025, free EU roaming will no longer exist, and you will be charged regardless of your regular allowance.

For countries outside the EU, you will be charged at a separate out of plan rate.

Yes, you can tether to as many devices as you like when roaming with Tesco Mobile . Any regular data limitations that apply when roaming will also apply when tethering.

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What's home from home.

• Destinations included in Home From Home
• No scary bills
• How to get Home From Home
• Ready to join us?
• No other network gives you...

Until 2025, take your minutes, texts and data with you to 48 destinations in the EU and beyond - at no extra cost .

What destinations are included in Home From Home?

Along with all the EU countries, we've also added lots of other popular destinations. Here's the full list:

• Canary Islands
• Republic of Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• French Guiana
• Ireland (Republic of)
• Isle of Man
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Vatican City

No awkward hunt for Wi-Fi

No EU roaming fees this year means you can chase the sun around the pool, not the Wi-Fi.

With Home From Home, you can tap into your UK allowances for free in 48 destinations in the EU and beyond, so you can…

• Use your data for maps, apps and anything else you fancy
• Exchange calls and texts with family and friends in the UK and Home From Home destinations

And if you use up your monthly allowances,  you only pay UK standard rates, just like you do at home .

No setup, no hassle

We know how helpful it is to stay connected when abroad. So, to get Home From Home, all you need to do is go to one of our 48 Home From Home destinations – we’ll take care of the rest. You can just roam and relax.

And remember, you can always cap your contract , so your bill will never be more than you expect.

Need an extra dollop of data while you’re away? No problem. You can add a data bundle any time in our app  or  My Account .

Frequently asked questions

What is home from home.

With Home From Home you can use your phone in our 48 European Home From Home destinations just like you do at home. You can use your minutes, texts and data as normal, and if you run out, you just pay our standard rates as you would at home. All our customers can get Home From Home, on both pay monthly and pay as you go.

Which destinations are included in Home From Home?

How does it work.

In any of our 48 Home From Home destinations, when you call, text or use data it will come out of your monthly allowances or bundles. If you run out of your allowances or bundles you’ll just pay the same standard rates that you’d pay in the UK. Here are our  pay monthly rates  and our  pay as you go rates.

And while you’re in a Home From Home destination, you can also call or text mobiles and landlines in any other Home From Home destination and it’ll work in exactly the same way.

Are there any restrictions?

Home From Home isn’t meant for people who don’t live in the UK, so we have some limits to stop that happening. If you spend more time in Home from Home destinations (than in the UK and the rest of the world), or if you use more of your allowances in Home from Home destinations than in the UK and the rest of the world, then we’ll apply the  fair usage policy .

This means that when you use your phone, you’ll still use up your monthly allowances or bundles and then when they run out you’ll pay our standard rates, but on top of that we’ll also add an additional surcharge. If we’re going to do this, we’ll text you first to let you know  what your options are .

How will I know if I'm in a Home From Home destination?

We’ll send you a welcome text whenever you arrive in a new country. This will include a link to the Home From Home page on our website. It’ll also remind you that you can call 280 free any time while you’re away for info.

What about the rest of the world?

Our Home From Home destinations are mainly in Europe. Here’s our  rest of the world pricing

Is it any different on pay as you go?

No, it’s just the same as using your phone in the UK. When you’re in Home From Home destinations, your minutes, texts and data will come from your bundles, otherwise they’ll come off your balance (including your free credit from Triple Credit).

Does it include calling from the UK to the Home From Home destinations?

No, that has different rates and is called  international calling

Do calls, texts and data come out of my monthly allowances or bundles?

In any of our 48 Home From Home destinations, when you call, text or use data it will come out of your monthly allowances or bundles. If you run out of your allowances or bundles you’ll just pay the same standard rates that you’d pay in the UK. Here are our  pay monthly rates  and our  pay as you go rates .

Home From Home isn’t meant for people who live abroad, so we have some limits to stop that happening.  Read our fair usage policy.

Can all of the numbers on my Pay monthly account use Home From Home?

All Tesco Mobile customers can enjoy using Home From Home until 2025

• If you joined us or upgraded on or after 16 June 2022, you can use your phone like you do at home without additional roaming charges until 2025. We will be in touch with all impacted customers at least 30 days ahead of any changes taking effect. Current roaming prices are available at tescomobile.com/roaming
• If you joined us before 16 June 2022, then you can continue to use Home From Home until you choose to upgrade.

How many minutes, texts and data can I use in Home From Home?

You can use all the minutes, texts and data in your monthly allowances or bundles. You can also use any free bundles from things like Family Perks, loyalty bundles and free credit from Triple Credit. And you can use any one-off bundles that you buy during the month as well.

If you want to use more than this, you can, but you’ll pay our  standard pay monthly rates  or  standard pay as you go rates , just like you would at home.

What's included in my monthly allowance?

You can now use your allowances in the UK and when you’re in any of our Home from Home destinations.

Your tariff now includes:

• A minutes allowance for calling standard UK mobile numbers, UK landlines starting with 01, 02 and 03 and standard numbers in Home From Home destinations*
• A text allowance of 5000 messages to text standard UK numbers and standard numbers in Home From Home destinations*
• A data allowance** for using apps, going online, sending and receiving emails, downloading music and streaming video when you’re in the UK and any of our Home From Home destinations

* When you’re in a Home From Home destination **Note: a few of our phone tariffs don’t include data

Calling Home From Home destinations from the UK isn’t included in your allowances. To find out what’s not included in your allowances, please check our  terms and conditions ,  pay monthly rates  and  pay as you go rates

How do I know if I'm getting close to my bundle or credit limits?

We’ll text you if you’re near any of your limits and let you know your options.

Where can I find out more while I'm away?

What about existing customers who are out of contract.

The inclusive roaming until 2025 is available to all pay monthly customers in and out of contract.

This is the second time you’ve said you’ll start charging for roaming only to change your mind. Why do you keep changing your mind?

We regularly review our offers to make sure we’re offering our customers the best value. With this in mind, we have made a decision not to introduce EU roaming fees until 2025 to make sure customers travelling abroad can continue to benefit from our EU roaming offer. 

Why has it taken you so long to confirm you aren’t introducing EU roaming charges in 2024?

We know how important it is for our customers to be able to plan ahead which is why we communicated the change to customers as soon as we could. 

How much will it cost a customer to roam from 2025?

We're currently working on ways to give our customers simple and great-value connectivity when travelling within the EU from 2025. We'll share more details in due course.

We’ll make sure impacted customers have at least 30 days’ notice before we implement any changes. 

Who will be impacted by changes in 2025?

Pay monthly customers who joined us after 16 th June 2022 will be subject to roaming charges from 2025.

Pay monthly customers (in and out of contract) who joined or upgraded before 16 th June 2022 won’t be affected by any future roaming updates and will continue to use their UK data allowance at no extra cost in 48 Home From Home destinations in the EU and beyond until they choose to upgrade or change their contract.

Are there any changes for pay as you go customers?

There are no changes for our pay as you go customers. They will continue to enjoy Home From Home roaming at no extra cost.

When will impacted customers be contacted regarding future roaming charges?

We’ll be in touch with all impacted customers at least 30 days ahead of any roaming changes coming into effect, but no changes are planned for 2024.

Will Tesco Mobile offer roaming bundles for customers in future?

Can customers exercise their right to leave after we make this change.

Customers who signed with Tesco Mobile on or after 16th June 2022 (or who will sign with Tesco Mobile in the future) have agreed that standard roaming charges will apply in Home From Home and other international destinations. The extension of our inclusive roaming offer for the remainder of 2023 and 2024 is a goodwill offering to our pay monthly customers. As such, there’s no change to existing contract prices, so customers won’t be able to cancel without incurring early cancellation penalties.

Why can’t you tell me more on when the changes will come into effect and what the charges will be?

We're currently working on ways to give our customers simple and great-value connectivity when travelling within the EU from 2025. We'll share more details as soon as we can.

Isn’t it unfair that you’re asking customers to sign a contract with Tesco Mobile but you can’t tell them all the details on future roaming charges?

Customers who signed with Tesco Mobile on or after 16th June 2022 (or who will sign with Tesco Mobile in the future) have agreed that standard roaming charges will apply in Home From Home and other international destinations. The extension of our inclusive roaming offer until 2025 is a goodwill offering to our pay monthly customers. The offer was extended to ensure those travelling abroad can continue to access our free Home From Home roaming offer in 48 countries in Europe and beyond. Our ambition is to provide customers with simple and great-value conectivity when travelling abroad and this will be at the forefront of any roaming charges implemented.

Is there a cap for usage or could somebody use as much data as they’re willing to pay for?

There’s no cap/usage limit. If people want to limit their usage to avoid any unexpected charges, customers have the option to set a safety buffer – this can be set to £0 if they wish. Customers can manage this themselves through their account. It’s also possible to limit additional charges by switching roaming off before landing at their destination.

What happens for customers in the Republic of Ireland?

Customers travelling within the Republic of Ireland will continue to be able to use their UK mins, texts and data (included in their allowance). Standard out of bundle roaming rates apply. See tescomobile.com/roaming for full details.

Will this still be the case once roaming charges are applied?

Yes, it will. We can confirm customers travelling within the Republic of Ireland will continue to be able to use their UK mins, texts and data (included in their allowance). Standard out of bundle roaming rates apply.

What if a new/upgrading customer is abroad during the time the roaming changes come into force (for example, they come into force on 4 Jan 2025, but they are away from 1 – 10 Jan)?

This is just an example, as dates have not been confirmed: They will get roaming included as part of their UK mins, texts and data from 1 – 3 January 2025. On and after 4 January, the customer would be charged for roaming in line with the new charges. All impacted customers will be contacted at least 30 days ahead of any changes taking effect.

Why is Tesco Mobile introducing roaming charges?

Pay monthly customers will continue to receive Home From Home roaming until 2025. As the super-helpful network, we’re committed to providing our customers with great value, in a way that only Supermarket Mobile can. In addition to this, we offer:  

• Frozen prices for the length of a customer’s contract through Clubcard Prices. We’re proud to be one of the only networks to offer frozen prices. 
• The opportunity to collect Clubcard points (1 Clubcard point for every £1 spent on a Tesco Mobile bill). Plus all the other brilliant benefits a Tesco Clubcard provides, including exclusive savings on products, money off grocery and fuel bills, and vouchers to use with over 100 Reward Partners.
• Industry-leading customer care – we’ve been named the 2023 Uswitch Best Network for Customer Service, Best Pay Monthly Network and Best Pay Monthly Value for Money. And our colleagues aren’t on commission, so our customers will always get the right deal for them.

Earlier this year you announced changes to your fixed price proposition, and with inclusive roaming going too in 2025, why should customers join or stay with Tesco Mobile?

Times are challenging for everyone right now, and at Tesco Mobile, we’re committed to offering our customers great value. That’s why we’re extending our free Home From Home roaming offer until 2025 and freezing prices for the length of a customer’s contract through Clubcard Prices. We’re proud to be one of the only networks to offer frozen prices and inclusive roaming. Customers also have the opportunity to collect Clubcard points (1 Clubcard point for every £1 spent on a Tesco Mobile bill). Plus, there are all the other brilliant benefits a Tesco Clubcard provides, including exclusive savings on products, money off grocery and fuel bills, and vouchers to use with over 100 Reward Partners. We don’t just offer great value but also industry-leading customer care – we’ve recently been named the 2023 Uswitch Best Network for Customer Service, Best Pay Monthly Network and Best Pay Monthly Value for Money. And our colleagues aren’t on commission, so our customers will always get the right deal for them.

What will happen when roaming charges are introduced in 2025 - don’t you think people have enough to worry about?

We’re committed to offering our customers great value and we’re currently reviewing our future roaming package, which will give customers simple and great-value connectivity while travelling.

Will the charges come into effect on 1 Jan 2025?

We will confirm dates in due course and all affected customers will receive at least 30 days’ notice of proposed charges.

Why is VMO2, as a partner in Tesco Mobile, offering a different roaming commitment?

VMO2 is a separate business to Tesco Mobile, with separate customer offerings. Please speak to them directly for information on their roaming charges. 

What about roaming internationally – outside of your 48 Home From Home destinations?

Nothing is changing for roaming pricing outside of our 48 Home From Home destinations. Further details on rest of world roaming charges can be found here: Roaming Charges with Tesco Mobile .

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Starting from as low as £7.50 a month. 

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No other network gives you all this

Clubcard Prices – Frozen for your contract

If you take out one of our exclusive Clubcard Price deals, you won’t need to worry about your bill going up mid-contract – because we promise to freeze your basic monthly usage price for the length of your contract. That’s supermarket value.

Multi-award-winning network

At the 2024 Uswitch Telecoms Awards, we were named Network of the Year, Best Network for Customer Service (for the third year in a row) and Best Handset Contract Network. And we’re rated as ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot.

Super speeds, clear connection

We share O2’s network, giving you 99% coverage across the UK on 4G – so there'll be no more searching for signal. Plus, you can take it to the next level with the roll-out of 5G, meaning an even faster, even more reliable connection.

Save with Clubcard

Watch your savings add up with Clubcard – collect points, spend your vouchers and save even more with Clubcard Plus.

The small print

* Pay monthly customers who joined or upgraded with us on or after 16th June 2022 get inclusive roaming in our 48 Home From Home destinations until 2025, after which they are subject to roaming charges. All impacted customers will be contacted at least 30 days ahead of any changes coming into effect.

Until 2025, when periodically travelling in our Home From Home Destinations (HFH), calls and texts to standard UK landlines, UK mobile numbers, HFH landlines, HFH mobiles as well as data usage, will be charged as in the UK. Usage beyond a  Fair Usage Policy  may attract other charges. Full details, current list of HFH Destinations, charges, and terms are available at  tescomobile.com/terms

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• Best network for roaming 2024 - Uswitch

Which network is best for international roaming?

Mobile phone roaming

Some networks offer inclusive roaming in countries outside the EU, while others don't. What's more, if you're canny and choose your network wisely you can even get inclusive roaming in destinations much farther afield.

Which network is best for roaming?

That largely depends on where you like to holiday. We'll be looking at the following providers based on their costs, data allowances, and general roaming policies:

Virgin Media

Tesco mobile.

At the time of writing, Three’s Feel at Home scheme covers 71 worldwide locations, more than any other network. And winningly, it includes really popular destinations, such as the USA, Australia and Hong Kong.

However, a lot of these destinations are only available on a Three Advanced plan, which is usually more expensive than a regular Three deal.

Typically, Advanced plan contracts work out at around £3 or £4 a month more than an Essential plan. But, in addition to Three’s Feel at Home inclusive roaming scheme, an Advanced plan will also get you  Go Binge  which allows you to use select streaming services without eating into your data.

Still, if you normally travel in the EU and don’t use streaming services on the go, you might be better off saving some money and going with an Essential plan instead.

Similarly, EE’s Feel at Home scheme aims to cover 80% of the destinations EE customers visit. But it’s only available on 4GEE Max plans, which generally cost a lot more.

For the extra outlay, a 4GEE Max plan will also give you EE’s fastest 4G speeds and a TNT Sports subscription for the duration of your contract. But again, you’ll have to weigh up whether those benefits are worth the extra cost.

If you’re planning a trip abroad and you’re still locked into a contract, you could get a one-month SIM-only deal or a pay-as-you-go SIM plan that comes with inclusive roaming for your destination.

If, for example, you’re heading off to the USA for a fortnight and you’re currently on an O2 pay monthly contract, you have a couple of options. You could pay £4.99 a day for an O2 bolt-on that’ll give you 120 texts, 120 minutes, and all the data you’ll need, which would cost you a total of £69.86 over your two-week holiday.

Or you could get a one-month Three Advanced plan SIM that’ll give you inclusive roaming in the US. At the time of writing, you can get 600 minutes, unlimited texts, and a generous 8GB of data for just £14 on a one-month rolling contract. As long as you cancel your contract with 30 days’ notice, this deal works out at £55.86 cheaper than using a bolt-on.

Below we take a look at each network in turn to see what's on offer.

Compare network roaming plans

Roaming policies vary widely from network to network. So, how do you know whether you'll be able to use your phone when you're abroad and how much it will cost?

Luckily, we've done all the leg work for you in this handy network-by-network guide.

This information was correct at the time of writing.

Three ’s Go Roam includes 71 global destinations where you can make calls, send texts, and use your data. This feature comes in two formats: Go Roam in Europe and Go Roam Around the World.

Acquiring a Go Roam pass, available for 3, 7, and 14 days, allows you to access your UK allowances within Go Roam in Europe and Go Roam Around the World. These passes can be purchased prior to your travels.

Unless specified otherwise, a daily roaming fee applies to activate your UK allowances in Go Roam destinations for a 24-hour period. The fee is £2 for Go Roam in Europe and £5 for Go Roam Around the World.

You'll incur charges upon using any of your plan's allowances in a Go Roam destination.

To find out how much you could save, use the special calculator on  Three's website .

Three also has a £5 per day  Euro Internet Pass  for other destinations.

Want to know more? Take a look at our  Three roaming FAQs .

See our latest Three SIM deals

Vodafone  offers a selection of roaming schemes.

Roam-Free lets you use your regular monthly allowance of calls, texts and data in 48 European countries for no extra cost.

Roam Further allows you to access your monthly allowance in a further 104 countries for an additional £6 per day.

There's also the Global Roaming Plus scheme. Reserved for customers on Vodafone's Red Entertainment plans at the time of writing, this allows customers to use their UK allowances in 77 locations, including those in the EU and much further afield.

Vodafone has a 25GB cap on its roaming allowances, although that should be more than enough to see you through.

Find out more with our  Vodafone roaming FAQs .

See our latest Vodafone SIM only deals

All  O2  pay monthly and business customers qualify for inclusive roaming in 49 European destinations. These are deemed to be in O2's Europe Zone.

Customers who sign up for a plan with a 4GB or 15GB data allowance or more also qualify for the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On roaming in 27 locations further afield, including the USA, Australia, Argentina, and New Zealand. In these destinations, customers are granted a daily allowance of 120 texts, 120 minutes, and 150M of data.

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, included on select plans, lets you roam in a further 27 international destinations. If you’re not on an eligible plan, the bolt on costs £6 per day.

If you're not on a cheaper plan that doesn't include an extended worldwide roaming scheme as standard, you can sign up for an O2 Full Travel Bolt On for £6 per day. That buys you 120 minutes and 120 texts per day and uncapped data to use in locations outside O2's Europe Zone.

Want to see which countries are covered? Have a read of our  O2 roaming FAQs .

See our latest O2 SIM deals

EE  customers who signed up on or after 7 July 2021 will need to pay £2 a day to roam in the EU. Anyone who is on an EE contract that started before that date won't have to pay EU roaming charges.

EE has introduced a new range of 4GEE Max plans for new and upgrading customers that allow customers to use their monthly allowances across 53 destinations worldwide.

These include EU countries as well as the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. This covers over 80% of the time EE customers spend overseas.

Take a look at our  EE roaming FAQs .

Virgin Mobile offers inclusive roaming in 43 destinations with its Roam Like Home scheme. These include 28 EU locations and locations in Europe but outside the EU, such as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Gibraltar.

Roam Like Home also includes some countries outside Europe, such as the Canary Islands, the French Caribbean, Martinique, and Reunion.

Interested? Find out more with our  Virgin Media roaming FAQs .

See our latest Virgin Mobile deals

iD Mobile offers inclusive roaming in 50 destinations in the EU and beyond with its Roam Like Home scheme.

The offer applies to SIM only contracts, pay monthly mobile phone contracts and pay as you go.

Want to know more? Check out our  iD Mobile roaming FAQs .

See our latest ID Mobile SIM only deals

All Sky Mobile customers are able to use their mobile data, calls and texts in 36 European locations for £2 a day.

One major benefit of Sky Mobile as far as roaming goes is that, if you've already stored a trove of unused data in your Sky Piggybank, you can use the data when you're in Europe, too.

Find out more with our  Sky Mobile roaming FAQs .

See our latest Sky Mobile SIM deals

TalkTalk customers can use their monthly allowance of calls, texts and data for no extra cost in 49 destinations.

However, it's worth bearing in mind that customers who have been with TalkTalk for less than 3 months will need to pay £25 as an advanced payment to activate roaming.

Want to see which countries are covered? Take a look at our  TalkTalk roaming FAQs .

Customers on  BT Mobile  can enjoy inclusive roaming in 47 destinations thanks to BT's Roam Like Home scheme. This includes locations such as the Canary Islands, Norway and Switzerland.

You can use the BT Mobile app to track your usage so you can make sure you don't go over your allowance.

Want to see which other locations are covered? Read our  BT Mobile roaming FAQs .

See our latest BT deals

giffgaff offers inclusive roaming for all its customers in 37 locations in the EU and beyond.

And topping up overseas is easy too. All you need to do is head to the giffgaff website, which free to access, even if you’ve run out of credit.

It's worth noting that you won't be able to use your allowance if you're visiting a country not included in giffgaff's 37 locations.

Want to know which countries are covered? Take a look at our  giffgaff roaming FAQs .

See our latest giffgaff SIM only deals

All  Tesco Mobile  customers can use their monthly allowance of calls, texts and data for no extra charge in 48 European destinations.

Customers travelling further afield will still be able to use their phones while on holiday, but they will need to pay extra.

Want to find out which destinations are covered? Take a look at our  Tesco Mobile roaming FAQs .

See our latest Tesco Mobile SIM only deals

SMARTY now lets you use your regular monthly allowance of data, calls and texts from anywhere in the EU for no extra cost.

Travelling further afield? You can buy an add-on for that.

Want to find out more? Check out our  SMARTY roaming FAQs .

See our latest SMARTY SIM only deals

Want to know more? Take a look at our  complete guide to roaming .

Read more...

What are mobile roaming and data roaming charges? - Uswitch

Using your phone while travelling overseas can result in some pretty serious charges if you're not careful. Here's what you need to know about mobile roaming and data roaming charges.

EU roaming charges explained - Uswitch

Since Brexit, UK networks have slowly begun reintroducing EU roaming charges. If you want to have access to data, calls and text during your next trip overseas, here's what you'll be charged.

Vodafone international roaming FAQ

How much will you be charged when travelling overseas? We break down how Vodafone charges for roaming in the EU and around the world.

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Learn how to make cheap overseas calls on your mobile phone and discover which networks specialises in cheap international calls.

What is Tesco Mobile EU roaming?

Tesco mobile offers their customers the ability to travel around the EU and have the luxury of roaming like they're at home which means they can use their Tesco mobile SIM only plans while they are overseas on holiday or work trips.

• · Are there any extra Tesco Mobile roaming charges?
• · Europe's Tesco Roaming countries
• · Roaming in USA, Turkey and other countries
• · ¿Afraid of Tesco data roaming? Say hello to Holafly

Are there any extra Tesco Mobile roaming charges?

One of the best benefits of joining a Tesco mobile SIM only deal is that customers are able to travel around to 48 destinations around Europe and not have to pay any extra charges.

This means that customers can just use their current Tesco mobile SIM only plan like they are at home when they travel to any of the destinations that have Tesco EU roaming destinations.

For example, if you decide to travel to Barcelona, Spain and enjoy a nice cold beverage on the beach and you can use your Tesco mobile SIM only deals to post on your favourite social media platforms.

There are other awesome locations that are in the Tesco mobile EU roaming so you can keep your family and friends updated with your Instagram stories and Facebook posts and tagging the locations of the beach to make them jealous.

Tesco mobile roaming allows their customers to enjoy themselves online and not have to come back from their holiday with an extra bill to pay, because with Tesco mobile EU roaming there will not be any extra charges.

Tesco mobile roaming does roam outside Europe but depending on what country Tesco customers travel to the cost of roaming there will be different.

Europe's Tesco Roaming countries

It is important for all Tesco mobile customers to consider any of the 48 Tesco EU roaming countries before booking their next holiday trip, because customers will be able to take their Tesco SIM only deal with them and roam like they are at home.

Here is the list of all 48 Tesco EU roaming countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland (Republic of), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Azores, Canary Islands, French Guyana, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Iceland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, Monaco, Norway, Reunion, San Marino, St Martin, St Barts, Switzerland, Vatican City.

*Calls are unavailable to French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion, St Barts and St Martin.

Just imagine visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris and letting all your family and friends know via Instagram and Facebook or to travel to beautiful Greece and experiencing everything they have to offer.

Whatever country Tesco mobile customers decide to travel too they should always consider the 48 countries that allow them to roam like they are at home because they won't have to pay any extra cost on their Tesco SIM only plan.

Also, the Tesco EU roaming also applies to customers who are on a Tesco mobile pay as you go deals. This means that customers can join a cheap Tesco mobile pay as you go deal and pay no extra charges when they travel to Tesco EU roaming countries.

Roaming in USA, Turkey and other countries

It is amazing that Tesco roaming allows you to roam to 48 countries in Europe, however Tesco mobile understands that there are some customers who want to travel outside the EU, so there has to be a way for those customers to roam with Tesco too.

For example, if Tesco customers want to roam to Turkey or to the USA Tesco mobile customers must have to pay extra instead of just using their current Tesco mobile SIM only plan they will have extra charges.

This means there will be extra costs for outgoing calls, incoming calls, sending texts and using your data. However, it also depends on which country you want to roam too because different countries have different rates.

To find out what the rates are to roam in the specific country, Tesco mobile customers can go into the Tesco mobile website and there is information about Tesco roaming.

Tesco customers can select almost every country in the world and they will be given all the rates for outgoing calls, incoming calls, texts and data usage.

¿Afraid of Tesco data roaming? Say hello to Holafly

If you are travelling to a destination outside of Europe that is not included in your Tesco free roaming , you may think about an alternative, like Holalfy. With its international eSIM cards you will get fixed priced data plans to use abroad, from Japan to Guatemala .

Not only is it cheap, as it offers a fixed price that you know beforehand , but it is also a really convenient alternative, as you only have to choose your destination, select the data plan that best fits your needs and, after your purchase, you will have your Holafly eSIM card right at your email inbox .

Having a fixed price data plans means saying goodbye to ugly add-ons or hidden extra costs , so you know what you are going to pay for your data plan before you leave for your trip . You won't even have to spare your time at the airport activating your SIM card, most of Holafly SIM cards can be activated before your departure .

Enjoy your trip and forget about roaming fees with Holafly

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Best SIM Cards for Using Your Smartphone in the USA

If you’re travelling to the United States, having the right SIM card can save you a lot of money. We review the best value SIM cards for using your phone in the USA.

Each year, almost 4 million Brits visit the USA. Whether you’re travelling to New York to do some shopping, touring California to enjoy the beautiful scenery, or visiting Florida to enjoy the theme parks with your family, you’ll probably want to use your mobile phone whilst you’re there .

Having a smartphone in America can make it a lot easier to stay in touch with friends and family who are back home in the UK. It can also be useful for staying in touch with each other on your travels and for getting around (e.g. finding nearby restaurants and attractions on Google Maps).

The good news is it’s now really easy to take a UK smartphone and to use it in the US. You can either roam on your UK SIM card or you can buy a local US SIM card upon your arrival in the States. In this article, we’ll review and compare the best SIM cards for using your smartphone in the US. We’ll also discuss network compatibility with your UK handset.

• 1 Using Your Mobile Phone In The USA
• 2.1 Inclusive Roaming Deals
• 2.2 Best USA Roaming Deals
• 2.3 Standard Roaming Rates
• 3.1 AT&T
• 3.2 T-Mobile
• 4 eSIMs For The United States
• 5 Handset & Network Compatibility
• 6 Other Top Tips For Travelling To The US

Using Your Mobile Phone In The USA

• You can roam on a UK-based SIM card. This is the easiest and most convenient way to use your mobile phone in the USA. You’ll have a UK-based phone number (+44) and you’ll pay your UK mobile network for your usage.
• You can buy a US-based SIM card on arrival. If you’re a frequent traveller to the US or if you need a US-based phone number (+1), you can get a local SIM from one of the US networks. However, this is typically a more expensive option unless you regularly travel for an extended amount of time.
• You can buy a data-only eSIM for the USA. You can get a data-only USA eSIM from Airalo. This will give you a low-cost allowance of mobile data. However, you’ll need to use your regular SIM card for calling and texting (for which your standard roaming rates will apply).

The following table shows a side-by-side comparison of the three options:

For most people, we’d normally recommend roaming on a UK-based SIM card. This is likely to give you the best overall value, especially when you account for the cost of calling and texting. For instance, Lebara Mobile offers USA roaming add-ons such £10 for 8 days usage (2GB data & 200 minutes), or £20 for 15 days usage (5GB data & 400 minutes). You can activate your SIM card with a UK plan from just £2.50 and there’s no contract and no credit check required.

If you have an eSIM-ready phone (including the iPhone 11, Galaxy S20, Pixel 3 and newer devices), a data-only eSIM from Airalo is also worth considering. If you only need data when you’re abroad, it’s slightly cheaper than roaming on a UK-based SIM card. However, you’ll need to take into account the cost of calls and texts on your regular SIM card. This is because the eSIM will only cover your data usage.

Roaming On Your UK SIM

Inclusive roaming deals.

The simplest way to use your mobile phone in the USA is through international roaming on your UK-based SIM card.

As a first step, you should check to see whether your existing provider allows you to roam at no extra cost in the USA:

• EE: If you’re an EE Pay Monthly customer with the Roam Abroad Pass , you can use your plan allowances at no extra cost when you’re travelling in the USA (up to a maximum of 50GB per month). This is available as a Smart Benefit or as a chargeable add-on costing £25 per month.
• O2: If you’re an O2 Pay Monthly customer with the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt-On , you’ll be able to roam at no extra cost in the USA. This is available on selected O2 Pay Monthly plans and also when you join Virgin Media as a Volt customer . For everyone else, there’s a fee of £6 per day to use your phone in the USA.
• Three: If you’re a Three Pay Monthly customer, it might be possible to roam at no extra cost . If you’re on a Plus or Premium plan (taken since the 30th January 2023), you’ll get a certain number of Daily Go Roam passes to use during your contract period. Inclusive roaming is also available on Pay Monthly plans taken before the 30th September 2021. On all other plans, there’s a £5 daily fee for roaming in the USA.
• Vodafone: If you’re a Vodafone Pay Monthly customer with Global Roaming Plus , you’ll be able to use your mobile phone at no extra cost when you travel in the USA. Otherwise, it will cost you an extra £6 per day.

Best USA Roaming Deals

On Lebara, you’ll be able to buy one of the following roaming add-ons for use in the USA:

You’ll be able to use your inclusive minutes for calling home to the UK, and for calling within the US (e.g. calling hotels, restaurants, taxis, etc). You’re also able to call friends and family who are travelling abroad with you.

Lebara’s roaming add-ons are a one-off purchase so they won’t renew automatically after the 8-day or 15-day period (you can see the full terms and conditions on their website ). If you like, you can always buy another add-on as required (e.g. for a longer trip away or to renew your data allowance).

If you’re not currently a Lebara Mobile customer, you can order a SIM card online . You can choose any of their contract-free UK plans, using the KEN3 voucher code at checkout to get 3 months half price. You’ll then pay for your roaming add-on on top of this. For instance, you could pay £2.50 for Lebara's 5GB UK plan , plus £10 for the 8-day USA roaming add-on (giving you 200 minutes, 100 texts and 2GB data to use in the USA). In total, you’d pay £12.50 for both your UK and US plans.

There’s no contract and no credit check on Lebara Mobile. Although you’re able to continue using the SIM card when you get back to the UK, there’s no commitment and you can pause or cancel your plan at any time.

Get Lebara SIM Card (from £2.50 top-up) → (use KEN3 voucher code for 3 months half price)

If you’re looking for an alternative provider, VOXI offers a range of Global Roaming Extras for their customers. On VOXI, you’ll pay £15 for an 8-day Global Roaming Extra (with 100 minutes, 100 texts and 2GB data) and £25 for a 15-day Global Roaming Extra (with 200 minutes, 200 texts and 4GB data). You can get a VOXI Pay As You Go SIM card from £10 .

Standard Roaming Rates

If your current provider does not offer inclusive roaming in the USA, the following table shows the standard roaming rates you can expect to pay:

Comparison of roaming charges when using your UK-based SIM card in the US. The costs shown are for calling the UK and sending a text message to the UK. It’s always free to receive a text message wherever you are in the world.

Unless you have a suitable deal for roaming, the costs of international roaming in the USA can add up very quickly. This is because the average smartphone user can easily consume more than 100MB of data per day.

Buying A US SIM Card On Arrival

If you regularly travel to the United States for an extended amount of time, it might be worth getting a local SIM card from one of the US mobile networks. If you have an unlocked UK smartphone, you’ll have the option of using a SIM card from either AT&T or T-Mobile USA . Unfortunately, a Verizon SIM card will not work on most UK-purchased phones.

You can buy a US SIM card upon your arrival in the States from retailers like 7-Eleven, CVS, Target, Walgreens and Walmart. Alternatively, you can get a SIM card from an AT&T or T-Mobile retail store. Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to buy a US SIM card in advance as the US mobile networks will not ship their SIM cards to the UK.

On AT&T, it’s possible to get a prepaid plan from $30 per month (approximately £23.90) plus tax. This will get you 5GB of data and unlimited US minutes. There are also unlimited international texts included (to the US, the UK and more than 200 other countries).

If you’re looking for more data, there’s 15GB data for $40 per month (approx £31.90) plus tax, and unlimited data from $50 per month (approx £39.80) plus tax.

The following table shows the Pay As You Go plans available on AT&T:

† On AT&T’s $50/month Unlimited plan, you’ll get speeds of up to 3Mbps on the first 30GB data per month. After that, speeds are slowed down to a maximum of 1.5Mbps. The use of tethering and personal hotspot is not included on this plan. The $65/month plan comes with faster speeds and 5GB of personal hotspot data.

The exact price you pay will depend on local tax rates ( see a list of wireless tax rates for each US state ). In addition, there’s normally a $15 activation fee for a new AT&T SIM card (however, this can vary depending on where you get your SIM).

A discount may be available on the prices listed above if you pay for 12 months usage in advance or if you set up AutoPay on your account. However, this isn’t suitable for short-term visitors to the USA as your plan will be renewed automatically every month, even after you’ve left the USA.

On AT&T, phone calls back home to the UK will cost you $3/minute (plus tax). This is unless you pay an extra $10/month (plus tax) for the international calling add-on. This gives you 250 international minutes for calling back the UK. There’s also a $15/month International Plus add-on which gives you unlimited international minutes for calling home to the UK.

You can get an AT&T prepaid SIM card from your nearest AT&T store . Before you do this, it’s worth checking the coverage available at places you’ll regularly visit in the USA (see AT&T’s online coverage map ).

Finally, it’s worth being aware that your AT&T prepaid SIM card will be deactivated automatically if you don’t top it up again within 60 days of your previous bundle expiring. For this reason, it will only be possible to re-use the SIM card on a subsequent trip if you plan to visit the US again within a 60-day period.

On T-Mobile, you can get a prepaid plan from $40/month (plus tax). This gives you 10GB data, along with unlimited minutes and unlimited texts within the USA. You can upgrade this to an unlimited data plan from $50/month (plus tax).

The following table shows the prepaid plans from T-Mobile USA:

† On the $50/month Prepaid Unlimited plan, tethering and personal hotspot usage is limited to 3G speeds. †† On the $60/month Prepaid Unlimited Plus plan, you’ll get 10GB of high speed tethering and personal hotspot. After this, tethering and personal hotspot usage is restricted to 3G speeds.

You can get a T-Mobile “prepaid starter kit” for a fee of $10 (approx £8) plus tax at any T-Mobile retail store in the USA. The starter kit consists of a new prepaid SIM card, along with an instruction leaflet on how to get set up. You’ll need to pay for your one-month plan on top of this.

To activate and use a T-Mobile SIM card, your device will need to be capable of supporting VoLTE technology on the T-Mobile network (more commonly known as 4G Calling in the UK). To check this, you can enter your device details on the T-Mobile website .

Before getting a T-Mobile USA SIM card, it’s also worth checking the coverage available in places where you’re staying.

There’s a minimum charge of $3/month on all T-Mobile prepaid SIM cards. In addition, the SIM card is only valid for 90 days since the date of the last top-up. For this reason, it will only be possible to re-use your SIM card on a future trip if you keep it active by topping up at least once every 90 days.

eSIMs For The United States

The main benefit of getting an eSIM plan is the fact it’s available straight away as an over-the-air download. There’s no need to wait for a SIM card to arrive in the post or to get a SIM card from the shop when you arrive. It’s also a lower-cost option if you don’t need the ability to call or text when you’re in the USA.

Technically speaking, your Change Mobile eSIM is based outside the USA. This means you’re able to avoid local US taxes and fees, which would otherwise apply if you were getting a SIM card from AT&T or T-Mobile USA.

The main disadvantage of an eSIM plan is the fact you’re getting a data-only service. If you need to make or receive phone calls and text messages whilst you’re in the USA, you’ll need to use your regular SIM card for that instead. You’ll then incur additional international roaming fees (this can easily add up to £5 for a three-minute call). For that reason, we’d only recommend getting an eSIM if you don’t envision yourself needing to make or receive phone calls in the USA.

The following table shows the eSIM plans that are available from Airalo (Change Mobile):

As a special offer for May 2024, you can get a 10% discount on your Change Mobile eSIM. If you’re new to Airalo, you’ll be able to enter the KEN10 voucher code at checkout to get 10% off. Alternatively, if you’re an existing Airalo customer, there’s a 5% discount available with the KEN5 voucher code.

See all USA eSIM deals →

If you’re using an eSIM from Airalo, you’ll get access to the T-Mobile and Verizon US mobile networks. Your eSIM plan will not work outside the USA (e.g. in Canada , Mexico or the Caribbean ).

Handset & Network Compatibility

If you’re using a 4G-capable smartphone that lacks support for 4G Calling technology, it should still be possible to access the internet when you’re in the USA. You’ll also be able to use voice-over-IP apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime and Skype to make phone calls. However, you won’t be able to make or receive phone calls on your normal UK phone number without support for 4G Calling.

If you’re using a fairly old handset, or if your smartphone was purchased outside the UK, you should double-check to make sure your handset will work on the US networks. Your phone will need to support at least one of the following frequencies for it to work in the US:

You can check your handset manufacturer’s spec sheet to see a list of bands supported by your phone. You can also enter your IMEI on the T-Mobile website to see whether your handset is compatible with their network.

It isn’t normally possible to use a UK smartphone on Verizon Wireless . Although you can technically use it on Verizon, they make it difficult to activate their SIM cards if you’re using a smartphone from the UK.

Other Top Tips For Travelling To The US

When travelling to the US, it’s also worth bearing the following things in mind:

• You’ll need an ESTA to fly to the US. If you’re travelling to the US by air or by sea (even if you’re only transiting through the US to another country), you’ll need to complete an online ESTA form (from the US Electronic System for Travel Authorisation). It costs US$21 per person (approximately £17) and lasts for two years. There’s more information about this on GOV.UK and on Money Saving Expert . You should always apply for your ESTA on the official website run by the US Department of Homeland Security.
• Make sure your electronic devices have power before boarding. There are extra security measures for travellers to the US. All electronic devices being carried in your hand luggage will need to have sufficient amounts of power for you to be able to turn them on. This includes your smartphone, tablet, laptop and e-book reader. You could be asked to switch on the device and to demonstrate its function when passing through airport security. As there are only limited charging points available at the airport, it’s probably a good idea to invest in a portable charger (prices start from around £20).
• Make sure you have the relevant adapters for charging your electronics. You’ll need a UK-to-US plug adapter for charging your electronic devices. Besides your mobile phone, consider whether you might need additional adapters for your laptop, hairdryer, shaver, etc.
• Use TSA approved locks for securing your baggage. If you’re using a lock to secure your baggage, it needs to be TSA approved (see Amazon.co.uk for a list of TSA approved baggage locks). If you use a non-TSA approved lock, the security teams at the airport may take a bolt cutter to your lock.

If you’re also planning to visit Canada along with the USA, see our guide on the best SIM cards for Canada .

Related Articles

Your Comments 426 so far

We'd love to hear your thoughts and any questions you may have. So far, we've received 426 comments from readers. You can add your own comment here .

Lorna said:

This is such an amazing article and so helpful, thank you! If i go for the data only airalo, i know you said I wont have my UK number, but how does that work with my watsapp as that is linked to my uk phone number? Thanks!

Ken replied:

Hi Lorna, Thanks for your comment. WhatsApp will continue to work as normal on your eSIM from Airalo. Even though it’s initially set up using your UK phone number, it works over any data connection (including wi-fi, a eSIM, etc). Hope this helps, Ken

Hi Ken, thank you so much for this useful information! Going to USA this summer. I have a Pixel 6 phone and I’m currently pay monthly with Tesco mobile. If I use a 3 PAYG SIM in USA, will I still have access to all the apps already installed in my phone with my Tesco mobile number? Would I be better to get an eSIM so I can switch between numbers as required? I’m finding all this tech talk a tad confusing…. Thanks!

Hi Jo, Thanks for your comment. Yes, you’ll still have access to all of your apps, photos, etc after changing the SIM 🙂 However, you won’t have access to your Tesco Mobile number – you’ll need to use your 3 PAYG number for the duration of your trip abroad. Hope this helps! Ken

David Hughes said:

Hi Ken, thanks for this info, it’s extremely helpful. I’m travelling to the US for 8 days, so the VOXI option looks like a good option. Sorry to ask what I think will be a simple question, when I register the sim card with VOXI, can I use my current UK number? And when I return to the UK, will I be able to then re-insert and use my normal UK sim card? Thanks again, David

Hi David, Thanks for your comment. The best thing to do would be to set up call forwarding from your normal SIM card to your VOXI SIM card. Just make sure to leave your normal SIM card at home, or if you bring it, make sure that SIM card doesn’t connect to the US network or you’ll be charged the international rates for calling forwarding. If you like, it’s possible to transfer your phone number to VOXI but this will automatically close the account on your old network. For that reason, it isn’t recommended unless you plan to switch to VOXI long-term. Hope this helps, Ken

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• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Roaming charges: how to avoid the dreaded phone bills

Some UK users may find their network is imposing charges for using a mobile elsewhere in Europe

• Holiday spending: what to sort out now to keep costs down
• Holiday car hire: prices fall but you can still drive better bargain
• The best luggage for travelling light with no airline fees

You’ve bought the flights, found the sun cream and worked out which credit card to use. Just don’t forget to check whether you are one of the unlucky ones who will be hit with mobile roaming charges.

Despite promising not to reintroduce roaming charges in the run-up to Brexit , some, but not all, of the UK networks are imposing some hefty charges for using a UK mobile elsewhere in Europe. However, with a bit of planning, it is possible to avoid them altogether.

EE, Vodafone, Three, Sky and Talkmobile are among those that have reintroduced them .

EE, the UK’s second-biggest provider , is charging contract customers £2.29 a day, or £15 a month, to use existing data and calls plans as if they were at home. It is £2.50 a day for pay-as-you-go (PAYG) customers or £10 for seven days, plus the standard charges they pay at home.

Three and Sky charge a flat £2 a day, adding £28 to a two-week trip.

UK Vodafone contract customers travelling elsewhere in Europe pay £2.25 a day, £10 for eight days or £15 for 15, depending on what they sign up to. Its PAYG customers pay £7 for eight days, plus the standard charges.

If you are locked into a deal, check the website before you go to see what you will pay and what options are open to you. Or, if you can, consider taking your business elsewhere.

O2, Virgin Media , Giffgaff and a host of other small providers are all to be praised after they (so far) resisted the temptation to impose European roaming fees. The popular Tesco Mobile announced it was bringing back European roaming charges, but not for 2023, meaning its customers are OK for this year at least.

In 2017, mobile networks in EU countries were banned from charging customers extra to use their phones in other member countries, with the right to make calls, send texts and, most importantly, use data allowances anywhere in Europe – as if at home – one of the most popular pieces of European legislation in the UK.

However, the Brexit deal did not include continued protection against roaming charges, and we are in a position where a family going away together this summer may find that two members enjoy free calls and data while away but the other two are paying perhaps £2.29 a day.

It is worth noting that post-Brexit changes only apply to roaming in specific countries in Europe . British mobile holders heading to other countries have always faced the charges, and continue to do so.

The costs can really rack up. For example, Sky Mobile customers heading to the Maldives or Seychelles could be forking out a whopping £8.64 every minute for calls to local or UK mobiles – which is £130 for a 15-minute phone call.

The Uswitch mobiles expert Catherine Hiley says roaming bills can really add up.

“Anyone travelling abroad from the UK should be wary of potential shock costs, even if they think roaming is included in their tariff. There used to be a £45 worldwide data roaming cap, which meant your data usage was automatically capped at this amount to prevent shock bills. However, this is no longer in UK law.”

So, what can you do to avoid the dreaded bills? If you are free to switch provider, move to a firm that doesn’t impose them.

Giffgaff is offering customers 25GB of 5G data for £10 a month , including unlimited UK calls and texts, and inclusive EU roaming up to 5GB of data a month, which should be enough for most. These are 18-month sim-only contracts.

Tesco Mobile is offering 12GB of data and unlimited minutes and texts for £11 a month on a shorter 12-month contract, with inclusive EU roaming for all of 2023.

If that is too much hassle or you are venturing farther afield, there is nothing to stop you buying a local sim card and putting that in your phone, as long as your handset is not locked.

Another increasingly popular option is to use an e-sim. Airalo has e-sims for more than 200 countries, all via its app. It can reportedly be a bit fiddly to set up but the savings are worth it.

It will sell a traveller to Turkey 5GB of data for about £9.50, which lasts for up to 30 days. As a comparison, Vodafone typically charges its UK customers £6.85 a day to use their phones as if at home in non-EU countries.

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Money latest: New age band about to become eligible for free childcare; how downsizing home could make you £400,000

Eligible working parents of children from nine-months-old in England will be able to register for up to 15 free hours of childcare per week. Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance below - and leave a comment on any of the stories we're covering.

Wednesday 8 May 2024 07:30, UK

• Free childcare applications about to open for new age band
• How downsizing your home could unlock more than £400,000
• Bank launches £175 switching offer
• Train strikes begin - everything you need to know

Essential reads

• When will interest rates be cut?
• What is the Bank of England, why isn't it called the Bank of UK, and how much is in its vaults?
• Cheap Eats : Chef at Tom Kerridge pub picks Buckinghamshire spot
• 'We should charge more': Chef justifies £320 menu as he teams up with Uber Eats for 'cheap' delivery
• Money Problem: We discovered £600 management fee after buying flat - what can we do?
• 10 biggest mistakes people make in job interviews

Ask a question or make a comment

Every Wednesday we ask a Michelin chef to pick their favourite Cheap Eats where they live and at home. This week we speak to  Tom De Keyser,  head chef at Tom Kerridge's two-starred The Hand and Flowers, Marlow.

What is your favourite place for a meal for two for up to £40 in Buckinghamshire?

The Cedar Marlow is a local gem, it's a fantastic coffee shop and spot for a lovely lunch. I always have the pastrami bagel which is brilliant, my wife loves the chicken shawarma salad, and my young daughter has a fluffy bowl of scrambled eggs. You can happily feed the three of us with a couple of delicious coffees for less than £40.

When I moved to Marlow it was the first place I went for coffee before starting at The Hand and Flowers, I remember the staff being so welcoming and friendly with lots of smiles. It's a gorgeous family-run place with Ralph and Aldo making sure that everyone is looked after, the food is super fresh and the atmosphere is great.

For the nights spent at home – your favourite, low-effort meal to whip up quickly?

My go-to meal for something quick and tasty is quite often pasta and red pesto with grated cheese and fresh herbs with an Italian side salad.

How did you get into cheffing?

In my last year of university, my beer money ran out and I began working in a restaurant, before joining The Hand and Flowers in 2012, the year it became the first in the world to be awarded two Michelin stars.

Read the recommendations of other top chefs around the UK here ...

From Sunday, eligible working parents of children from nine-months-old in England will be able to register for access to up to 15 free hours of government-funded childcare per week.

This will then be granted from September. 

Check if you're eligible  here  - or read on for our explainer on free childcare across the UK.

Three and four year olds

In England, all parents of children aged three and four in England can claim 15 hours of free childcare per week, for 1,140 hours (38 weeks) a year, at an approved provider.

This is a universal offer open to all.

It can be extended to 30 hours where both parents (or the sole parent) are in work, earn the weekly minimum equivalent of 16 hours at the national minimum or living wage, and have an income of less than £100,000 per year.

Two year olds

Previously, only parents in receipt of certain benefits were eligible for 15 hours of free childcare.

But, as of last month, this was extended to working parents.

This is not a universal offer, however.

A working parent must earn more than £8,670 but less than £100,000 per year. For couples, the rule applies to both parents.

Nine months old

In September, this same 15-hour offer will be extended to working parents of children aged from nine months. From 12 May, those whose children will be at least nine months old on 31 August can apply to received the 15 hours of care from September.

From September 2025

The final change to the childcare offer in England will be rolled out in September 2025, when eligible working parents of all children under the age of five will be able to claim 30 hours of free childcare a week.

In some areas of Wales, the Flying Start early years programme offers 12.5 hours of free childcare for 39 weeks, for eligible children aged two to three. The scheme is based on your postcode area, though it is currently being expanded.

All three and four-year-olds are entitled to free early education of 10 hours per week in approved settings during term time under the Welsh government's childcare offer.

Some children of this age are entitled to up to 30 hours per week of free early education and childcare over 48 weeks of the year. The hours can be split - but at least 10 need to be used on early education.

To qualify for this, each parent must earn less than £100,000 per year, be employed and earn at least the equivalent of working 16 hours a week at the national minimum wage, or be enrolled on an undergraduate, postgraduate or further education course that is at least 10 weeks in length.

All three and four-year-olds living in Scotland are entitled to at least 1,140 hours per year of free childcare, with no work or earnings requirements for parents. 

This is usually taken as 30 hours per week over term time (38 weeks), though each provider will have their own approach.

Some households can claim free childcare for two-year-olds. To be eligible you have to be claiming certain benefits such as Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Universal Credit, or have a child that is in the care of their local council or living with you under a guardianship order or kinship care order.

Northern Ireland

There is no scheme for free childcare in Northern Ireland. Some other limited support is available.

Working parents can access support from UK-wide schemes such as tax credits, Universal Credit, childcare vouchers and tax-free childcare.

Aside from this, all parents of children aged three or four can apply for at least 12.5 hours a week of funded pre-school education during term time. But over 90% of three-year-olds have a funded pre-school place - and of course this is different to childcare.

What other help could I be eligible for?

Tax-free childcare  - Working parents in the UK can claim up to £500 every three months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of their children to help with childcare costs. 

If the child is disabled, the amount goes up to £1,000 every three months (up to £4,000 a year).

To claim the benefit, parents will need to open a tax-free childcare account online. For every 80p paid into the account, the government will top it up by 20p.

The scheme is available until the September after the child turns 11.

Universal credit  - Working families on universal credit can claim back up to 85% of their monthly childcare costs, as long as the care is paid for upfront. The most you can claim per month is £951 for one child or £1,630 for two or more children.

Tax credits -  People claiming working tax credit can get up to 70% of what they pay for childcare if their costs are no more than £175 per week for one child or £300 per work for multiple children.

Downsizing your home as you get older has a lot of practical benefits - including cutting down on household bills and maintenance costs.

But new analysis shows that moving to a smaller home could also unlock hundreds of thousands of pounds to help clear your mortgage or tuck away in savings.

Research by consumer champion Which? found that - predictably - downsizers in London were likely to make the most in overall cash terms due to high property prices in the capital.

A Londoner moving from a four-bed to a two-bed property,  and staying in the city, could release as much as £414,000, it found.

But Which? says that people downsizing within the capital are only getting back 46% of the total value of their original home on average - the lowest of any region.

In contrast, people in the North East could release as much as 56% of their four-bed home's worth.

People moving to a two-bed from a four-bed in Scotland would make an average of £159,264 in profit - the lowest in cash terms of all regions in Britain. However, they'd get back 50% of the total value.

Londoners wanting to break away from the Big Smoke could make as much as £771,097 by moving to the North East, according to Which? 

Movers doing the big trek from the South West to the North West could also unlock a profit of up to £283,586, it said, while people in the South East downsizing in the North East could get £462,763.

Researchers at Which? analysed Office for National Statistics average property price data and factored in moving costs such as estate agent fees, stamp duty and conveyancing fees.

Sam Richardson, Which? deputy money editor, said while downsizing is "far from easy", it can unlock "a significant amount of money". 

"Even after additional expenses, such as stamp duty and removal fees, the sums you free up could make a big difference, especially if you're concerned that your pension won't go far enough, or you're looking to help loved ones financially," he said.

Average UK house prices have risen only slightly in the past month, according to data from Halifax. 

The average house price rose by 0.1% in April month-on-month, after a fall of 0.9% in March. 

Halifax said typical house prices in early 2024 have "largely plateaued", with the housing market "finding its feet in an era of higher interest rates". 

It added it expected property prices to "rise modestly" over the course of 2024.

Read more here ...

A British driverless car company has raised more than a billion dollars from three major tech companies to commercialise its products. 

Start-up Wayve has secured funds from SoftBank, Nvidia and Microsoft to help develop its artificial intelligence software which can make any vehicle hands-free. 

This is the biggest venture investment so far in a European AI start-up, and could see the London-based company valued at several billion dollars.

The technology teaches autonomous vehicles how to drive using videos and data from real life, and could mean cars are more responsive to incidents such as someone running into the road or another vehicle swerving.

Waitrose workers have claimed the supermarket lowered redundancy payouts for warehouse staff already at risk of losing their jobs. 

Under the proposal, those made redundant will only be paid one week's salary per year of service, on top of statutory payouts received from the government. 

John Lewis said earlier this year it was planning to halve redundancy payouts.

But workers are claiming a review into the planned closure of an Enfield warehouse had begun before the changes were made to redundancy packages. 

The government is planning to overhaul its Personal Independence Payment (PIP) scheme - and one proposal is to require claimants to provide a "proof of diagnosis" letter from a healthcare professional. 

Another measure includes scrapping the current eligibility criteria and replacing it with one based on what condition or disability someone has. 

People can claim PIP payments if they have a disability or medical condition that affects their ability to carry out daily tasks.

The standard rate is £72.65 a week, while the enhanced one is £108.55, and people can also get extra payments of £28.70 or £75.75 if they struggle with mobility.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is now proposing a claimant's eligibility would be based on their clinical diagnosis by a healthcare professional, rather than on an assessment. 

Charities and campaigners have warned this could risk some medical conditions no longer being eligible for PIP if they're not deemed long-term or severe enough. 

Here's everything you need to know about PIP and potential changes...

Basically, the Bank of England is the UK's central bank.

It is different from a bank you would come across along the high street and does not hold accounts or make loans to the public.

The Bank issues bank notes that you spend and it also sets the official interest rates of the UK (otherwise known as the Bank/base rate), which directly influences savings and mortgages. 

It earned the nickname "the old lady of Threadneedle Street" back in the 1700s after a cartoon depicted then-prime minister William Pitt trying to "woo" the Bank - depicted as an old lady - for her gold reserves.

When did the Bank become independent? 

The Bank was founded in 1694 and was owned by various shareholders until it was nationalised in 1946.

It remains owned by the UK government today - but its decision-making was made independent by then-chancellor Gordon Brown in 1997 to increase confidence in the UK economy and stop politicians from influencing monetary policy for political or electoral reasons. 

What is the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee and who sits on it?

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decides the Bank rate.

This generally happens every six weeks, so eight times a year, and the next meeting is on Thursday - hence which we've made it this week's Basically .

The committee is made up of nine independent members who all have expertise in economics and monetary policy.

There are also external members that ensure the MPC benefits from thinking and expertise from outside of the Bank of England.

A representative from HM Treasury also sits with the MPC at its meetings. The Treasury member makes sure the MPC is briefed on government policies, but they are not allowed to vote.

Does the Bank have any other responsibilities?

• The Bank produces £5, £10, £20 and £50 banknotes;
• It guards the value of money by keeping prices stable;
• It keeps the financial system stable by maintaining a close watch on any risks and taking action;
• The Bank also regulates and supervises all the major banks, building societies, credit unions, insurers and investment firms.

Why is it called the Bank of England when it covers the whole UK?

Quite simply, it has never changed its name since it was founded. 

It was created in 1694 after a Scotsman named William Paterson realised the nation's finances had no real system of money or credit. 

Under his direction, a successful scheme was launched in which £1.2m was loaned to the government from funds raised by subscribers who were then incorporated into the governor and company of the Bank of England. 

The money was used to support the English government in its war against France. 

It wasn't until the 19th century that the Bank took on the role of central bank. 

What is in the Bank of England's vaults? 

About 400,000 bars of gold. 

These are worth more than £200bn, making the Bank of England the second-largest keeper of gold in the world - behind the New York Federal Reserve. 

The gold is kept in nine carefully guarded underground vaults. 

Each bar costs hundreds of thousands of pounds, although the value can go up and down. 

The Bank of England's customers - who include the UK government, banks and other governments around the world - can trade their gold bars with other customers. 

When a customer trades gold it doesn't usually move - instead the name of the owner will change on the Bank's system. 

Not many people are allowed to visit the vaults, but the King and the late Queen Elizabeth II have seen them. 

Has anyone ever stolen any gold from the Bank?

The Bank says no gold has been stolen from its vaults, but there was a lucky escape in 1836 after a sewer worker doing repair work accidentally discovered an old drain that ran directly below the gold vault. 

He sent anonymous letters to the directors of the Bank, saying he had access to their gold and offering to meet them in the vault at an hour of their choosing.

When the directors gathered one night in the vault, a noise was heard from beneath the floor and the man popped up through some of the floorboards. 

A stocktake was taken afterwards, and it became clear he had not taken any gold. 

The Bank then decided to reward the sewer worker for his honesty by giving him £800 - the equivalent of about £76,000 today. 

Read other entries in our Basically... series:

The Bank of England will announce its latest base rate decision on Thursday lunchtime - but no one is expecting a cut from the current 5.25%.

It's widely thought rates have reached their peak - they've been at their highest level for 16 years since August.

But market forecasts for a June cut seem to have waned, with August or September now being priced in more heavily.

A feeling that inflation may not reach, or at least stay at, the 2% target through this year (and we've seen how inflation can prove stickier than expected with recent US figures) has led swap rates, which dictate how much it costs lenders to lend, to rise.

Thursday's decision

During March's meeting of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee, only one of the nine members voted for a cut.

Steve Matthews, investment director at Canada Life Asset Management, doesn't see any movement from the majority eight this time - suggesting a cut isn't imminent.

"Looking ahead to Thursday... we expect an 8-1 vote in favour of no cut, with Swati Dhingra being the lone outlier. 

"While there's optimism within the Monetary Policy Committee that inflation will close in on the all-important 2% as the fuel effect falls out, the Bank of England will be deeply aware of the second-round inflation effect. 

"Rather than patting itself on the back when the 2% figure is hit, it will require clear evidence that inflation is under control rather than simply hitting a target."

High inflation is the reason rates have been elevated - squeezing people's finances and encouraging them to save tends to bring prices down.

Inflation is expected to have dropped significantly in April due to the fall in the energy price cap, and we'll get an announcement on this next Wednesday - but analysts fear it could rise again later this year.

Canada Life is of the view that this means we'll have to wait until August for a base rate cut.

Others think it could be later.

Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said "hopes are creeping back in about a summer interest rate cut, although September is still very much a possibility".

Some are more optimistic

Weaker employment figures in April add to the case for lower interest rates – more people looking for jobs means employers aren't under as much pressure to raise wages, which can be inflationary.

Another factor which means the BoE could drop rates before the US is that the UK has entered recession, so the committee may want to ease restrictions on the economy.

Andrew Goodwin, chief UK economist for Oxford Economics, said data on services inflation and private sector regular pay mean there is no hope for a May cut. As to whether it will even come in June or August, it's a "close call". 

However, the chair of HSBC has predicted the Bank will move in June.

Speaking at HSBC's annual general meeting today, Mark Tucker said he expected the European Central Bank and Bank of England to cut rates next month, both lowering by 150 basis points (to 3.75%) by the end of 2025.

The respect Capital Economics thinks 4% is more likely - while markets are leaning towards 4.5% come the end of next year.

Previous forecasts suggested rates could fall as low as 3% next year.

What has the Bank said?

Governor Andrew Bailey has repeatedly indicated that nothing is imminent.

"Inflation has continued to fall as expected. Cost pressures have eased, and the restrictive stance of monetary policy is working to bring inflation down. But we need to be sure that inflation will return all the way to our 2% target sustainably," he said in March. 

Spending on online subscriptions has jumped annually, boosted by series such as Baby Reindeer and Ripley.

While retail and fast-food spending contracted or remained the same over the past year, new data from Barclays noted a 10.6% increase in spending on digital content and subscriptions.

Two Netflix mini-series, Baby Reindeer and Ripley, helped drive the increase, according to Barclays. 

Continued concern about the cost of living, notably housing costs, meant spending in restaurants was down by 13% in April compared with the same period last year. 

Roughly half of the country said they were concerned about how much they spend on food and drink, according to Barclays.

Nearly 73% of people said they were actively looking for ways to reduce the cost of their weekly shop, while six in 10 shoppers said they had noticed supermarket products running out of stock. 

Despite this, 71% of people surveyed said they felt confident in their ability to manage their household finances. 

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business reporter

The record profits in the wake of the Ukraine invasion are clearly behind oil and gas giant BP with the news that profits nearly halved in the first three months of 2024. 

Due to oil refinery outages and lower gas prices, the London Stock Exchange listed company reported profit down 45% to $2.72bn (£2.17bn), compared with $4.96bn (£3.95bn) last year - an even worse performance than City of London analysts had been expecting. 

The good news for shareholders is continued dividends and a maintained share buyback programme - that is likely the reason the share price has fallen only 0.14% this morning.

Overall the most valuable companies of the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 index were up 1.08%.

A barrel of Brent crude - the benchmark for oil prices - was $83.54, below recent highs.

On the currencies front £1 buys $1.254 and €1.16.

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