Ernest Adu – Phone Travel Wiz

Grenada, also known as the Spice Island because it is home to a wide variety of spices and herbs, is a great destination to visit in the Caribbean. There is no reason to be bored when visiting Grenada. In fact, you most likely want to share your experiences online with family and friends while you are there. The issue is, international roaming is expensive. Extremely expensive if you do not get a roaming bundle. Luckily, you can get a Grenadian SIM card and take advantage of local rates, which are not as expensive as you may think they are. You can purchase a SIM card for as little as 15 XCD in Grenada, and that SIM card will feature 1 GB, unlimited social messaging, 200 local minutes, and 200 local SMS for 3 days. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQJJcZGrcMY Compared to many neighboring islands, that is a generous deal. In this guide, I will tell you everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Grenada. Let's do this. Original publication: 10th of March 2020. Last updated: 3rd of December 2020. Table of Contents Can You Buy a SIM Card in Grenada? You can purchase a Grenadian SIM card regardless of your residence or visitor status, meaning that tourists are also allowed to buy a SIM card in Grenada. You do need to ensure your SIM card is registered on your name, have a phone that supports Grenada's frequencies, and have an unlocked device (SIM-lock free). Can You Use Your Phone in Grenada? You need a phone that supports GSM technology when in Grenada. Luckily, almost all recently released phones support GSM. A quick way to determine whether you can use your phone abroad is to be aware of the three ITU regions in the world. Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe, and Oceania (ITU Regions 1 & 3) typically use European Frequencies, meaning phones bought in those regions can be used in countries using European Frequencies without issues. The Americas (North-, Central, and South America + the Caribbean), ITU Region 2, use American Frequencies, which are different from the European Frequencies. By Maximilian Dörrbecker (Chumwa) – Own work, using this file by Denelson83, CC BY-SA 2.5 Grenada uses a mix of American and European frequencies for 2G and 3G, depending on the operator. 4G/LTE is exclusively on American frequencies. If you bought your phone in the Americas (ITU region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, you would want to go with Flow Grenada. They support traditional American frequencies on 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE, meaning that you can take full advantage of their network. If you purchased your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU regions 1 & 3) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, you would want to go with Digicel Grenada. They support traditional European frequencies on 2G and 3G, but you will not be able to use thier 4G/LTE network. Suppose you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support. In that case, you can go with either Flow Grenada or Digicel Grenada, as your phone will support both American and European frequencies, even on 4G/LTE. Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Grenada Grenada has two mobile network operators: Digicel GrenadaFlow Grenada The following frequencies are used in Grenada: 2G: 850 MHz, 900 MHz & 1800 MHz3G: 850 MHz, 1900 MHz & 2100 MHz 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 13 & Band 17) You can learn more about frequencies in the video below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=achqanxN9Xs To check whether your phone will work in Grenada, check out this page by Will My Phone Work. Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above). If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know. Best SIM Card in Grenada If you want to buy a SIM card in Grenada, I recommend going with Digicel. They have fast speeds and great coverage in the country. Moreover, they have more choices and variety in packages and plans compared to Flow. ALSO: Want to get an excel sheet of the best SIM cards of over 230+ destinations around the world, updated monthly? Sign up for the Phone Travel Wiz Newsletter and get the excel sheet for FREE! SIM Card Registration Grenada SIM card registration with your passport information is required in Grenada. It will be done at the point of purchase. Grenada Internet Prices & Insights In most of my guides related to SIM cards in the Caribbean, I will tell you that mobile data is expensive in this region because it is a pricey region in general. Plus, mobile data on island nations are generally more expensive than countries on land. So is mobile internet criminally expensive in Grenada? Not really. The average price for 1 GB of data in Grenada is 5.37 USD, which is less than the Caribbean average of 7.19 USD. The world average is 5.03 USD. Source So, data prices are quite reasonable in Grenada, even compared to other nations around the world. With low prices, close to excellent mobile coverage, and relatively fast speeds, you should have a smooth network experience in Grenada. Currency in Grenada Grenada uses the East Caribbean Dollar with the symbol XCD (which will be used throughout this guide). However, prices are often listed as ECD, EC$, or $. For example, 25 ECD is ECD/EC$/$ 25. XCD is pegged 2.70:1 to the Us Dollar (USD), meaning that 2.70 XCD is 1 USD. 27.10 XCD would be 10 USD. 270 is 100 USD, etc. 1 XCD is 0.37 USD, 10 XCD is 3.70 USD, 100 XCD is 37 USD – you know the drill. If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Transferwise Borderless Account and Debit Card. Their fees are MUCH lower than banks, and credit card companies charge you (and Transferwise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks). I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Euros, my main currency, when using Transferwise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards. Open a Transferwise account FREE! Grenada Prepaid SIM Cards Below, I will guide you through the Grenadian operators, Digicel Grenada & Flow Grenada, and go through: Background informationMobile coverageSIM card types, prices, and availabilityRecharge/top-up informationCombo plans, data plans, and special packs (such as social media packs) With that said, let's see what Grenada has to offer to us. Digicel Grenada Digicel Grenada, just Digicel, ended Flow’s monopoly back in 2003. Since then, they managed to become the preferred operator in Grenada. This is what you will learn about Digicel: * Coverage* How to Get a Digicel SIM Card & SIM Card Price* Topping-Up Options & Methods* Plans* APN SettingsClick on the links above to jump to the section you are interested in.Jump to Flow Digicel Grenada Coverage Digicel has extensive coverage in Grenada. Unfortunately, Digicel has no (official) coverage map (anymore), nor could a reputable map be found. Digicel's coverage is on par with Flow's, maybe even better, so you can check Flow's coverage map to get an idea of what to expect with Digicel in Grenada. Getting a Digicel Grenada SIM Card & Price You can purchase a Digicel SIM card for 25 XCD in Digicel stores. You may have to dial *122# to activate your SIM card if your SIM card does not work upon purchase. Topping Up Your Digicel Grenada SIM Card Digicel recharge cards are sold in denominations of 5 XCD to 200 XCD in Digicel stores and many other establishments, such as kiosks, gas stations, and grocery stores. Online recharge with (international) debit and credit cards is possible as well. To redeem a Digicel top-up card, dial *125#. Dial *120# or *140# to check your credit balance. Digicel Grenada Internet Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers Digicel has several types of plans and bundles, which are: Prime Bundles (combo bundles) Freedom Plus LTE Plans (combo bundles) Prepaid LTE Plans (combo bundles) Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in. Digicel Grenada Prime Bundles Digicel has the new Prime Bundles, which are bundles with Any Use Data, on-net minutes, anywhere minutes, international minutes, and data allowances for select apps. The following Prime Bundles are available: PriceBundleAny Use DataListen More (Music) DataListen More (Radio) DataWatch More DataPlay More DataShare More DataKnow More DataStore More DataOn-Net MinutesAnywhere MinutesInternational MinutesValidity6 XCD1 Day Digicel Prime Bundle1 GB 1 GB1 GB1 GB1 GB1 GB1 GB1 GB75 on-net minutes25 anywhere minutesN/A1 day 25 XCD7 Day Digicel Brime Bundle 5 GB7 GB7 GB7 GB7 GB7 GB7 GB7 GB450 on-net minutesN/A 25 international minutes7 days 95 XCD30 Day Digicel Prime Bundle 12 GB 30 GB 30 GB 30 GB 30 GB 30 GB 30 GB 30 GB 1000 on-net minutes400 anywhere minutes100 international minutes 30 days You also get unlimited Do More data, which is for the MyDigicel App Prime Bundles can be activated on the MyDigicel app or by dialing *140#. You can download any Prime Bundle app by visiting the links below: Listen More (Music) with D'MusicListen More (Radio) with GoLoudWatch More with PlayGoPlay More with Sports MaxShare More with BipKnow More with LoopStore More with Billo Anywhere Minutes are minutes for: calls to mobile and landline numbers in Canada and the United Statescalls to landline numbers in the United Kingdomcalls to Digicel Caribbean Digicel Caribbean includes: AnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArubaBarbadosBermudaBonaireThe British Virgin Islands Cayman IslandsCuraçaoDominicaFrench GuianaGrenada GuadeloupeMartinique Saint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and GrenadinesTrinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Digicel Grenada Freedom Plus LTE Plans The Freedom Plus LTE Plans are combo plans with data, local minutes, and international minutes. The following Freedom Plus LTE Plans are available, which can be activated by dialing *140#: PricePlanDataLocal MinutesInternational MinutesValidity6 XCDFreedom Bundle 1 Day 1 GB 30 local minutesN/A1 day 7 XCDFreedom Plus Upgrade 1 Day1 GB 60 local minutesN/A1 day 15 XCDFreedom Bundle 3 Days 1 GB 200 local minutesN/A3 days 20 XCDFreedom Plus Upgrade Days 2 GB350 local minutesN/A 3 days 28 XCDFreedom Bundle 7 Days 3 GB 350 local minutesN/A7 days 35 XCDFreedom Plus Upgrade 7 Days 4 GB450 local minutes25 international minutes7 days 100 XCDFredom Plus Upgrade 30 days 10 GB 1000 local minutes100 international minutes30 days Unused allowances roll over when you renew your bundle. Freedom Plus LTE Plans auto-renew. Digicel Grenada Prepaid LTE Plans (LTE Freedom Bundles) The Prepaid LTE Plans, also known as LTE Freedom Bundles, are combo bundles with data and local minutes. They can be upgraded with Bolt-Ons. The following Prepaid LTE Plans can be purchased by dialing *140#: PricePlanDataLocal MinutesValidity6 XCDLTE Freedom Bundle 1 Day 400 MB30 minutes1 day 15 XCDLTE Freedom Bundle 3 Days 2 GB200 minutes3 days28 XCDLTE Freedom Bundle 7 Days 4 GB350 minutes7 days95 XCDLTE Freedom Bundle 30 days 10 GB 1000 minutes30 days Unused allowances roll over when you renew your plan. Prepaid LTE Plans auto-renew. Digicel Grenada Bolt-Ons You can upgrade your Prepaid LTE Plan with one of the Prepaid Bolt-Ons. For 1 XCD, you can get unlimited data, unlimited local minutes, or unlimited anywhere minutes for 1 day. The Prepaid Bolt-Ons are exclusive to the Prepaid LTE Plans. Bolt-Ons can be activated by dialing *140# once you have an active Prepaid LTE Plan. Bolt-OnPriceValidityUnlimited Data1 XCD1 dayUnlimited Local Minutes1 XCD1 dayUnlimited Anywhere Minutes1 XCD1 day Anywhere Minutes are minutes for: calls to mobile and landline numbers in Canada and the United Statescalls to landline numbers in the United Kingdomcalls to Digicel Caribbean Digicel Caribbean includes: AnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArubaBarbadosBermudaBonaireThe British Virgin Islands Cayman IslandsCuraçaoDominicaFrench GuianaGrenada GuadeloupeMartinique Saint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and GrenadinesTrinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Digicel Grenada APN Settings Name: DigicelAPN: web.digiceloecs.com Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched. Flow Grenada Flow Grenada, just Flow, is the other operator in Grenada. Although they are not the largest in Grenada anymore, Flow still has many customers because many locals have a SIM card from both Flow and Digicel. This is a practice you will see a lot throughout the Caribbean. This is what you will learn about Flow: * Coverage* How to Get a Flow SIM Card & SIM Card Price* Topping-Up Options & Methods* Plans, Packages & Bundles* APN SettingsClick on the links above to jump to the section you are interested in.Jump to Digicel Flow Grenada Coverage Flow has extensive coverage in Grenada. More than 90% of the population is covered by Flow's network Source Getting a Flow Grenada SIM Card & Price Flow SIM cards are sold for 15 XCD in Flow stores. They include the Prepaid 3 Days plan with 1 GB, unlimited social messaging (SWIFT), 200 local minutes, and 200 local SMS, all worth 12 XCD and valid for 3 days. You can check your Flow phone number by dialing *555#. Topping Up Your Flow Grenada SIM Card Flow top-up cards are sold in values of from 5 XCD to 200 XCD in Flow stores and Mobile Recharge Partners throughout Grenada, including grocery stores, gas stations, and bars. Online top-up with (international) debit and credit cards is available too. To activate your Flow top-up card, dial *129#. To check your flow balance, dial *120# or *3733. Flow Grenada Internet Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers Flow has one type of combo plan, which is its Always On Prepaid Plan. Those plans feature data, unlimited social messaging for SWIFT apps (Snapchat, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook & Twitter), local anywhere minutes, and local anywhere SMS. The following Always On Prepaid Plans are available: PricePlanDataSocial Messaging (SWIFT)Local Anywhere MinutesLocal Anywhere SMSValidityActivation Code5 XCD1-Day Plan1 GBUnlimited25 minutes25 SMS1 day *244*0#12 XCD3-Day Plan1 GBUnlimited200 minutes200 SMS3 days *244*1#25 XCD7-Day Plan3 GBUnlimited350 minutes350 SMS7 days *244*2#100 XCD30-Day Plan 10 GB Unlimited1000 minutes1000 SMS30 days *244*3# To check your Flow data balance, dial *146*0. To check your overall balance, dial *129#. Flow Grenada APN Settings Name: Flow InternetAPN: ppinternet Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched. Other Ways to Stay Connected When Traveling in Grenada I would highly encourage anyone visiting Grenada to get themselves a Grenadian SIM card - you will be saving a lot of money when you do so. However, for some, getting a Grenadian SIM card is not an option. For example, your device may be SIM-locked, meaning that you cannot use any SIM card other than the SIM card provided by your operator. There are other ways to stay online while in Grenada, but they may not be cheap. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhLfhARWaJ0 However, these methods may be more expensive than getting a SIM card from the two local operators. International Roaming International roaming is the most convenient way to stay connected when traveling in other countries because you do not have to buy a new SIM card, have to deal with SIM card registration regulations, nor have multiple phone numbers to deal with. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X7xGPry-Tc However, international roaming has proven to be expensive in many cases, especially compared to buying local SIM cards. That is why many travelers are not fond of international roaming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNXUQnX3Uww International roaming has its pros and cons. However, it is important to know how it works. This in-depth guide explains it all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSKtHeE0rVg Find out whether your mobile operator has attractive roaming rates for Grenada here. Using an International SIM Card or Travel SIM Card International SIM cards are SIM cards made for the traveler in mind. Using them is often cheaper than international roaming. However, they are almost always more expensive than using a local SIM card. There are many other advantages and disadvantages of getting international SIM cards, which you can learn about here. Using a Mobile Hotspot (Pocket WIFI) Mobile hotspots, or pocket WIFI, are small devices that connect to the local operators of the country you are visiting. Mobile hotspots are ideal for families or those traveling in a large group, as they allow you to connect multiple devices to one hotspot without the need of each traveler having to buy a SIM card. You can either buy a mobile hotspot or rent one. Using Free WIFI Networks Using free WIFI connections is the cheapest way to stay connected because they are free. The major downside of trying to use WIFI hotspots is that you will have to locate them, and they are not available on every corner in Grenada. Make sure to protect your internet traffic with a VPN so that hackers cannot steal your personal data. The Best Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Grenada Getting a SIM card from Digicel would do you well when considering a Grenadian SIM card. Local Prepaid SIM Cards in Other Caribbean Countries Visiting other countries in the Caribbean? Check out my Caribbean SIM card buying guide, covering other Caribbean nations, such as: AnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArubaBahamasBarbadosBonaireBritish Virgin IslandsCayman IslandsCubaCuraçao Dominican RepublicGrenadaGuadeloupeHaitiJamaicaMartiniqueMontserratPuerto RicoSaba DominicaSaint BarthelemySaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSint EustatiusSint MaartenTrinidad and TobagoTurks and Caicos Islands Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world. Next Steps to Enhance Your Travel Experiences Looking for the next steps to enhance your phone travel experiences? Here is what to do: Check Out My Resource Page Looking for the best companies and gadgets to enhance your travel experience? Check out my travel resources page for the best companies to use when you travel! Save money with international SIM cards, on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises, and accommodation. Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too! Start Your Own Online Business - Make Money While Traveling Do you want to learn how I started an online business that allows me to generate income while traveling? In my starting an online business guide, I tell you which tools, services, and products I have for this site and my YouTube channel. If I can start a business about something I am passionate about (phone travel), then you can do it too! Learn About Your Phone Travel Options You can buy local prepaid SIM cards, international SIM cards, mobile hotspots, or roam internationally. Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you. Phone Travel Tips, Tricks & Hacks I have written many articles with tips and hacks to save money on mobile costs while abroad. You surely want to check them out! Sign Up for the Phone Travel Wiz Newsletter Sign up for my newsletter: Get an excel sheet of the best SIM cards of over 230+ destinations around the world, updated monthly! Moreover, I send you many tips and tricks on how to save money while traveling every now and then. Let's Be Social Did you know that I have a YouTube channel covering everything you need to know about traveling with your phone? A lot of useful videos are uploaded multiple times a week, and you do not want to miss out on them! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJrV0ZZBPv8 Also, be sure to follow me on Pinterest and repin some pins! Learn More About Who Adu Actually Is Who is the guy behind Phone Travel Wiz? Well, find out on the Ernest Adu about page!