Mobile internet for non-Croatian citizens

[m-a-r-t-a-s]

I'm going to Croatia for holiday (yachting) and I want to have an internet access (especially due to weather forecast). Due to yachting I need a mobile internet (GPRS, edge). Roaming doesn't come on force (too expensive) so I want to buy a prepaid Croatian sim card. Supposed volume of data is at most 20 MB per staying (one week, Saturday-Saturday). Data transfer speed is not important (GPRS is sufficient).

Decisive and important is:
- cost of "empty" sim card
- minimal amount of credit (what will I do with unexpended credit?)
- validity of credit (possibility to use unexpended credit next year)
- good signal coverage (Kornat area)
- easy possibility to buy sim card

Can you help me please choose optimal tariff? Thank you

[.:AM:.]

The cheapest operator in Croatia is Tele2, but it wouldn't be a suitable option for you because you can activate only one data package per month (10 MB). My advice is that you buy a T-Mobile prepaid card (a.k.a. Simpa, it costs 100 kn=13,5€ and it comes with the same amount of account credit). 10 MB data package costs 15 kn (about 2€) and you can activate as much of 'em as you want (as long as you have enough credit to pay for it). Their signal coverage is very good and you won't have any problems with it. If you buy an additional voucher it keeps your account active for extra 90 (50 kn voucher) or 180 days (>100 kn voucher). You can buy their SIM cards almost everywhere, from news-stands to local shops and there is a large number of T-Mobile centers available.

[10aLEX]

You can use VIP prepaid card only for internet/data (not voice), price is 20kn and you have 20kn on this card (1Mb=1kn). You must ask for VIPme Broadband card. This is details on VIP page: http://www.vipnet.hr/cw/show?idc=8749583&idnews=639306

You don't need to buy USB modem if you have one or you can use you mobile phone for connection (voice services not working) but you must configure internet connection mobile phone APN:data.vip.hr

[m-a-r-t-a-s]

First thank you all for your answer. I'm so glad you want to help me. This topic can help more non-Croatian citizens.
I'm going to send these my question to Croatian providers and I wonder what they will offer me.

Now a little bit off topic (no mobile internet topic) but it can help to choose provider:
I haven't found the price of sms and mms abroad (I've found only the price of international call). Does the sms (or mms) abroad cost the same price like to Croatia?
If yes than it is very interesting for me (it is much cheaper than sms roaming). International call costs approximately the same price like roaming call. In this case is TELE2's price 0,99 Kn per mms it very attractive (tariff PLAN NULA) but if you say TELE2 doesn't have good signal coverage on the sea, it is not acceptable provider for me and I respect your recommendation.

Thank you

[Sljaka]

First thank you all for your answer. I'm so glad you want to help me. This topic can help more non-Croatian citizens.
I'm going to send these my question to Croatian providers and I wonder what they will offer me.

Now a little bit off topic (no mobile internet topic) but it can help to choose provider:
I haven't found the price of sms and mms abroad (I've found only the price of international call). Does the sms (or mms) abroad cost the same price like to Croatia?
If yes than it is very interesting for me (it is much cheaper than sms roaming). International call costs approximately the same price like roaming call. In this case is TELE2's price 0,99 Kn per mms it very attractive (tariff PLAN NULA) but if you say TELE2 doesn't have good signal coverage on the sea, it is not acceptable provider for me and I respect your recommendation.

Thank you

You can sent sms world wide for the same price. Price for mms is same whereever you sent but nobody guarantee you that you can sent it in all gsm network.
Sometimes we have problem to sent mms from, for example, T-mobile to VIP or something similar.
And, btw, where Tele 2 haven't own base station they use T-mobile base station in nacional roaming. That don't change any price.

[ThePornstar]

in case that you can't find contact support for those operators here they are:

www.tele2.hr (korisnik@tele2.com)
www.vipnet.hr (sluzba.za.korisnike@vipnet.hr)
www.t-mobile.hr (t-mobile@t-mobile.hr)

enjoy your holidays in croatia

[MrBlc]

But keep in mind that this nacional roaming is only for calls, sms, mms and mobile packet 10 MB, but not for mobile internet. Mobile packet is 10 MB cca 1.35 €, but you can activate only 1 packet in 30 days.

[F.E.A.R.]

- cost of "empty" sim card
- minimal amount of credit (what will I do with unexpended credit?)
- validity of credit (possibility to use unexpended credit next year)
- good signal coverage (Kornat area)
- easy possibility to buy sim card

1. You have Tele2 network,it's the cheapest one here,and you can buy sim card for 50 kn (6.70 €) and you get 50 kn on card to spend...

2. I don't know for TELE2 or T-mobile,but in VIP network you must buy credits every 3 months (50 kn=6.70€),if you don't buy credits for 3 months they will deactivate your number and activate it again when you buy credits,so yes,you can use your VIP sim card next year but you must buy VIP credits of 50 kn to use it.

3. Almost all areas are covered with signal so don't worry about it...

4. In every shop,supermarket,almost everywhere...

[xlr]

1. You have Tele2 network,it's the cheapest one here,and you can buy sim card for 50 kn (6.70 €) and you get 50 kn on card to spend...

..but Tele2 has the worst signal coverage on sea (even signal along the coast is bad in lot of cities - for exapmle: in Pula ). However, in this scenario you should skip Tele2

AM wrote you the best solution for your needs - T-Mobile (Simpa web'n'walk tariff):
http://www.t-mobile.hr/eng/1/10-10-10-00-00.asp