Best PAYG MIFI with flexible tarif

[pcatterall]

Been reading back through various threads but not found an answer that fits yet hence the question.
We need internet access for our Hudl2 for 3x1months holiday in Italy or France per year.
We would use up to 2GB each month and dont need the device at all between each period.
We prefer PAYG and see plenty of devices for sale on PAYG each with various amounts of data prepaid but find difficulty getting info on what the top up charges might be.
An example may be ‘3s’ range where you can get a 1GB preloaded MIFI for £25 which lasts a month ( 1 GB might not be enough for us ) so we would want to top up by phone during the month.

They also do 5GB which lasts 3 months but we would not use that amount in 1 month and can’t carry it over.
Can anyone recommend a decent MIFI with a flexible PAYG tarif suitable for these type of holidays?

 

[LadyInBed]

Buy a sim free (unlocked) mifi the get a local payg sim in the county you are visiting, or the 3 deal is good for shorter periods.

 

[pvb]

The local PAYG SIM option sounds logical, but I've tried it in Spain and found that topping up was a nightmare problem if the SIM isn't in a phone. Additionally, charges were high for data use.

Three has a programme called "Feel at Home" which allows you to use your data allowance abroad without roaming charges. It includes France and Italy. Your planned 3 x 1 month holidays is right at the limit of the "Feel at Home" rules, but you should be OK. If you just buy a new 1GB PAYG SIM (about a tenner) for each 1 month holiday, you'd presumably be OK. However, the "Feel at Home" rules preclude tethering abroad, so you'd need to check whether this would apply if the SIM were in a MIFI device.

 

[pcatterall]

Quote....The local PAYG SIM option sounds logical, but I've tried it in Spain and found that topping up was a nightmare problem if the SIM isn't in a phone. Additionally, charges were high for data use. UnQuote

Yes pvb we did the 'local' top up' idea in France, could never manage top up over the phone and finding a local dealer was never easy. Also the one month deal was an issue, judging the amount we would need each month was difficult sometimes 'to be sure’ we bought far too much and lost it.

 

[LadyInBed]

I always use local sim in France and Spain.
In France I found that buying top up in a tabac in a quiet period and asking 'them' to phone top up number worked. In Spain I went into service provider shop and topped up there, which I've also done in France if there is one!