use of a dongle for a limited time

We are coming over to Spain for a month and my son wishes to use his laptop.  We have done some research into which 'dongle' package to use for this short period, but we find it a little confusing. 

Can anyone in similar circumstances who has used a dongle successfully please help us.  My son wishes to use it to recover e-mails and of course to be in constant touch with his friends every day/night!!!!!!!! Before having a laptop he would spend a fortune in the cybercafe, but we have been told that he could also spend a fortune using a dongle?  SOME ADVICE PLEASE.

BobShe

Hi BobShe,

I looked into having a dongle when we was over in Spain for 3 months.  But I could only find one for 17 euros a month but it had to be on a 18 month contract. So decided no to bother.

I have a wireless notepad went into our local bar they gave me their password and downloaded email's and did some banking in the bar for free.  Just bought a couple of beers.

If you say where you are going someone might know where you can do this.

Patricia

 A friend has just got a SIM for her tab from Masmovil. She says it is pretty good and not too expensive. Dongles are fine for collecting email by text only, without attachments, Facebok and Skype. Anything using much more can be expensive. I would imagine the laptop is wireless enabled, just find the nearest wifi enabled cafe/ bar for him to sit in!!

Mark

Hi Marksfish

Thanks for your info.  We have a local wifi enabled cafe, but will my son have to get the password from them first and have to pay a fee?  Are all dongles only available on long term contracts, or is it possible to get one just for a month?

BobShe

Hi Patricia

Thanks for replying.  Thought there might be one just for a month's fee.  Perhaps we will learn more from replies to this thread.

BobShe

 You can buy dongles for a one off fee, probably best to buy it with the sim card, usually around 30- 50€ + credit.

Some cafes, shopping centres, etc have open wireless connections for their customers to use free. Some bars will give you the code if you buy a drink or two. Do you have any neighbours with broadband whose connection he could use? Vodafone do a dongle with usage costing about 3€ per day, but again, you have to buy the dongle first.

Mark

 Something like this which is unlocked, so could be used in the UK with your con's current provider too.

Carrefour also still do a pretty decent deal - details here.  You pay €29 for the dongle, and I think that also gives you a €5 balance immediately, and pay €1 (plus IVA I think) a day ONLY when you connect.  You can top it up easily online, bank atm or in any Carrefour.  I believe they use the Orange network and it gives you 100MB daily download.

Thanks - a lot clearer now.

BobShe

Thanks Pitby

We arer near a Carrefour so that is really helpful.

BobShe