We are an iPhone family, but I think this info would apply to any smartphone user.

We tried to use phone and internet on the cheap in Spain.  Our plan was to use Laura’s unlocked iPhone 5S for local phone calls and data, and share its data plan using the iPhone tethering / “personal hotspot” feature.  We ended up getting that all working but not without missteps.

While Laura was trying to get us tickets on an earlier Ave train from Madrid to Malaga, I ventured forth in Madrid’s Atocha station to slay the SIM dragon.  (I was using the opportunity to practice my Spanish without Laura’s help, too.)

There was a mini mobile store in the train station.  They had semi-reasonable plans, — much better than those available at the airport.  I paid 35 euros for a 5GB data plan on Lebara.  I thought this also included 100 minutes, but that was apparently wrong.  This was data-only SIM.  It worked in Laura’s phone after a few restarts.  Unfortunately, Lebara doesn’t allow tethering / “personal hotspot”!  I assumed it would.  Mistake #1.

We lived with this setup until visiting Almunecar.  There, we bought a Orange SIM with a few hours of calls and 2GB data for 20 euros.  That worked for several days and allowed me to tether my iPhone and laptop to her phone for data access.  Fantastico!

However, a few days later, Internet access just stopped working on Laura’s phone.  There was no error, no warning.  She could put the Lebara SIM back in for data-only but no phone, but the Orange SIM only worked for phone calls.  Yikes!  In Pamplona, the first Orange tech said we only has 12 euros left on the plan and that we needed to have at least 15 euros on the plan for it to work.  This sounded fishey and she thankfully passed us along to another tech.  He showed us that there was a Lebara “profile” in use on Laura’s phone.   Once he deleted that, Orange data worked again.  Yippee!

Notes:

• Make sure your phone is unlocked by your US carrier.  If it isn’t, you can’t use a SIM from another company at all for any reason.
• If you need tethering, confirm it will work before buying the SIM
• Don’t buy an expensive plan at the airport.  Buy in town, at the train station, etc.