Any experience with Rebelfone or Cello?

I should clarify. I would like to rent a phone to use in Britain.

Nancy, Renting a phone is about the MOST expensive option, so it's not something I'd recommend. Do you presently have a Cellphone now, and if so which network? Another option would be to buy an inexpensive PAYG phone when you arrive in the U.K. I haven't used either of the services you mentioned, however I have seen "mixed" reviews on RebelFone. Happy travels!

Nancy, It occurred to me that you might be with Verizon, and I was going to suggest the Global Loaner program. However, as you found out they have a limit of 30-days. If you're going to be away that long, renting may be prohibitively expensive. If you'd prefer to have a phone before leaving, you might also have a look at some of the travel phone firms such as Cellular Abroad, Roam Simple, Call In Europe, Telestial or Mobal. I've been using one of them for the past few years, and it's worked well. Many of the firms use numbers based in the U.K. and have post-paid billing (calls charged to a credit card), so there are no worries about running out of minutes in the middle of a call or "topping up". Rates are consistent through most countries in western Europe (the "Zone 1" countries), but travel in some parts of eastern Europe ("Zone 2" countries) will be a bit more expensive. Check the respective websites for details and costs. What type of usage do you anticipate for the phone - calls back to the U.S., in-country calls, text messaging??? I'm assuming you don't need data or web browsing? At least one of the firms offers a local number option, which would make it easier for people at home to reach you by just dialing a local number (but you'd pay the for incoming call). You could also buy an unlocked quad-band GSM phone off E-Bay, and use it either with a SIM from one of the travel phone firms OR with a SIM bought in the first country you visit. That would allow you to choose the type of phone. If you're familiar with a "Flip", buy a phone of that type. I've been using a Motorola V-551 for several years, and it's worked well. Other than buying an inexpensive PAYG phone in the first country you visit, that's about the only option I can think of. Good luck!

I have Verizon but my phone is an older flip phone and my local Verizon office looked at it and told me that it wouldn't work in Europe. They suggested upgrading to a Smart Phone (which I might do when I get home but not now.) They referred me to Verizon Global Rental but we are away too long for them to help. They referred me to CellHire and at that point I decided to start looking around. Rebelfone and Cello are phone rental services. Eurobuzz and Mobal are, I think, phone purchases where you get the phone in Europe. I liked CellHire because I'd have the phone before leaving the U.S. Any comments?

No, Mobal and EuroBuzz are In Your Hands and fully charged before you leave your home! They are the same company, but EuroBuzz is for Europe only. Mobal sells a variety of products - North American, Europe and the world... Since EuroBuzz is for Europe only, your $29 phone will be a dual-band phone that will work Only In Europe! You charge it at home (multi-voltage charger and international plug adapters included), but can't use it until you're actually in Europe, including setting up your voice mail. I own two EuroBuzz phones that worked great, both voice/phone and text. I keep the same phone number, and only pay for what minutes I use after I've used them. No need to ever 'top off' my minutes to keep my phone number. (same goes for the $9 SIM card, too) It's not the cheapest, but it's probably the simplest - 79 cents per call (including the USA), and you receive texts for free (the same phone from Mobal - with many more countries besides Europe - start at $1.25/call and 80 cents per outgoing text). Great for those 'I'm done with the museum; wanna meet at the cafe at 5:00?' texts and phone calls, or 'we're going to be late arriving at your hotel this evening; we'll be there around 8:00'. And if worst comes to worst and you lose/drop it, it's NOT your $600 iPhone :-( And although these phones will only physically work in Europe, you can send or receive calls and texts to or from anywhere in the world for the same 79 cents. We've had a great experience with ours...they worked just as advertised! (and a big Thanks! to Darcy from Lewiston, Idaho USA for the recommendation!)

Thank you Ken and Eileen. I am an incurable "ditherer" but you helped me over the information hump. I spend just too much time gathering information but now I've ordered a phone from Eurobuzz and am ready to move on to the next thing. Huge sigh of relief.

You're welcome! I completely understand dithering...;-) After your trip, please come back to this thread and post about your experience with your EuroBuzz phone.

Thanks for the acknowledgement, Eileen. We continue to be pleased with our EuroBuzz phones too. Strangely enough, my husband has learned that he's supposed to keep his phone charged and on for me to be able to call him! :) We've had ours since our 2010 trip and been pleased every time and pleased once we received the visa bill. (Just remember to notify EuroBuzz if you have to get a new cc number and/or update your expiration date!)

I too have a Mobal phone and it does the job. We have taken it on at least 5 trips. I rarely use it, since I take my itouch for email and even texting, but it sure came in handy last year when I had to call my bank!

Hee!! How are things in "colarado," hon??? And tell me more about the "quiet reasonable" thing, dear. Golly, that must be a really sad company if their spammers can't do any better than that. At least they're good for a slight chuckle over early morning coffee. PS: I bought an unlocked quad-band phone plus prepaid SIM card at a Carphone Warehouse in London in 2009 for about 15 GBP. The phone works anywhere in the world (except where the only cell service is GSM), and replacing the SIM card is a no-brainer and doesn't have to cost the earth. I've only heard of Rebelfone here but the spam posts are all I need to know about that. And I agree with the post way up at the top: renting a phone is a grand plan if you have lots of money to burn. Which I don't.

I had used Rebelfone International SIM Card for my foreign trip. My experience was just average using its services. Call rates wasnt that cheaper which they claim for. Network coverage was available at most of the places. But there are other options available for people looking for it.

I am a frequent traveler and has been traveling all around the world. Of course i use international telecom solution while traveling abroad. I have had used international sim card and phone rentals from many providers in the country. Not only Rebelfone, but at&t, verizon, cellhire & orange to my recall. My experience has always been same more or less. All telecom providers have their own tactics of earning money from customers. So nobody would provide you transparent services. But, yes i would like to suggest people to use either international sim card or phone rentals as using them helps in saving a lot of money. You save a lot on international roaming charges. Also, if you are taking your local number to foreign destination, then you would find very bad network coverage and call connection would always go on toss. And, plus you pay huge roaming bills. so its always wise to use these services which are no doubt of great utility to to global travelers.

I'm a bit reluctant to reactivate this somewhat dormant Thread, but felt that a couple of points need to be addressed.... "or phone rentals as using them helps in saving a lot of money." I've compared a lot of rental plans, and have NEVER found that these save money. Customers not only have to pay the rental charge for the phone, but often that same rates charged by many "travel phone" firms when they actually use the phone. "if you are taking your local number to foreign destination, then you would find very bad network coverage and call connection would always go on toss. And, plus you pay huge roaming bills." This has most definitely NOT been my experience when roaming with my home cell network. In fact, the coverage is often better than buying a phone in Europe or using a SIM with a Euro network. When using a local SIM, network coverage can be "less-than-ideal" in some areas, due to the fact that networks in a given country don't always provide the same geographical coverage. When roaming with my home network, the phone chooses the strongest signal in each area. Using Italy as an example, that means I may be connected to TIM in the morning and WIND in the afternoon, based on my location at the time. The cost is the same. The same situation applies when I'm travelling with a "roaming SIM" based on a U.K. phone number. The phone always goes to the strongest signal, and the rates I'm paying are consistent regardless of which country I'm in (based on "zones") or which Euro cell network I'm using. Using a cheap PAYG phone or Euro SIM (for those that already have a compatible phone) is usually the cheapest option, but there are a few limitations with that approach. Cheers!