Best roaming options in Canada

[bejamartins]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to figure out what is the best roaming options for staying in Vancouver so I'm looking for recommendations.

 

What are the best carriers? My main concern would be network data, as I'll be using Google Maps at least a lot, and messenger apps to talk to people back at home.

[Deltawing457]

Does your phone provider not offer international packages? I use AT&T and they offer a cheap add on for it

[bejamartins]

1 hour ago, Deltawing457 said:

Does your phone provider not offer international packages? I use AT&T and they offer a cheap add on for it

Nope, only roaming taxes: €2,45 / min for calls sent, €1,05 for calls received and €0,7 for each data session.

[Deltawing457]

https://www.whistleout.ca/CellPhones/Guides/Best-coverage-In-Vancouver

 

Might have to grab a prepaid from one of these

[dizmo]

I've generally found Koodo to be the best Prepaid option. $55 will get you the SIM card, and 1GB of data.

You can download Here Maps if you don't want to use data, though that won't help your other uses.

You'd want to double check your phone for carrier support.

[Justin_]

Just a note. The first time (and for that matter the only other time) I went to Canada I was unable to get my phone to work with roaming so once I got to Canada I got some directions to a local mall and purchaced a plan from a local provider. It seemed like you needed to have a local Canadian address (may be completely wrong) and as I didn't have one and I was just some dumb American he just used the address of the phone kiosk in the mall. I would assume that it would be hard to find somewhere else that would do that.

 

I would like to again say that this was just my rather uninformed experience and it may not be the same in all cases or correct at all. Im assuming you are flying in and most international airports have vending machines that sell local phone cards, you might look at that.

[bejamartins]

59 minutes ago, Justin_ said:

Just a note. The first time (and for that matter the only other time) I went to Canada I was unable to get my phone to work with roaming so once I got to Canada I got some directions to a local mall and purchaced a plan from a local provider. It seemed like you needed to have a local Canadian address (may be completely wrong) and as I didn't have one and I was just some dumb American he just used the address of the phone kiosk in the mall. I would assume that it would be hard to find somewhere else that would do that.

 

I would like to again say that this was just my rather uninformed experience and it may not be the same in all cases or correct at all. Im assuming you are flying in and most international airports have vending machines that sell local phone cards, you might look at that.

Isn't there a carrier booth at the airport prepared to provide contracts to foreigners?

[Justin_]

4 hours ago, bejamartins said:

Isn't there a carrier booth at the airport prepared to provide contracts to foreigners?

I would assume so but I don't know. When I was trying to get a phone number I had taken a ferry into downtown Victoria.