Is Giffgaff a good UK sim card for a short visit for internet use

[kwak250]

Any recommendations for a unlimited data sim card to use as a hotspot in the UK for around 2 weeks
Looking at Giffgaff  35gbp for 1 month unlimited
Will this work as a hotspot?

[CharlieH]

Yes it will. Giffgaff is reliable and easy to use.

 

[scubascuba3]

I would use giffgaff, that's the sim I use here for OTPs, so keep the number, might be useful 

[kwak250]

Great might get one sent here to save messing about at the airport

[scubascuba3]

5 minutes ago, kwak250 said:

Great might get one sent here to save messing about at the airport

Good idea, usually takes a week, order early as they don't always arrive

[Stocky]

Yes, I keep a couple of pay as you go Giffgaff SIMS alive, you only need to send an SMS every 6 months. When in the UK I just buy a data plan last trip I got 80Gb for £20, which I could hotspot.

[youreavinalaff]

It depends where you are staying. I used Giffgaff in the south east of England and it was very good. I moved to the south west and it was rubbish. I switched to Lebara.

[JakeC]

Get a GG SIM for OTP abroad. You should get a free £5 top up if you order the SIM via the appropriate link. So the bundle should cost £30.

GG is on the O2 network. 

 

If you want something cheaper, there is '3'; 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405817149183 £5

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405726725705 £10

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405726758155 £15

 

These include unlimited calls and SMS.

 

https://www.scancom.co.uk/collections/three-preloaded 1000GB from £15.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Unlimited-Data-SIM-Business-grade/dp/B0D8LJ16DD Unlimited data for £20.

 

The latter are purely data SIM, they don't support calls nor Roaming. You can order as an eSIM, if you have an iPhone or other compatible phone. You don't even need a physical SIM in that case.

 

and 'EE', who probably have the best coverage; 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405726525492

 

 

 

[kwak250]

Never uses an esim before

Just noticed my samsung s21 phone can add an esim which would be much easier than getting one sent

Can this be used as a hotspot the same as a regular sim?

[hotandsticky]

I also use GG in the UK.

 

 

Although I have just received an e-sim email from MYTELLO (who I use for all international calls)

[kwak250]

He 

6 minutes ago, kwak250 said:

Never uses an esim before

Just noticed my samsung s21 phone can add an esim which would be much easier than getting one sent

Can this be used as a hotspot the same as a regular sim?

Great thanks again

And I can easily change back to Ais once I am back in Thailand?

[Andrew Dwyer]

Have used GG for years, very flexible, one time I lost my sim ( changing it on the plane i think ? ) but luckily had a spare and managed to transfer my number over to the new sim via the app !, retaining my credit as well as my number !

[kwak250]

Fantastic

Just trying to find where I can buy a 15 day sim

I see them on shopee also which might be easier

[Upnotover]

27 minutes ago, kwak250 said:

Never uses an esim before

Just noticed my samsung s21 phone can add an esim which would be much easier than getting one sent

Can this be used as a hotspot the same as a regular sim?

I have a giffgaff e-sim which is connected all the time in Thailand.  I only use it to receive OTP's,etc. from the UK and when I have to go there, hopefully never.  You can keep multiple e-sims on your phone and switch them on and off as needed, i do this when travelling.  And yes you can use as a hotspot.  My physical True SIM just stays in the phone and data is turned off when travelling.

[kwak250]

43 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

I have a giffgaff e-sim which is connected all the time in Thailand.  I only use it to receive OTP's,etc. from the UK and when I have to go there, hopefully never.  You can keep multiple e-sims on your phone and switch them on and off as needed, i do this when travelling.  And yes you can use as a hotspot.  My physical True SIM just stays in the phone and data is turned off when travelling.

Excellent thanks just looking for a Esim now

Much easier than getting a sim shipped

[GroveHillWanderer]

I used to use Giffgaff - it worked fine for OTP's in Thailand but I found the network coverage rather patchy when in the UK. 

 

So I Just switched to Smarty which (according to a comparative website I looked at) has better network coverage. It also had a slightly cheaper data package for their minimum amount (I don't use a lot of data when I'm in the UK). Didn't check their bigger, or unlimited data packages as that's not what I require.

 

According to their website, a Smarty SIM works abroad just like a Giffgaff one:

 

"Travelling outside the EU

Pay as you go. Get what you don’t use back.

Buy “Out of plan” add-ons, then pay as you go.

You only pay for what you use, and not a penny more."

 

https://smarty.co.uk/roaming

 

I hope it works in Thailand as well as Giffgaff did - I'll be highly miffed if it doesn't.