In Canada, what's the best prepaid?

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

So what prepaid should I get for a 4 day stay in Vancouver?

While voice/text would be... nice to have, I think it's even more important to have data because I need to get from point A to B.

I'll be in Vancouver and Victoria.

 

[JAG87]

If you're gonna use maps you'll need lots of data. Maps chews data.

Go with Telus (best coverage in BC)
https://mobility.telus.com/en/BC/prepaid/add-ons.shtml

I'd get:
Pay per day Talk + Messaging 40
Data 25

For 4 days should cost you around $33 + $10 for a sim. Outgoing will cost you 20c/min if not a night/weekend, so try to avoid making calls outside those times. Just send people your number and have them call you, or just use VOIP.

That's about as cheap as it gets, data is super expensive in Canada. If on other hand you won't use maps very much, you can probably get away with a pre-paid rate plan. Data + Messaging 20 would probably work for $20 + sim, $30 all in. But you only get 100MB and no free voice calls... always 20c/min ... up to you if that's enough or not.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

ok.... ill probably be by the crystal mall today a little later to check these options out. seems like they have multiple carrier reseller places (like chinese shops?).... hopefully that will work?

 

[ChronoReverse]

Maps doesn't use that much data. 100MB should easily suffice for a month especially since it caches (and you can precache on Wifi).

If you're in the cities area, Rogers actually has stronger coverage (basically Telus has wider coverage if you're out and about while Rogers has stronger coverage where it exists).


Still, I think JAG87's suggestion is good. You might also want to try our "MVNO's". Koodo is the subsidiary of Telus: http://koodomobile.com/en/on/plansandboosters.shtml


But yeah, stuff up here is ridiculously expensive. If you think you're getting robbed down in the States, wait until you see what the Cartel does up here.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Maps doesn't use that much data. 100MB should easily suffice for a month especially since it caches (and you can precache on Wifi).

If you're in the cities area, Rogers actually has stronger coverage (basically Telus has wider coverage if you're out and about while Rogers has stronger coverage where it exists).


Still, I think JAG87's suggestion is good. You might also want to try our "MVNO's". Koodo is the subsidiary of Telus: http://koodomobile.com/en/on/plansandboosters.shtml


But yeah, stuff up here is ridiculously expensive. If you think you're getting robbed down in the States, wait until you see what the Cartel does up here.

hard to find koodoo? I like that Telus does have the day to day plans, but I don't see it for Rogers?

 

[zerogear]

Can't you predownload maps now? (At least with Android)

 

[JAG87]

Maps doesn't use that much data. 100MB should easily suffice for a month especially since it caches (and you can precache on Wifi).

No sir, maps CHEWS data, at least in iOS, not sure about Androd. I can easily use 100MB in one day if I use maps to tour a city for the whole day.

Also Rogers is more expensive, they do not have a decent pre-paid data add-on like Telus, the most you can get is 200MB in their $40 pre-paid plan. And they rip you off for a SIM card, some stores charge $20 for them for non-existing customers.

Not to diss Rogers, I am with them, but for pre-paid go with Telus or Bell.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

No sir, maps CHEWS data, at least in iOS, not sure about Androd. I can easily use 100MB in one day if I use maps to tour a city for the whole day.

Also Rogers is more expensive, they do not have a decent pre-paid data add-on like Telus, the most you can get is 200MB in their $40 pre-paid plan. And they rip you off for a SIM card, some stores charge $20 for them for non-existing customers.

Not to diss Rogers, I am with them, but for pre-paid go with Telus or Bell.

Just pre download the map on Android. Easy.

 

[JAG87]

Just pre download the map on Android. Easy.

Like I said, not sure about Android. Glad there's an option to do that.

 

[jacktesterson]

Prepaid is expensive in Canada - But I agree - Telus is probably the best Data wise.

It's even full blown LTE - You can buy 100MB, 500MB or 1GB

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Just pre download the map on Android. Easy.

Unfortunately it doesn't work well for navigating. Might as well carry a paper map. I used Google nav yesterday and it was OK until my coworker missed a turn. Recalculating with no data means your turn by turn is now dead. Too bad there's no way to save your Google maps (the ones you can make on their site and add pins) to your phone. It contains all my planned stops and attractions.

Anyway its $35 for me because Telus only had $25 and $10 prepaid voucher cards. Broken system I guess

It was $6 USD for 1gb if data IIRC in Taiwan. $20 for unlimited data for 10 days and $11 for unlimited data for 7 days in hong Kong with 100+ voice minutes.

I guess prepaid means something else in US/Canada