As Germany prepares to host Euro 2024, 800,000 England fans are gearing up to head overseas to support the Three Lions. Among the essential costs these fans are budgeting for — new team shirts, hotel accommodation and, naturally, several steins of beer — there is one potential expense that travellers will want to avoid — EU roaming charges. Here, mobile operator spusu offers valuable advice on how to enjoy Europe’s biggest football event without incurring unexpected mobile phone costs.
Roaming charges can sneak up on even the most seasoned travellers. These fees are incurred when you use your mobile phone abroad, and they can quickly add up if you’re not careful. Common activities like making calls, sending texts, using data to check scores and navigate unfamiliar cities can build up to substantial costs. This is particularly significant for British fans traveling to Germany now, given the changes in roaming agreements post-Brexit and the fact that Brits no longer enjoy the benefits of free EU roaming as standard.
Pre-travel preparation
Before you leave for Germany, there are several things you can do to reduce your roaming needs. Downloading offline maps of the cities you’ll be visiting can be a lifesaver when navigating unfamiliar areas. Apps like Google Maps allow you to download maps that you can use without an internet connection.
Another thing to consider is your tickets. UEFA has confirmed that all match tickets will be digital and that fans will need to download them to the UEFA Mobile Ticket App. Additionally, there is a Euro 2024 app, which provides all information on venues, matches and support that you may need while you’re away.
When you arrive in Germany, some people may consider disabling data roaming to prevent apps from using data in the background. Another solution is to make use of free Wi-Fi available at hotels, cafes and in public spaces to stay connected without using mobile data.
A failsafe solution
While going without data or making use of free Wi-Fi are possible workarounds, they aren’t the most practical. Especially when attending a sporting event like the Euros where you’ll need to get across the city, or even travel between cities, to watch different games. So, for most England fans, roaming in some capacity will be essential.
Ofcom has confirmed that from October 2024, mobile providers must inform customers when they start roaming and provide them with any information on fair use limits or time limits that apply, whether a spend cap limit can be set up and where to find additional information about roaming. While this will provide better long-term protection for consumers against unexpected charges, it doesn’t help England fans this summer.
One of the surest ways to keep costs down is by opting for a provider that doesn’t charge for EU roaming. All of spusu’s plans come with at least ten gigabytes of free EU roaming across 37 countries in the EU — including Germany.
In addition, spusu offers a specific travel plan made for consumers to enjoy all of their data allowance abroad — spusu Travel. It offers 25GB of data, 500 minutes and 500 SMS for just £12.90, dropping to £9.90 after three months, making it one of the most competitive travel-specific mobile plans on the market. The entire data allowance, all minutes and SMS included in the plan are free to use within the EU at no additional cost, meaning that unexpected roaming charges aren’t a possibility.
While it’s not guaranteed that Southgate will bring it home just yet, England fans can ensure they’re not sidelined by roaming charges by selecting the right phone contract. Opting for a plan that tackles roaming means England fans can remain connected at no additional cost, ensuring they can support the Three Lions without any extra penalties.