A new promotional deal from Vodafone means everyone, even those who are not its customers, can get dirt cheap calls to the UK from abroad this summer.

From now until 31 August, the network is offering all its customers who opt in to its free ‘Passport’ scheme calls and texts back home (plus the cost of receiving calls) at UK prices from many European and Australasian counties. So this means if you have an inclusive allowance for calls and texts, then you can use this while abroad and they will be free.

Yet you only get this deal if you ask for it, so Vodafone customers should text ‘Passport’ to 97888 if a contract customer or 2345 if pay-as-you-go (PAYG).

The only proviso is that while abroad you need to ensure your phone is connected through a Vodafone network there. You need to select this manually; if you do not know how, ask an under-18 — they will probably be able to show you.

Non-Vodafone customers can take advantage of this deal too because Vodafone offers free PAYG Sim cards. So you can simply plug one into your handset while away, top it up with a tenner, join the passport scheme and get the cheap calls as well. Your handset might need unlocking for this, though.
For unlocking info, pros and cons, instructions and a full list of destinations eligible for this offer, see www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/vodafone-mobile-roaming-europe