For all our tours, we ask for a phone number that we can contact the guest on. We ask for this so we can advise their driver guides details the day before, so our guests know who is picking them up. We also ask for it so the driver guide can communicate with the guest on the day, and provide them with updates such as when they are on their way to the meeting location and have arrived. It also allows both the driver guide and guest can contact each other, should they have any problems locating each other. Particularly at busy Airports.
When providing a phone number there are a few important things to remember;
- The number provided is for the guests themselves. In the past, we have had agents provide us with their number, which is no good to us on the day
- The number provided is a mobile number and not a landline number. Again in the past we have been provided with a home number. Again no good to us, as no one will be home to answer the call.
- The number provided is the number that will be useable in the UK. In the past we have been provided with one number, only for the guest to bring a different phone with a different phone number to the UK, rendering the original number useless.
- The phone is turned on. In the past we have had issues contacting a guest, with messages not being recieved, and calls going straight to voicemail, only to find out the phone has been turned off
These may sound obvious, but they are all situations we have come across in the past, which have resulted in issues which could have been easily avoided.
If you are visiting Wales from outside the UK or EU, it is unlikely your phone will automatically work. You may have to add, or activate an international calling plan in order to get phone signal. If you are from the EU, it is likely that your phone will automatically get phone signal, but any internet, calls or messages may be more expensive than at home.
International calling plans can be very expensive as much as $14 per day, if not more. In addition to this international calls and messages can also be more expensive. If you are in the Wales, and phoning a UK number from a non UK or EU number, the call will be charged at international rates. Calling and messaging can soon add up to a considerable amount. Due to this cost, you may be tempted to forgo any phone at all. Depending on your trip, this may be possible. Particularly if you are not due to meet anyone anywhere at any time during your stay.
It is imporant that we are able to communicate with our guest though, and insist on having some way to contact our guest directly. We recommend using Whatspp for this. Whatsapp is an internet based calling and messaing app. Public Wi-Fi is very common in Wales, with most Hotels, airports, restaurants and bars having free Wi-Fi, and many shops also having free public Wi-Fi. In additionl to this, there are a growing number of public “hot-spots”, particularly in major urban areas. So long as you are able to connect to Wi-Fi, you can message and call people who have the Whatsapp App installed on their phone, through Whatsapp.
If you are getting your internet service from a Public Wi-Fi (Hotel, restaurant, bar, shop etc) then you would not need an international calling plan, or pay potentially expensive data charges. All our guides use Whatsapp, so by using Public Wi-Fi and WhatsApp you will be able to communicate with them and us without any issue. Many of them also offer free Wi-Fi in there vehicles
Whatsapp can be used for much more than Messaging and calls. PDF files, such as tickets or information can be shared through Whatsapp. The sender can send their location to the reciever, particularly useful for finding each other. Photos and videos can be sent, and video calls can be made.
Whatsapp is available for both Android and iPhone and is free to download and use. It will work with any mobile / cell phone number, so will work with your existing mobile number.
Free to download and use, WhatsApp makes communication between international numbers free and easy, which is why it is our preferred way to communicate with all our guests once they are in Wales.