If you have a dual-SIM UK mobile it's no problem to add a Spanish SIM. You get to keep all your SMS incoming and outgoing plus incoming calls on your UK number, and you can set up your mobile to allow you to choose which SIM you use every time you want to make a call...

Yes exactly what I do for incoming calls from UK, my UK SIM is three which does not require top ups you put £10 on and it lasts untill credit runs out, so next top up could be years down the road. You do have to use it once every 12 months to keep the number but I just send myself a text for 10P which resolves that. Another option if you don't have a dual SIM phone is get a virtual SIM . That allows you say a UK number which routes direct to your Spanish SIM. Moremins can do that at reasonably low cost there is info on the previous link I put on. To be fair there are various options it depends on individual circumstances to get best value to suit individual phone needs and usage.

Thanks for that. I've a dual sim phone with both Movistar(Spain) and EE (UK). It works fine and I've been using it for several years without issues. My concern is that under the fair use policy more than 60 days roaming without returning to the UK is not considered fair use and you lose the roaming privileges. EE have been brilliant for me, and I've had several occasions longer than 60 days (including 10 months in Spain during COVID) plus 3 stays of 90 days more recently and EE have never surcharged me for the roaming. The reason for my concern is that I'm now moving to Spain on a more permanent basis, and won't be returning to the UK for long enough or often enough to comply with the fair use policy.

Curious because from what I read, Movistar is the carrier for Lobster. The only difference I can see could be 4G or 5G? In theory, the network coverage should be the same.

Thanks for that info. I'll have a look at Moremins. Can you send SMS via Moremins from your phone and the receiver sees it as if it were from a real sim with the ability to reply and maintain a text conversation? Appreciate any comments on that. Cheers. Ray EDIT: I've been on the Moremins web site and it looks like a very good option without getting into roaming issues. Thanks for that!

I pay Smarty £18 per month for unlimited data and have been roaming for 3 years with no extra charges but the recently imposed limit of 12 gb/mnth outside UK
I visit UK often enough to make this worthwhile.

I also have a 8gb data + unlimited phone calls for £6:30/mnth

My other sim is a Gibtelecom sim, a rip off but it helps me keep in contact with Gib

Gibtelecom are the parent company of Lobster

Yes, that's correct.

Yes you can. So if say you have a Spanish SIM and number you choose to show calls from that number. Or if you have UK SIM and number in the phone you can choose to use that number. The recipient can just then message back as normal to you. The link I put on earlier explains system and also information re virtual SIM . It works for me without issue .

Thanks for all the feedback about Lobster everyone. Seems like a great option although Ive just been digging deeper into Vodafone prepaid again, I have a couple of Sims with them and their offerings are pretty good depending on your usage and if the 5G coverage is good for you. they have various options but €10 pm gets you 25gb data and 300mins including international calls and roaming in the UK. €15 gets you 50gb and 800 minutes. Comparable to Lobster I think. ( I know it’s not unlimited)

Worth having a look at UK Vodafone. Both myself and my wife have our UK numbers with them and sometimes don’t go near the UK for many months and never had an issue. Both esims permanently in a multi sim iPhone.

Just a point that the Channel Islands and Isle of Man aren’t included in the UK for the international calls plan despite having a UK dialling code, confirmed by Lobster customer service. Technically they aren’t part of the UK.

Personally no issue with Lobster but now arrived in Spain I might try a cheaper alternative such as Simyo as can use Skype, FaceTime etc. for UK calls.

Spain has a huge number of "virtual operators" and all of them piggy back onto one of the four main networks. Simyo is Orange, 02 on Movistar, Masmovil on Yoigo, Lowi is on Vodafone etc. If you live in a rural area then the main network coverage is important. Where we are in rural Cantabria we can't get broadband, so rely on the mobile networks for internet. So for here, Vodafone wins for 5G, but Movistar also good on 4G. Orange comes a bit off the pace behind those two. For years there have been questions about these virtual operators getting lower quality of network coverage, but my partner has a Lowi sim (4G only) and that works brilliantly.

My son has Simyo (Orange) and it works well for him but Orange coverage has always been patchy for me and also Simyo only gets 4G.

Vodafone also now have a 5G home broadband offering at €30+ per month for anyone in a good Vodafone area who doesnt have a good fibre infrastructure.