Bolt Ons for Costa Rica

[Bodos]

I have a 3Gb monthly contract and am about to travel to Costa Rica and Ecuador. Standard o/seas rates look expensive. What bolt ons are available to limit cost of calls in those countries?

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

@Bodos There are no bolt ons available except a data allowance increase which will cost you more http://international.o2.co.uk/internationaltariffs/travelling_abroad 

The best thing to do is stay in contact via an app such as whatsapp used over wifi etc and keep the phone in airplane mode. 

You should also turn off voicemail before you leave the UK.

[jonsie]

If you need to make calls or send texts then a local sim card is the best option if your phone is unlocked. If not unlocked :

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/How-to-Guides/Unlocking-an-O2-phone-to-use-a-different-SIM-card/ba-p/1...

[Bambino]

@Bodos Depending on how long your trip is, you might want to look into getting sims from local providers in those countries. Just make sure your phone is unlocked before you travel.

[Bodos]

Thanks for your help - although the answer is rather disappointing given that I need to be accessible by phone!

[MI5]

@Bodos Prior to the change to EU roaming, I always had a World Sim https://www.worldsim.com/ 

All my business contacts had the number or you could set a divert before you travelled.