Happy summer holidays to you all, wherever you roam! - Main contents

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I’m off on my summer holiday soon - perhaps many of you are too. We haven’t really succeeded in making the sun shine here in Brussels - but I hope we can brighten up your holiday a bit anyway.

If you’re planning to take your mobile with you, here’s four things to remember:

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  If you’re travelling within the EU you’ll benefit from our new roaming rules. Those impose a limit on the charges for using your phone or device abroad — like a new capped rate of 70 cents (+ VAT) per Megabyte when you’re using the Internet — and also bring down rates for texting and calling.
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  But remember you still have a choice, and you should use it! For example some operators give you the alternative of paying a fixed rate per day for virtually unlimited data usage - if you’re a heavy data user, or don’t want to worry about how much you’re using, that might be the right choice for you. Remember it’s your decision. And if decide you want to go with the EU-regulated roaming rates, that’s always your safety net.
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  Or maybe the best deal and the cheapest rates - for roaming or domestic, mobile or fixed - are with a different operator. If you do find a better bargain, EU rules also give you the right to switch your mobile operator within one day, without the hassle of changing your phone number. Don’t forget you can shop around - and if necessary, vote with your feet.
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  If you have a smartphone, don’t forget to load up with the apps that might come in handy on your travels. Like this one with info on how to claim health insurance abroad (when travelling in the EU with a European Health Insurance Card); or this one to check your air and rail passenger rights if you’re stranded at the airport or your luggage makes its own holiday plans. Hopefully you won’t need either - but it’s always good to be prepared.

Happy holidays all!