Page 208 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

206  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Communications and Media Internet
Smartphones and tablets have
The UK has excellent communication systems. The landline revolutionized Internet access
network is efficient and modestly priced, although very cheap for travellers and exchanges of
international calls can be made by using override providers, emails and SMS messages are
firms that give you an access number that you dial first. Keep in now sent as standard. Most social
media apps now enable free
mind that hotels often charge more than the standard rate for messages and calls anywhere in
all phone calls. For mobile devices with no pre-arranged plan, a the world. Most locally available
UK SIM is often the answer. Visitors will find competitive SIM- SIMs include a data allowance,
only deals (including data-only for tablets) in most high-street and free Wi-Fi is available in all
phone shops. Alternatively, you can avoid expensive data kinds of different places, such as
hotels, stores, restaurants, coffee
roaming by using social media apps via the free Wi-Fi offered shops, stations and airports. Free
in many establishments. By arrangement, mail can be sent to Internet access is usually available
you poste restante for collection from many UK post offices. in libraries, though you may
have to book a time slot.
Internet cafés usually charge
Public Telephones This will allow you to use a local by the minute and printing
With the increase in mobile mobile-phone network, as long always costs extra. Most offer
phone ownership, there has as your handset is suitable and a VoiP (Voice over Internet
been a decrease in the number not locked to another network. Protocol) facility to those with
of public telephones. You can Available from post offices their own accounts and many
usually find them in airports and and mobile phone companies, provide a headset if you do
railway stations. The minimum prepaid phonecards can help not have your own.
cost of a call is 60p and you can to save money, particularly on
pay with coins, a credit or debit international calls from mobiles
card, or a prepaid phonecard. and landlines. The cards (£5–20) Postal Services
Credit card calls are charged are simple to use, with access Stamps can be bought at many
at a higher rate. and PIN codes, and expire after outlets, including supermarkets,
30–90 days. Unlike some, the petrol stations and stationery
Post Office Phonecard has shops. When writing to a UK
Mobile Phones no hidden charges. address, include the postcode,
Mobile network coverage is which can be obtained from
widespread in England, and Royal Mail. Within the UK, mail
every high street has at least Override Providers can be sent first or second class
one mobile-phone shop. The If you plan to make a small (the latter is cheaper and takes
most common brands are number of international calls longer) or, for anything urgent
Vodafone, O2, EE, Three and on your trip, override providers or valuable, by Special Delivery
Carphone Warehouse. can cut the cost of your calls. (which guarantees the arrival
The UK networks use the 900 One of the cheapest services time, has to be signed for on
or 1800 GSM system, so visitors in the UK is 18185. Before you delivery and can be tracked
from the US (where the systems travel, set up an account online. online). The price of postage
are 800 or 1900 MHz band) will Then, before you make your depends on the size and weight
need to ensure their phones call from the UK, remember to of your letter and package. For
are compatible or acquire a tri- dial 18185 before entering the more information, visit the Royal
or quad-band device through international number. Mail and Post Office websites.
their service provider.
You may need to get your
home network operator to
enable your roaming capability
before you travel. Keep in mind
while abroad, you will be charged
for the calls you receive as well as
the calls you make; in addition,
you have to pay a substantial
premium for the international
leg of the call. Unless you have
a pre-arranged package, data-
roaming charges can be very
expensive, so it is advisable to
disable this feature. A cheaper
option is to purchase a SIM card
locally and top it up with credit. Customers enjoying free Wi-Fi access at a coffee shop in London

206-207_EW_ESC.indd 206 10/03/17 6:55 pm