Cheap phone calls on vacation

At the beginning of June, EU ministers agreed on a new limit for mobile phone calls within the European Union: Network operators will be allowed to charge a maximum of 49 cents per minute in the future. This price is net, that is, including German VAT at the rate of 19 percent are due up to 58.31 cents per minute. If you are called abroad, you still have to take over a part of the fees - in the future, however, only up to a maximum of 24 cents net per minute (28.56 cents including VAT). Currently tariffs of more than one euro per minute are common; However, some providers have lowered their fees even before the new regulation came into force.

The regulation will enter into force on 30 June, giving network operators one month to change their tariffs. In the next two years, the fees will be lowered gradually. The targeted upper limit for calls: 43 cents for outgoing or 19 cents for answered calls.

Of course these tariffs apply only within the EU; those flying to Seychelles or Australia will not benefit. Luckily, there are tricks you can use to save on fees, whether in Denmark or the Dominican Republic:

Continue to the tips

Important settings

To be able to make calls abroad with your mobile phone, it must be set to "International roaming". Have a look at the list of roaming partners of your network operator before you leave. So you can do that cheapest provider find out. Once you have arrived abroad, you only have to leave your mobile phone manually in this network dial. Attention: Do not forget, when you are back from vacation, to undo the setting.

Cost Eater mailbox

Before you go on vacation you should definitely your Change mailboxIf you are called and can not be reached, you will be charged for both the diversion charges for calling abroad and the cost of redirecting to the mailbox for each call. Tip: set up one absolute call diversion on! For this you should look in the manual of your mobile phone, as the usual "conditional" call forwarding calls first abroad and then back to the mailbox, which in turn causes additional costs.

However, if you want to be always available, you should disable the diversion to your mobile mailbox completely. So there is no cost if you do not answer a call.

By the way: too Call your own mailbox is counted as international call. To listen to the mailbox, you need your PIN. If you forget them, you should get a new one before you travel.

Manually select network

Mobile networks do not stop at national borders. Who is traveling near the border to Germany, should turn off the automatic network selection and manually dial into the network of their own mobile service provider. That sends in the neighboring countries also still some kilometers behind the turnpike. Conversely, this can also apply; who calls on Sylt, lands with a bit of bad luck in the Danish mobile network.

Use partner networks For most mobile operators, the roaming conditions are pretty clear. Common are uniform tariff models for entire groups of countries. So customers do not have to adjust to other minute rates every time they cross the border. Many providers cooperate with foreign partner networks, where tariffs are comparatively low. In this case it is worthwhile to switch off the automatic network selection in the mobile phone and to determine the partner network by manual presetting. Details can be found on the website of their provider or at the service hotline. Customer service can also check if the mobile phone card is enabled for incoming and outgoing calls abroad. There may be restrictions on prepaid cards from discounters.

Calling Card

Calling cards are especially worthwhile for calls from mobile phones to landlines. They work for any telephone that can be set to tone dialing, whether private, mobile or payphone. You can get the calling cards conveniently at the kiosk, in train station shops or on the Internet. An overview of the Internet providers are available for example at Tariftip.de. And this is how they work: First you dial a free dial-up number, enter the number on the card and then dial the desired number. The plastic card serves as a reminder for dial-in and card numbers.

Tip: Make sure your calling card has a Map of foreign network is, then you save the roaming surcharge. Caution: Pay attention to the fine print when buying! Some providers add surcharges such as dial-up fees.A reputable calling card provider will tell you if the card in a particular country pays off for you.

Prepaid Card: Only worthwhile for frequent callers

With a prepaid prepaid card (best on-site) you can avoid the roaming costs. In addition, incoming calls are free for you. However, the cards cost between 49 and 99 euros. It is only worth it, if you really make a lot of calls from abroad. Attention: prepaid cards only work if you have one cellphone with contract have. Prepaid card phones have a built-in SIM lock lock. You will find information on the economical use of a prepaid card mobile phone on the websites of the providers.

For greetings usually most favorable: SMS

You can send holiday greetings from mobile phones via SMS. Alerts are almost always much cheaper than any short phone call. If you have a prepaid card, you must first check whether and in which country you can send messages.

Prevention of cell phone theft

It can be expensive if your mobile phone is stolen on holiday. Make a note of the most important numbers and store them separately from the mobile phone: the emergency number of the respective provider, your own mobile number, the password or PIN, the serial number of the device (imei number) and the number of the SIM card. These data are required immediately by the provider and the police.

The imei number is therefore important so the thief can not use the device with another card. To read them on the display, the key code star - diamond - zero - two - diamond must be entered. The number always consists of 15 digits. Otherwise, the number behind the battery of the device is readable. Tip: Many devices can be set so that they only work with the inserted SIM card. The owner almost missed the device SIM Lock, So secure, the phone is worthless to the thief.

More tips

Do not forget, you charger take. Also one Universal Adapter should you have in your luggage.

in the Mobile phone address book Phone numbers are best stored in international format. The "+" replaces the usual landline 00 for international calls. It can be entered on all mobile phones by pressing and holding '0'. Then follows the country code. German connections start with, for example, +49. Then the area code without 0 and the phone number are entered. This makes it easy to dial the numbers from abroad. By the way: The emergency call 112 works with all mobile phones within the EU and in Switzerland.