Mobile Roaming Use your phone abroad for free

Taking your mobile abroad can turn it into a cash assassin in some places, costing £2/min just to receive a call. Of course, the easiest solution is not to take your phone with you.

This is a full guide to getting the cheapest mobile roaming (the term for overseas use) rates to sometimes cut the cost of £100 calls to a fiver, either by accessing your network's hidden deals or using specialist international Sim cards.

Basic tips for using your mobile abroad

Use your mobile abroad and you are using "mobile roaming". This is when you connect to an overseas network and calls are routed via that network provider instead of your home network, at a vastly increased cost.

It doesn't just happen abroad though, you could be on the White Cliffs of Dover and connect to an overseas network without realising. If you don't act on anything else, read these five must-knows:

Alternatives to calling on mobiles

Calling from your mobile while in the EU can cost up to £5 for a 10-minute call, or £25 for a 10-minute call outside the EU. So it's imperative you use a cheaper way to call when possible.

Consider some of the tips below to avoid these hefty charges. And be very careful to avoid making calls from a hotel phone - these usually cost a fortune.

Cut the cost of using your mobile abroad

If you're only likely to make a few calls, or are sticking within the EU, the easiest way is to sign up for a special discounted call package from your network.

This isn't necessarily the cheapest way though (see switch Sim for the biggest savings).

Many of the network providers offer special packages which reduce the cost of roaming abroad. Some of these are free, others require a monthly fee. Here's a round up of the best for those travelling in Europe and those travelling further afield.

Network bundles within the EU

New EU regulations mean the maximum providers can charge has slowly been falling. Calls made to an EU country while in another EU state are now capped at about 31p/min (excl VAT). Receiving calls can cost no more than roughly 12p/min.

Network bundles for outside the EU

While roaming prices within the EU have tumbled, the rest of the world is still pricey. Remember, even in European countries outside the EU - like Croatia, Switzerland and Turkey - aren't covered by the law.

However, you can cut the price of roaming using your usual network by adding a subscription package:

Switch your Sim to slash call costs

You can get much cheaper calls and receive them for free by switching Sim card. Though as you need to pay, it's only suitable for those who make sufficient calls. Check your provider's own options first.

Which type of Sim to buy?

There are two main options:

1. Buy a local Sim card (the cheaper route)

   This is a specific Sim card for the country you are going to, which gives you a new number while in use. Generally, this works out cheaper, however, if you travel regularly it means picking one for each journey and giving out a new number each time (see Cheap Local Sims).

   In some places, especially the US, it may make more sense to grab a super-basic PAYG handset which comes pre-loaded with minutes. Some of these handsets are very cheap and there's no added cost to unlock them.

2. Get an international roaming Sim card (the easier route)

   Here you use a special multi-country Sim card. While not as cheap as a local card, you only need to buy it once, and keep the same number wherever you are, making it more convenient (see Cheap International Sims).

Cheapest local Sims

You can usually buy Sims for less once you're away. But for ease, you can get a local Sim in advance for between £15-£30 (and most come with preloaded call credit).

This means you know the number and have it all set up before you go. Ensure you pick the right network though, as prices vary. There's a useful list of overseas networks on Prepaidgsm.

Further ways to cut costs

Rebtel allows you to make roaming calls for the price of a local call. It does this by routing calls from mobiles through local landlines. This is useful for those with local Sims, as calling abroad can still be costly, but local calls can be dirt cheap. Full info in the Free International Calls guide.

Cheapest global Sims

A global Sim offers allows you to have the same number every time you go away. To keep the cost of making calls lower, international Sims use call-back systems.

Global Sims usually cost around £15 - £40 to buy. All have similar call costs but varying credit, so it's worth checking the costs for countries you visit regularly. Some top picks include:

Other international Sim providers. 0044Global Sim* and Simply-fone are also worth checking if you regularly go to one country but cannot get a local Sim.

Ensure people call you cheaply

When people call you, if you're using a local Sim, they're effectively calling that country. With a global Sim, regardless of where you are, they're calling the country the Sim's based in. For instance, Sim4Travel is Liechtenstein, Story Telecom is the Isle of Man and Oneroam is Estonia.

Done correctly, these calls should only cost pennies, providing your friends/family call via one of the instant access cheap dial providers (see the International CallChecker for the daily-updated cheapest way to call any country).