Roaming and travel
Mobile internet in Europe by motorhome: roaming, long stays and remote work
Roaming in the EU is simple on paper. On a three month motorhome trip the small print starts to matter. Here is what you need to know before you cross the first border.
Since 2017, the EU rule known as roam like at home means you can use your mobile subscription in other EU countries at no extra cost. The rule also covers Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. For a week of holiday that is usually all you need to know. For a motorhome trip of several weeks or months, with a router and a family streaming every evening, a few details decide whether the connection holds up.
Fair use: why your home plan may not be enough
Roam like at home does not mean all the data in your home plan follows you abroad. Operators may apply a fair use limit to data in other EU countries, and on cheap plans with large data allowances the roaming share can be much smaller than what you get at home. A plan with plenty of data in your own country can turn into a modest allowance once you are in France, Italy or Croatia. Check your operator's roaming terms before you go, or use a data SIM made for roaming.
Long stays and the four month rule
Roaming is meant for travel, not for living permanently abroad on a foreign SIM. Operators are allowed to look at your use over a period of four months. If you have spent more time and used more data abroad than at home, they can contact you and, if nothing changes, add surcharges. For a summer trip this rarely matters. For a long winter in Spain or Portugal it can, so plan for it.
- Travelling several months a year? A roaming data SIM sized for the trip avoids the question of whether your home plan allows it.
- Spending the winter in one country? A package with extra data in that country often works out better than a general Europe package. Our Spain Special SIM was built for exactly that.
Countries outside EU roaming
Several popular motorhome routes cross countries that are not covered by the EU rules. Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Andorra, Turkey, Morocco and the Western Balkan countries outside the EU, such as Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia, can be charged separately or not included at all. Some operators include a few of them, others charge per megabyte. Always check the country list before you drive in, and turn off data roaming on phones you do not use for internet.
A tip for border areas: near the Swiss border or on ferries the router can connect to a network outside the EU without you noticing. If your package does not cover that country, lock the router to networks in the country you are in, or switch it off for the crossing.
Working from the motorhome
Remote work needs a stable connection more than a fast one. A video call in HD uses roughly 1 to 1.5 GB per hour, and upload speed matters as much as download. Plan your working days near towns or along main roads where coverage is better, keep a roof antenna for weaker spots and have a backup, for example an eSIM on your phone, for the days when the main connection lets you down.
A checklist before you leave
- Read your current plan's roaming terms and fair use limit for data in the EU.
- Estimate your data: streaming, video calls and navigation. Two hours of HD video a night is roughly 180 GB a month.
- Choose a roaming data SIM or eSIM with a package for your trip, and a country package if you stay long in one place.
- Check the countries on your route that are outside EU roaming.
- Make sure the router can run on 12V when you are off grid.
Want to understand the hardware side first? Read our guides to WiFi in a motorhome and streaming TV in a motorhome.
Frequently asked questions
Does EU roaming cover Switzerland and the UK?
No. Switzerland and the United Kingdom are outside the EU roaming rules. Some operators include them in their packages, others charge separately, so check before you cross the border.
Can I spend the whole winter in Spain on roaming?
Roaming is meant for temporary travel. Operators can review four months of use and add surcharges if most of it happens abroad. A package with extra data in Spain is often the more reliable option for long winters.
How much data does a motorhome trip use?
It depends on how much you stream. A couple that browses and uses maps may manage with 30 to 50 GB a month. A family that streams HD every evening can need 150 to 200 GB or more.
