Back in the day, pre-BREXIT, you could jump on a plane, travel to Spain (or anywhere else in Europe), and not have to give a second thought to using your phone. 

Your data, your calls, text messaging – literally everything – worked the same as it did back home, albeit on a new, strange sounding mobile network.

This is called roaming. And the best part of it was that it didn’t cost you ANY money.

Then BREXIT happened and it all went to, well… you know.

Free roaming went the way of free trade with the EU’s single market and people started getting insanely large phone bills upon their return from holiday. 

Just recently, a good friend of mine got a bill through for £800. Their crime? Using their phone as usual on a two week holiday in Portugal.

Go Roam: It’s Three’s New Way To Roam With Your Phone 

There are now solutions in place for those of us that live on Prison Island. Each network has its own roaming solution – none of which are free, I might add. 

Sucks, right? Yep, but them’s the breaks.

If you’re with Three, you’ll be using its Go Roam feature which is detailed in full below, including costs and recommended options for when you travel in the EU or farther afield. 

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Setting Up Go Roam

If you’ve never used Go Roam before, here’s a quick breakdown on how to get it set up for the first time. 

The good news is that… there’s NOTHING to set up. 

Go Roam is automatically enabled on all Three plans. Just make sure you’ve got roaming switched on in your phone settings before you jet off and you’re good to go as soon as you land.

Costs and Coverage

Now, because the way the world works. It’s disorganised and phone networks in different regions, for some reason, cannot all get on the same page, there’s different costs associated with Go Roam, depending on where you’re travelling to. 

Basically, Three splits the world up into two categories: Europe and the rest of the world, and each has its own pricing and cost structure when it comes to roaming and how it is charged.

Here’s how it breaks down…

What are these “outside Europe” destinations? Here’s the full list (as of 2024):

1. Australia
2. Brazil
3. Chile
4. Colombia
5. Costa Rica
6. El Salvador
7. Guatemala
8. Hong Kong
9. Indonesia
10. Israel
11. Macau
12. New Zealand
13. Nicaragua
14. Panama
15. Peru
16. Puerto Rico
17. Singapore
18. Sri Lanka
19. Uruguay
20. US Virgin Islands
21. USA
22. Vietnam

Here’s How Much A Typical Holiday Costs With Three’s Go Roam

Holidays are expensive. But let’s say you have one planned and you’re looking to estimate how much it’ll cost you to use your phone on Go Roam while you’re away. 

The goal here is simple: NOT to come home and get a £400 phone bill for calls and data. 

With Go Roam’s basic cost nailed down (this is based on 2024 prices), here’s a breakdown of how much it would cost you for a 10-day trip outside the EU and a 14 day holiday in Europe, respectively.

• Two-week trip to Spain (Go Roam in Europe):
  • 14 days x £2 per day = £28
• 10-day adventure in the USA (Go Roam Around the World):
  • 10 days x £5 per day = £50

Remember, you’re only charged for the days you use your phone, so if you decide to have a digital detox day, you won’t pay for that day!

Also, when possible just use WiFi – you won’t be charged for this. I’d avoid public, free WiFi networks, though. They’re hotbeds for hackers and scammers. 

If you do plan on using public WiFi whilst traveling, for the love of god please do it with a VPN activated on your phone – it’ll save you a lot of potential headaches. 

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Go Roam

Before you travel, make sure to download maps, music, movies, or any other entertainment you’ll need.

Doing this ahead of time will save you from using up your mobile data when you’re on the go. It’s especially helpful in areas where internet access might be slow or unavailable.

Whenever possible, connect to WiFi for data-heavy tasks like streaming videos, downloading large files, or updating apps.

Public WiFi in cafes, hotels, or airports can help you save on your data allowance, especially in countries where data can be expensive. Just make sure you use a VPN to keep your connection secure – this is super important, especially when abroad.

To stay on top of how much data you’re using, regularly check your usage through the Three app. This will help you avoid any surprises or extra charges, especially if you’re in another country.

Lastly, remember that tethering (using your phone as a hotspot) isn’t included in Go Roam Around the World destinations.

If you’re planning to share your data with other devices, make sure to check the terms of your plan to avoid unexpected fees.

What’s Not Included In Go Roam?

Go Roam is designed to make using your phone overseas as simple as possible. And in nearly every way, it is – stuff works just as it does back home. 

But there are caveats, things you NEED to be aware of that aren’t supported inside Three’s Go Roam. 

Here’s a breakdown of things that ARE NOT supported on Go Roam (and you will be charged for doing them): 

• Calls to international numbers (other than the UK)
• Premium rate numbers and texts
• Video calls

Using Your Phone In Countries That ARE NOT Supported By Go Roam

Go Roam supports pretty much all of Europe and 22 destinations outside of it. But what if you’re traveling to a country that isn’t covered? 

Three has a solution for this too; it’s called a Data Passport. Here’s how it works: 

• Daily Pass: Data Passport works on a daily basis. You pay a fixed fee for 24 hours of use.
• Unlimited Data: For that daily fee, you get unlimited data to use in the country you’re visiting.
• Activation: You don’t need to pre-book. Data Passport activates automatically when you start using data in an eligible country.
• Cost: As of my last update, the Data Passport costs £5 per day. This is the same price as Go Roam Around the World, but with unlimited data instead of a 12GB cap.
• Usage Period: The 24-hour period starts from when you first connect to a local network and start using data.

Where Can You Use Data Passport?

Data Passport is available in many countries where Go Roam isn’t. This includes popular destinations like:

• Canada
• Mexico
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Russia

The full list of countries is quite extensive and can change, so it’s always best to check Three’s website for the most up-to-date information before you travel.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Data Only: Data Passport only covers data usage. Calls and texts are charged at Three’s standard roaming rates for that country.
• No Tethering: As with Go Roam Around the World, tethering (using your phone as a mobile hotspot) isn’t included.
• Fair Usage Policy: While it’s advertised as “unlimited”, Three reserves the right to restrict your data speeds if your usage is excessive.
• Automatic Renewal: The pass will automatically renew each day you use data, so remember to turn off data roaming if you don’t want to use it on a particular day.
• Time Zones: Be aware of how time zones might affect your 24-hour period, especially if you’re traveling between countries.

Is Three’s Data Passport Right for You?

Data Passport can be a great option if:

• You’re traveling to a country not covered by Go Roam
• You expect to use a lot of data (more than 12GB in a day)
• You value the simplicity of a fixed daily rate

However, if you’re a light data user or are staying for an extended period, it might be more cost-effective to look into local SIM options.

Final Tips

Check if your destination is covered by Go Roam first – it might be cheaper.

If you’re visiting multiple countries, verify that Data Passport is available in all of them.

Keep an eye on your usage in the Three app to avoid any surprises. Like if you’re doing things that aren’t supported (tethering, for instance). You’ll be able to quickly spot any excess charges and pivot accordingly.

Remember, while Data Passport offers a convenient solution for data usage abroad, it’s always worth comparing it with local options, especially for longer trips and this is now easier to setup than ever with eSIM.