When you arrive on Samos with your mobile phone set to “automatic provider selection,” it can happen that your device switches to a Turkish network. This is no surprise – Turkey is so close that its signal can be stronger than the Greek one. Especially on the eastern side of the island, this happens often. At yes rent a car Samos, we hear this from our guests regularly, and that’s why we share this tip with you.

The problem is that Turkey is not an EU member. As soon as your phone connects to a Turkish network, EU roaming rules no longer apply. That means you’re paying extra – often a lot. Even worse, you keep receiving messages from Turkish providers saying “Welcome to Turkey,” while you’re still standing on Samos.

Which providers are Greek?

To make sure your phone stays on the Greek network, look for these providers: Cosmote, Vodafone, and Nova (formerly Wind). At yes rent a car Samos, we always point this out to our guests, because if you’re connected to one of these networks, you stay under the EU “Roam like at Home” rules. That means calls, texts, and data are all included in your normal bundle.

Which providers are Turkish?

So make sure NOT to select the Turkish provider (as shown in the photo). These are TR TURKCELL, TurkTelekom, and Vodafone Türkiye.

What can you do?

Our tip: when you arrive, check if your phone is connected to a Greek provider. If so, manually lock your device to that provider. From that moment on, your phone won’t automatically search for a stronger signal – and you won’t accidentally connect to the expensive Turkish network. At yes rent a car Samos, we often show our guests how to do this quickly on their smartphones.

Why this matters

Your holiday should be worry-free. Unexpected phone bills don’t fit into that. At yes rent a car Samos, everything is about comfort and clarity – whether it’s car rental, traffic information, or practical tips like this one. That’s why we don’t just recommend the best beaches and tavernas, but also share useful advice to keep your holiday relaxed.