Contiki ekit global phonecard & sim card
Last Updated: Nov. 14, 2011
In the Contiki travel documents we send you a few weeks before you leave for your tour, you’ll receive a Contiki ekit Global Phone Card. This is for use from public phones or land lines around Europe and offers a better rate than public phones. Get more information at www.contiki.ekit.com.
Alternatively, if you have an unlocked phone you can purchase an ekit sim card to be used around Europe. You can buy both a regular sim and a micro-sim (for iPhone 4) at the Contiki Basement in London or they’re available for purchase by post before your tour. It works like a normal sim card with reasonable rates for calling & texting overseas. For example, the sims have an improved data plan that only cost $1 / MB. And you can top up online or your family can top you up back home.
One reason why it’s better than buying a local sim card (from Vodafone, O2, etc) is that you can top it up from anywhere; most local UK sims can ONLY be topped up in the UK (likewise, Italy Sims can ONLY be topped up in Italy, etc). Another reason is that the sim has free global roaming in most of Europe, which means you don’t pay extra costs to make/recieve phone calls & texts when you travel from country to country.
Additionaly, the ekit sim cards offers a cool Travel Journal feature. Each day the sim ‘pings’ you to a location and maps your progress as you travel around Europe. You can email or text updates to your journal and even upload pictures.
Add a Comment Comments (9)
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I am traveling to Europe in August, could someone please explain to me how this works and the benefits I will have by using this? Thanks
Nikki xx
posted on Apr. 18, 2011
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I am traveling to Europe in August, could someone please explain to me how this works and the benefits I will have by using this? Thanks
Nikki xx
posted on Apr. 18, 2011
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its like any other phone card. pick up a phone dial the number on the back and then you are prompted to dial the number you actually want to connect to, after entering your access/pin code. it’s cheaper than calling collect (asking the receiver of your call to take the charges) or using any foreign SIM.
Alternatively, you can buy a SIM in the UK, use it cheaply all over EU for pretty good prices. Look at UK phone providers and hit up a shop after you arrive. If you have a GSM phone with a sim card now, bring your phone and pop in the UK sim.
ClavicleKiss
posted on Oct. 29, 2010
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Hey, i’m from South Africa and travelling to Europe in June, will a get one of these phone cards in my travel doc’s? is it more expensive to just use your own phone or the phone card?
Nicki
posted on Feb. 27, 2010
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If your phone is blocked to your carrier like mine is then just buy a prepaid sim card with sufficient credit and get roaming to it. i did that when i went to Europe and Thailand for 2 weeks and i helps a great deal so you dont cop a huge phone bill when you get back. It is advisable to take your normal sim card if your on a plan (like me) and get roaming to that just to use if ever there was an emergency.
Aussieangel
posted on Feb. 13, 2010
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DO NOT EVEN BOTHER getting an e-kit
it ended up costing me a fortune and half way through the tour about half our sim cards just stopped working, text messages wouldnt send OR come through, their help centre was all in spanish, i had to buy a new phone in the states cos it wouldnt work in my phone. I think I spent about $300 all up in credit.
the only perk is the online travel journal that came with it… until the damn sim stopped working that is!
I HIGHLY recommend just buying a phone and sim in the country you visit, them maybe at least it will work!Explorer1151175
posted on Dec. 23, 2009
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I have used them from other companies but e-kit ones are all the same. There’s usually $5 bonus credit and you just recharge them over the internet. They have a number you call in each country, you enter your pin then the number you want to dial. I got about 2-3hrs calling time for about $25 US. Use on any phone
Travellin Keppers
posted on Jun. 24, 2009
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I am really lost, How to use this phone card?
Jade
posted on Jun. 18, 2009
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how do you actually use these phone cards?
soph3190
posted on Nov. 26, 2008
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