ref pay-as-u-go mobiles

[maccasa]

Hi All - advice re phones and pay-as-u-go mobiles please - Ive got an old mobile which I shall bring out with me to keep there - who offers the best deals for new sim card and top-ups? We are out every 6 weeks for 1-2 weeks so the use isnt going to be much.

Alt. we have all the necessary connections for normal phones in the house - whats the standard phone rental? is there only one supplier?

Sorry if this a bit basic but we are newbies on the block!

[EMM]

If you have " cable connections " in the villa you can get a phone, TV. internet package from CABO, SAPO or MEO

[wedgepat]

I use an old phone with sim card I bought from the Intermarche I think I payed 10 Euros which gave some Airtime I then top up when required again at Intermache phone shop works well. Duncan.

[wedgepat]

I should have explained it uses the Vodaphone system. Duncan

[Polli62]

Vodafone Portugal is a good service with excellent coverage & signals, well we have never had any problems.There are lots of vodafone shops where you can top up your sim card, in fact there is one in the arrivals hall at Faro airport. If you bank with Millennium you can also top up your card online. You can also use vodafone.pt website to top up your sim card,but first you have to go through registration for a security code and then its easy,the only disadvantage is, it is only in Portuguese so you would have to have some knowledge of the language.

[Alison]

We have used all sorts of combinations since buying our place 6 years ago. we come out at least 4 times a year but ended up not using our Portuguese Vodafone pay-as-you-go enough to satisfy them that it was still 'in use' so we kept having to go through the paraphenalia of re-instating the number each time we came out. We've ended up just using our English mobiles plus a land line from PT in the villa - I've always wanted the relative reliability of a landline as this is not dependent on batteries/being charged up! The landline rental is 15 or 16 euros a month (more if you want broadband connection).

[wedgepat]

Now there dosn't seem to be a problem on having to re register on the pay as you go we just top up even after 5 months away. Duncan.

[maccasa]

Thanks folks - I have also been told you can get a phone + sim card from the post office for €28 including €10 euro calls. I will probaby get the intermarche option as Im on vodafone anyway - thanks duncan.

[Hoser]

The last few years I have used many of the mobile (cell phone) sim cards and services available in the Algarve. This year I used the Post Office (phone-ix). I found buying the sim card with the 10 euro prepaid credit the best value combined with their low rates. Just added more time at the local post office when required.

[Planky]

I've got vodafone here and never had any problems but sometimes the signal';s bad inland.

[maccasa]

I use an old phone with sim card I bought from the Intermarche I think I payed 10 Euros which gave some Airtime I then top up when required again at Intermache phone shop works well. Duncan.

Hi Duncan - you said you got your sim card from Intermarche - was it the Voddafone counter in the main front aisle? we tried there and the girl spoke worse english than my portuguese and we got nowhere!.

[wedgepat]

I did get it from the phone shop at the front of the store, I have been lucky the staff have spoken fairly good English the young chap in there speaks English well and is very hepful. Good luck. Duncan.

[maccasa]

Thanks Duncan - we will try again when we are out next week.