Members Riobard Posted March 1 Members Posted March 1 39 minutes ago, xpaulo said: That's really interesting, because it's getting lost that usually does me in and then I have to turn on the cellular data. I've tried lots of things... taking screen shots of google street maps ahead of time, etc... but something unexpected often defeats me. I'll try it without roaming sometime. Experiment at home. I just noticed a ‘limited data’ prompt but a coffee search offline when out shopping just now produced a yield, and the blue dot situates me correctly, though of course I have the option of cellular data in my local package. I forgot to check to see if the location dot moves block to block according to my trajectory, but I do distinctly recall it did when offline abroad this winter … most of the time when desired. xpaulo 1 Quote
xpaulo Posted March 1 Posted March 1 1 hour ago, Riobard said: if the location dot moves block to block I stayed at a airbnb on St. Denis in December. It was nice... in an old converted hotel where all the little cafes, bars and fast food joints are. Quote
Members redxs Posted October 4 Members Posted October 4 Hi guys Anyone used Jetpac or Holafly? Jetpac is a startup with fairly low priced data packages - but with cut price airport lounge access and some other perks. If you were going to buy airport lounge access you’d be saving money buying their cheapest eSIM and not even using it. I’ve ordered one for a forthcoming trip to Asia. Anyone else used or heard of them? Holafly is another startup which offer daily unlimited data packages. Seems reasonably priced and might use these for my next Brazil trip in February. Anyone else used or heard of them? cheers Quote
Canadianbtmguy Posted December 8 Posted December 8 If you want a physical SIM card without any hassle (other than having to go downtown) there’s a guy loitering outside the Claro store at 47 treze de mayo (at least I saw him there 3 days in a row) selling good to go SIM cards (I’m guessing they are maybe in his name?) I was in the Claro store and although I had an active Claro account, I had lost the chip and apparently they could neither make me a new chip with the same number or even transfer my old account into a new account. They said I could go to some other Claro store or, they motioned me over to the door, just buy one from him. 3-4 minutes installed, he showed me it still had all the data. 80 reais for 15 GB, undoubtedly marked up as much as 50% but it was a lovely time saver on a hot day. Quote
Members Xclay Posted December 9 Members Posted December 9 I've been pleased with Airalo, one of the first and one of the largest eSIM providers. The current options for Brazil are limited to 30 days. I usually stay longer and get Airalo's global option (136 countries, 20 GB) for one year, coincidentally priced at $69. Quote
Members Xclay Posted December 9 Members Posted December 9 On 3/1/2024 at 1:51 PM, xpaulo said: ...getting lost that usually does me in and then I have to turn on the cellular data. ... No need for screenshots. Using Wi-Fi, download maps.me and then download the maps for Brazil. Then when you are out and about, maps.me uses your phone's GPS signal and will navigate you smoothly -- without you needing to turn on mobile data. Quote
Members buttercawan Posted December 9 Members Posted December 9 7 minutes ago, Xclay said: No need for screenshots. Using Wi-Fi, download maps.me and then download the maps for Brazil. Then when you are out and about, maps.me uses your phone's GPS signal and will navigate you smoothly -- without you needing to turn on mobile data. ... or just download google maps offline. https://blog.google/products/maps/google-maps-offline/ Xclay and floridarob 2 Quote
Members Xclay Posted December 9 Members Posted December 9 True, Buttercawan, but I'm reading that with Google Maps Offline: "Transit, bicycling, or walking directions are unavailable offline." https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291838?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid floridarob 1 Quote
Members travguy Posted December 10 Author Members Posted December 10 My old iphone does not have eSIM. The airolo or similar eSIM vendors seem very easy and cost effective to use per various web postings. SIM card purchase and activation was very easy this trip. At a typical kiosk in Leblon I bought a TIM SIM card after the first kiosk did not sell SIM cards. Call in regarding TIM SIM card for old iphone was easy and took about 5-10 minutes. Using SIM card tray removal tool or small paperclip, changed out the old SIM to the newly bought 5G 11GB 28R$ TIM SIM card - which did NOT come with a SIM card tray removal tool. Then on the same phone dialed *144, you hear some recording, then I dialed 3, then another recording, then I dialed 3 again, then I pressed *. Then some stuff in PT then guy from TIM comes on quickly. I believe these TIM representatives can speak PT, ESP, and English. Not sure about FR, DE, IT, etc. I reached him in less than 2 minutes from start of my call to TIM. He wanted my passport number, date of birth, start date of passport validity NOT expiration date, confirmed that I was calling in from Rio (no address asked for), and my name with check of spelling. Asked to hold for a bit. He said no more questions but was waiting for his computer. It was finished. Before we said goodbye I started to receive text messages from TIM. He did not confirm my new Brazilian number for Rio. He could not confirm the actual GB of data or length of my plan (20 days). I could start texting only a couple of minutes after the call. Was very quick on a late Saturday afternoon. Please note that I used the same pp information when getting a TIM SIM card for another phone on the prior trip. This never came up in the new SIM card activation process. I do not remember if he gave me that prior phone number back or not. A start contrast from the nightmare of going to the centro Claro office in Rio about 2 years ago. TheBossBabyback 1 Quote
TheBossBabyback Posted Wednesday at 09:08 PM Posted Wednesday at 09:08 PM On 12/9/2024 at 6:48 AM, Xclay said: I've been pleased with Airalo, one of the first and one of the largest eSIM providers. The current options for Brazil are limited to 30 days. I usually stay longer and get Airalo's global option (136 countries, 20 GB) for one year, coincidentally priced at $69. I’ve used them in Europe. Was so so easy to install on my phone and use. They cover Brazil, so I don’t even see the point of the hassle of trying to navigate a physical sim for short trips. Folks, eSIM is the way the way to go. Physical SIMs are so 2010s coded. Now, I understand the concern of your personal number being exposed via WhatsApp chats, so in that case, a burner number/phone makes some sense. Xclay 1 Quote
Members young11 Posted yesterday at 03:13 AM Members Posted yesterday at 03:13 AM I use Roamless. Currently there is a free credit (1.5usd?) for signing up, plus if you use my referral you get additional $3 when you charge first. Then wherever you go, the sim connects to a network and shows you how much data you have. They also have 100% bonus regularly so it makes sense if you travel once in a while. Currently there is $10 for $10, so basically you pay 10 and get 20 credit to be used. The rate is not cheap but these promotions make it a good price overall https://roamless.onelink.me/OOq0/bc3oo1go 1. Use my code: KEN5Q3YV 2. Add funds to your wallet You get $3 bonus; I get $3 bonus. Good deal Quote
