Poster: A snowHead
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I'm off to Whistler next week, and would like to get a prepaid nano-SIM card that will cover my 2-week trip. Does anyone have any recommendations for something I can get in the UK and activate on arrival.
I'm not expecting to use my phone a lot, I'm just looking for good value on calls and not too (if any) much data downloads.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Buy a sim at 7-11?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I was hoping to have one on arrival, to check on my shuttle transit while still in the baggage claim area. Anyway, the 7-11 at YVR is a hell of a hike.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Been going for 20 yrs but not found a suitable SIM card we could get in this country.
Bought one Wal-Mart for $10 + tax, try 7-11 Or supermarket. Data is really expensive in Canada so we got 2g only and used cafe or hotel WiFi.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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We did whistler connection? They had a lady with a clipboard at the exit from baggage pickup . Who gave directions to bus stand and time of departure and label with accommodation name so the driver could "stack" the bus. You could email free wifi in the airport.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Acacia wrote: |
I was hoping to have one on arrival, to check on my shuttle transit while still in the baggage claim area. |
Airport probably have wi-fi
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7-11 or petrocan
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@Acacia, who are you with in the UK? I usually buy a sim when we are here (in Canada at the moment) but my provider EE did a Global calling ( calls from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world, mobile or landline)add on that was so cost effective I haven’t bothered this time. Also 500mb ofdata for £4.10/day. I use Wi-fi everywhere and just the data in the days I need it in the car. First time in 15 years I have found a UK based solution. Check with your provider. Things have clearly become more competitive.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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EE offer a Max sim that includes all your data and call allowance in North America, might be worth seeing if they do if for PAYG as well as contracts?
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YVR has had free WiFi for years. It works fine in the baggage area.
There's also a 7-11 down in the bottom, although it's not precisely where you will emerge. You'll find it easy enough, or ask someone.
If you're catching a bus from YVR then you definitely don't need a phone for that.
There's nothing you can do other than take a leak and then wait for your stuff.
Customs is quick and easy, and the exit is about 50m max from where those buses leave. You'll be fine. They also have a little desk there I think, by the escalators, but if you have a ticket just go to the stop and talk to the bus driver.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks people.
I'm extremely familiar with YVR (and Whistler Connection) - it's just that a couple of years ago our flight was delayed by several hours, resulting in our emergence from baggage claim long after the published time of the last shuttle, meaning that I spent a considerable time fretting about having to make alternative arrangements.
In the event I needn't have worried (except that I'm one of Nature's hyper-worrier), since the shuttle waited for everyone on the flight and delivered us without problems (and I should take this opportunity to say that I've always found Whistler Connection to provide excellent service, and can strongly recommend them).
If we get out of arrivals early enough this time, I'll check with our driver to see if I've got time to get to the 7-11
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Digging up an old thread here as I'm heading to Whistler next week for a couple of weeks. My wife and I are with three and will be charged £10:per day to use data. From what I can gather, there are no paper piste maps and we'll need to use the app for piste navigation etc. Our daughter is out there working and we'll be seeing her too. Also going with friends so we will undoubtedly be using our phones a fair bit. I see amazon have T-Mobile prepaid Sims for around £30-40 which will be a lot better than say £240 between my wife and I. Any ideas of what's better - getting a sim out there or a prepaid one here? Ta
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Shame them into giving you a paper map. They exist just Vail are too cheap to let on.
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You know it makes sense.
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@boabski, do you have a phone that is dual-SIM & eSIM capable? If so, there might be telcos over there that will sell you an eSIM, which you can buy from home and activate over there. I have done exactly that for this trip with Orange and it has worked well.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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boabski wrote: |
Digging up an old thread here as I'm heading to Whistler next week for a couple of weeks. My wife and I are with three and will be charged £10:per day to use data. From what I can gather, there are no paper piste maps and we'll need to use the app for piste navigation etc. Our daughter is out there working and we'll be seeing her too. Also going with friends so we will undoubtedly be using our phones a fair bit. I see amazon have T-Mobile prepaid Sims for around £30-40 which will be a lot better than say £240 between my wife and I. Any ideas of what's better - getting a sim out there or a prepaid one here? Ta |
No, but Whistler has excellent WiFi coverage including on the mountain (lifts, infrastructure) these days, so it's not much of an issue. I don't use piste maps, but I'd be surprised if the resort app doesn't have one built in which works with or without coverage. Or just download the PDF when you're online, then look at it, sort of like paper?
eSIM: last time I looked that wasn't working for me, but I'll check Orange...
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Poster: A snowHead
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I bought a TMobile one off Amazon for Canada trip summer just past - it worked brilliantly, except for huge amounts of spam They clearly reuse numbers a lot...
Edit: i paid £24 for a 10day/5gb data sim (8 day trip). I found the price fluctuated quite a lot, so worth watching it for a few days if you're not in a rush.
My relatives over there were impressed at the amount paid vs what's available in Canada - they agreed it was the best value way of doing it, and would recommend the rest of the family do the same when coming over. I do it again - though eSim options look like they could be even better if your phone supports them.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks for all the info folks.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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This time last year, I bought an EE prepay SIM for use in the US. £10 got 12Gb for 28 days.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I bought a Lucky mobile SIM from Walmart in Canada, $30 for unlimited Canada calling and 1 GB data (I used 500MB in 14 days), they do cheaper / more expensive options
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