The first thing I ask Ricardo Ramos, CEO of Wifitakeaway, is what his company is really about. “It’s about making people happy,” he replies. “In today’s connected world, having the ability to access information and having access to our twenty-first-century apps wherever and whenever—that makes us happy.”
Traveling is a wonderful, exciting and often chaotic adventure, and many travelers want to stay connected to friends and family while they are away. It’s not just about wanting to share an aesthetically pleasing picture to show your friends and family back home what a fabulous time you are having; staying connected to the people that you care about gives you a sense of security. It’s important to you and to them that you can reach out whenever you need to. It gives you peace of mind.
When traveling in a new place, it’s inevitable that you will get lost at some point. But imagine this: getting lost in a foreign country with no ability to use your phone to call for help, get directions, use messaging apps or social media. You aren’t able to tell a family member where you are, nor find the nearest bus stop. And, if you can’t speak the language, who can you ask for help? What do you do?
Wifitakeaway’s mission is to prevent these kinds of situations from occurring by keeping non-EU nationals who are traveling in Europe connected in the easiest and most convenient way possible at a time when they are most vulnerable. It’s solution is a simple one—an inexpensive, reliable and easy-to-use portable WiFi hotspot device.
Founders
Originally from Venezuela and avid travelers, Wifitakeaway co-founders Ricardo Ramos (CEO) and Vivianne Eslava (COO) were also Airbnb hosts for more than five years. As hosts, their goal was to provide comfort and safety for their visitors during their travels, and they realized that staying connected was key to this.
This need was underscored by a frustrating mishap one of their guests experienced. Lost in the middle of the night somewhere in Badalona, without data or phone service and unable to speak Spanish, he somehow managed to communicate to a local bar owner the need to use the phone. Luckily, Ricardo was able to find him and pick him up, but he realized that not having easy access to a phone, social media and a GPS is a terrible way to travel. With this in mind, Ricardo and Vivianne decided to create Wifitakeaway.
How it Works
Designed with the traveler in mind, it offers 4G coverage with 3GB of data per day, provides 17 hours of battery life and has the ability to connect with up to ten devices simultaneously—all for just €3.99 a day. And, since it’s a WiFi hotspot, it has no SIM card, so travelers don’t have to worry about the hassle of suddenly exhausting their SIM card data only to have to purchase another.
About the size of a smartphone, it’s lightweight and convenient to carry; it fits in your pocket, purse, backpack—wherever. You don’t even need to carry the device on you in order for it to work—with a range of 15 to 20 meters it can be in the next room.
If your travel plans include other countries, Wifitakeaway’s personal hotspot can be used throughout Europe with the international plan, so if you want to use it outside of Spain, make sure to let the company know that you would like that option.
Simple and Straightforward
The rental process is simple, easy and user friendly; to order just go to Wifitakeaway’s website, select “rent now” and fill out a brief form. To receive a personal WiFi hotspot device you can then either pick it up at one of five locations across Barcelona (conveniently, all are in touristic areas), or the company can ship it to where you are staying.
This device has Wifi Protected Access (WPA), so when you rent, you will be provided with a unique password specific to the device. Connecting any phone, tablet or laptop to the WiFi hotspot requires this password, assuring that those around you can’t connect to it for free.
Customer Service
Wifitakeaway’s customer support is available 24/7 in English, so if you have any questions or concerns about the device, you can speak with someone at any hour of the day. Wifitakeaway will do whatever it can in order to help you. If, for whatever reason the device does not work, it will be replaced.
If you decide you would like to keep the device for a few days longer, you can simply message the company and your rental term will be extended. At the end of the rental period, you can return the device by dropping it off, or by delivery service. If you do not return it, the company will charge you €175 for the device, but just be aware that it will not work once your rental is up as the service will be turned off.
So Why Use Wifitakeaway and Not a Sim Card?
Ricardo has a lot of pride in Wifitakeaway for a number of reasons, the transparency of the company being a big one: “You know what you are getting,” he says. “Our service is transparent, it gives you clarity, and there are no surprises.”
With a portable hotspot device, you are able to track how much of your data plan you have used and can ask for more if you need it. Compare this with the hassle of using a SIM card, in which you have no way of knowing how much and where your data plan is being used, and you are not warned that it will be running out until it is already almost completely gone.
Furthermore, a SIM card is a mono device that only one user can use, while the Wifitakeaway personal hotspot is able to connect up to 10 devices at once.
SIM cards also have very limited and often no customer service at all. Even when purchasing a SIM card, frequently the store where you buy it has no English speaking employees, so they can’t help you at all. At Wifitakeaway, customer service is 24/7 and in English, so you are able to fully understand what you are purchasing and ask any questions during the rental process.
Who Is This Device For?
Everyone.
As a study abroad student this is my first time out of the U.S., and I wish I had known about this device the second I arrived in Barcelona; I got lost countless times and was not able to use Google Maps efficiently. At times when I wasn’t able to figure out which bus or metro to take, to call a cab, send my beautiful pictures to my family and during the times I felt the most alone, Wifitakeaway would have been incredibly helpful.
“Internet is a basic need. We do banking online, we buy everything online, we find a partner online... we do everything online,” says Ricardo. “So, even if you’re 67, you need to stay connected, and you want to stay connected. Our service is so easy that anyone can use it. You don’t have to do anything different than you already do, therefore it’s goes across all ages.”
Wifitakeaway offers flexible, convenient and easy-to-use plans for travelers, there is even a 40GB plan for those traveling for long periods of time. What’s more, Wifitakeaway provides constant support and transparency to make you feel happy, connected and safe.
For more information, visit Wifitakeaway’s website wifitakeaway.es or follow on Twitter @wifitakeaway, Facebook @wifitakeaway, Instagram @wifitakeaway, or LinkedIn Wifitakeaway.
Briana DeTuro is a summer intern and contributing writer at Barcelona Metropolitan. This is her first time out of the country, and she is excited to explore this beautiful city. From Tampa, Florida, she studies journalism with a minor in education at the University of Tampa where she is also a writer and copy editor for the university newspaper. She enjoys reading, movies, documentaries and loves to tell a good story.