How to save on global roaming charges with Woolworths

One of the biggest expenses while travelling overseas for many people has been the bill shock received once returning home from a trip using a mobile phone in a foreign country. Roaming costs are extreme with the local phone networks blaming the overseas providers for overcharging them for customers using another network.

While only recently Australian telco’s have started to reduce foreign roaming charges and forge alliances with other counties to bring the cost down, it is still an expensive exercise to use your local sim overseas. So how do you save money on your phone costs when travelling?

On of the best options out there on the market comes from leading supermarket chain Woolworths. They have come up with the Woolworths Global Roaming SIM which can be purchased conveniently online.

In the past I have used other global SIM cards from other providers including ekit which you will find is what organisations such as Flight CentreTopdeck and travel insurance provider Covermore will try to sell you, or give to you for free. But of course the reason it is provided free is because the rates are more expensive.

I didn’t have such a great experience using this service and would not recommend it. This is because not only did I find it expensive but when I used an ekit SIM I was in the middle of my Topdeck Mega European Tour when leaving Istanbul I tried to put more credit on my account and I was rejected. Thinking that their was something wrong with my credit card I called them up (28 Degrees MasterCard) and everything was fine, turns out when I rang ekit they wouldn’t accept my money because I had put too much credit on over the past month. Well if you don’t want my money, then you won’t get any of it!

So what do you get with the Woolworths Global Roaming SIM and what are the features?

  • $29 for the SIM including $10 credit to get you started
  • Auto top-up available
  • Top-up online at the Woolworths Global Roaming website
  • Dial *120# for balance
  • Voice and data roaming available in over 180 countries
  • Ability to add local land line numbers meaning family and friends can contact you for the cost of a local call
  • Send text’s online to family and friends for 6 cents
  • Purchase SIM online
  • Purchase SIM at Woolworths

The below is a rate table comparing the rates from two other popular travel SIM cards against the Woolworths Global Roaming SIM. As you will find the Woolworths Global SIM Card usually comes out on top with the Australia Post TravelSIM offering competitive rates in the USA.

Rate Comparison to Australia
Country Woolworths Global Roaming TravelSIM Aus Post TravelSIM
USA Call – $0.55 per min
Data – $0.45 per MB
SMS – $0.19
Call – $0.80 per min
Data – $0.38 per MB
SMS – $0.65
Call – $0.25 per min
Data – $0.25 per MB
SMS – $0.25
UK Call – $0.18 per min
Data – $0.25 per MB
SMS – $0.14
Call – $0.64 per min
Data – $0.38 per MB
SMS – $0.65
Call – $0.25 per min
Data – $0.25 per MB
SMS – $0.25
New Zealand Call – $0.34 per min
Data – $0.25 per MB
SMS – $0.15
Call – $0.80 per min
Data – $0.38 per MB
SMS – $0.97
Call – $0.25 per min
Data – $0.25 per MB
SMS – $0.25
Canada Call – $0.34 per min
Data – $0.30 per MB
SMS – $0.20
Call – $1.06 per min
Data – $0.38 per MB
SMS – $0.65
Call – $1.00 per min
Data – $1.00 per MB
SMS – $1.00
Japan Call – $0.34 per min
Data – $0.30 per MB
SMS – $0.20
Call – $0.91 per min
Data – $0.38 per MB
SMS – $0.97
Call – $0.50 per min
Data – $0.50 per MB
SMS – $0.50
Indonesia Call – $0.34 per min
Data – $0.30 per MB
SMS – $0.20
Call – $1.39 per min
Data – $0.38 per MB
SMS – $0.97
Call – $0.50 per min
Data – $0.50 per MB
SMS – $0.50
Turkey Call – $0.34 per min
Data – $0.25 per MB
SMS – $0.15
Call – $0.80 per min
Data – $0.76 per MB
SMS – $0.65
Call – $0.50 per min
Data – $0.50 per MB
SMS – $0.50
Thailand Call – $0.34 per min
Data – $0.30 per MB
SMS – $0.20
Call – $0.64 per min
Data – $0.38 per MB
SMS – $0.65
Call – $1.00 per min
Data – $1.00 per MB
SMS – $1.00
Singapore Call – $0.34 per min
Data – $0.30 per MB
SMS – $0.20
Call – $1.23 per min
Data – $0.38 per MB
SMS – $0.65
Call – $1.00 per min
Data – $1.00 per MB
SMS – $1.00
China Call – $0.34 per min
Data – $0.30 per MB
SMS – $0.20
Call – $0.48 per min
Data – $0.38 per MB
SMS – $0.65
Call – $0.50 per min
Data – $0.50 per MB
SMS – $0.50

 

Rates last updated: 23 JAN 2016

From the above comparison it’s easy to see that TravelSIM is really expensive compared to other options on the market. Woolworths Global Roaming appears to be out in front even faring better than the Australia Post TravelSIM. The exception to this is the USA where you may find better value if you plan on using the service for calls and data. From the countries compared above the Woolworths Global Roaming SIM usually comes out on top as the cheapest for calls and SMS rates and in the data stakes is leaps and bounds ahead when comparing the per MB charge.

When comparing the initial set-up charges Woolworths Global Roaming once again comes out on top. $29 will give you the SIM along with $10 of included credit to use. TravelSIM will set you back $59.85 and will include $20 credit along with higher charges for calls, text and data. Meanwhile the Australia Post TravelSIM will set you back $49.95 and only includes $5 worth of credit, another factor to take into account even if you consider Australia Post for travelling to the USA.

After my expensive and not so great experience using the ekit SIM I decided to switch to the Woolworths Global Roaming SIM for two of my trips overseas. The first time was for a trip to New Zealand during Easter in 2013 and then later in the year when I went to Turkey on the Topdeck Turkey Explored Tour.

I don’t really use a global roaming sim for making calls so this part doesn’t really make a difference to me, I use it mostly for data and sending messages via WhatsApp. I’ve found that SMS doesn’t usually work for some reason and is a bit hit and miss, I’m not sure if it’s something I am doing wrong even though I am using the international prefix on phone numbers (+61 for Australia). I found that SMS not only didn’t work with ekit but also Woolworths and have been told of a similar experience with another user.

One of the big things to keep track of when using these SIM cards is to make sure that you turn your data roaming off. Yes you might like to use data like I do, but if you leave it turned on while not using your phone data will still be consumed in the background and you will potentially lose all your credit. Whenever I want to send a message or check an email I just simply turn it on then turn it straight off again as soon as I am done. So if I had to pick a SIM to go with (and I have already) for the best value it would defiantly be the Woolworths Global Roaming SIM.

The exception to this is if you are spending most of your time in one country for a long period of time, pick up a local SIM card for the best savings possible. The Australian networks in particular Vodafone have introduced new deals for taking your local SIM overseas with Vodafone having the best deal of $5 per day. However for me $5 per day sounds like quite a lot to be spending on mobile roaming where you really should be enjoying your time in another country and not on the phone all the time. Optus also has a similar scheme and Telstra have also reduced there prices but they are still pretty expensive.

To order your Woolworths Global Roaming SIM simply click HERE to be taken to the website.