I don't use Skype on the mobile for just that reason. Besides the quality makes it rather useless anyway. And I have another way to make very cheap international calls from my mobile without using Skype. It's more complicated because I have to dial a local number and then enter the international number I want to call.

But yes, I can understand how some people might use that much data especially kids - you'd have to be pretty glued to your phone day-in and day-out.

This is a followup to the togglemobile suggestion from Olivia.

I purchased a SIM (£10 from Carphonewarehouse with £10 credit so effectively free) and roadtested it in Ayamonte last week. I am VERY impressed. It uses the Vodafone ES network. For me, its key feature is cheap mobile communication between Spain and the UK.
It costs 3p per minute to call between Spain and the UK for both landlines and mobiles in both directions. There is no connection charge which was racking up the costs on my Lebara option.

To get this cheap rate, you need to register a local Spanish number online which is free and will last up to 30 days. A £5 cost will keep the Spanish number going for one year.

The SIM then effectively has 2 numbers. It means that someone in the UK can call the UK mobile number and it will connect to the Spanish number automatically. If you have inclusive minutes on your UK mobile phone contract, by definition calls to your Spanish mobile will be included for free/included.

I've tested in all directions and it all seems to work as described. Calls within Spain are 3p per min. to a landline and 9p per min. to a Spanish mobile.

I am beginning to sound like a mobile phone salesman which I am most definitely not but I am very pleased with this option for what I want it to do which is make cheap mobile contact between the UK and Spain.

Only downside for folk in the Ayamonte region is that you do not get these great rates in Portugal. Also, no decent mobile internet deals for Spain.

Many thanks for helpful replies.
I have now bought a Togglecard as
it seems to fit my needs best

has anyone in costa esuri tried this - how is the reception/signal?

Don't quite know what you mean by "this" but mobile reception on CE is very variable. The main Spanish provider is probably the best but not available down by "Jags" and on other parts of Marina Esuri.
The best signal all over appears to be TMN or Vodaphone from Portugal and this causes cost problems with roaming charges if you do not lock your phone to a Spanish providor if you have a Spanish sim.
Originally we used a Portuguese Vodaphone sim in a dongle plugged into a Miffi for internet but it was not cheap so you are careful with the megabytes.

we currently have an annual contract with yogi which is 11 euros a month, but don't make uk calls from this (use internet). I was interested to hear if anyone had brought the car phone warehouse suggestion and was able to use it is CE.

I can only confirm that Isla Canela and Ayamonte works well. The Toggle Mobile option from Carphonewarehouse uses the Vodafone Network.

Our current Spanish sim in a dual sim phone is a Yogi pay as you go one. Works well but you must a min of €6 a month or they charge you that anyway. Odd but sometimes that is hard to do!

It probably picks up either the Portugal or Spain networks since it is designed to be used outside UK it matters not. That gives best of both worlds so should work all along the river and with the Spanish network most of the rest of Spain.

brilliant - thanks very much!

did you purchase it in carphone warehouse in UK or spain?

In the UK. I'm not sure if you can get it in the Carphonewarehouse equivalent in Spain. I would doubt it. I think there is a Phonewarehouse next to Mercadona so you could ask there.

thanks - i'll get one in UK. It would probably cost double in Spain! cheers!