I have read some of the advice on cell phone and am considering the option of Eurobuzz, if anyone has any feedback. We will be in Europe for 3 months and my guess is a pre-paid phone we buy over there will be the best bargain. However, I am nervous about having the phone when I arrive versus waiting (as we may need to meet up with our host for a ride, etc.--of course, I know we all lived without this technology not long ago). We'll be staying in Spain, but may travel to surrounding countries. We will also be in the U.K. for two weeks after. Would like the most flexible option. I use Skype for all major calls/calling the U.S. and have a #/paid account, but want the option mainly for my husband and I reaching each other when separated, etc.--so I don't anticipate a lot of minutes being used.
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Vernon, Canada
32349 posts
Shannon, To begin with, you might want to do a search here to find previous posts regarding EuroBuzz. Some of the experiences reported by other users have been "less than favourable". Also have a look at the other "travel SIM" firms such as Roam Simple, Call In Europe, Cellular Abroad, Telestial and Mobal. If there's one that appeals to you, give them a call to get further information. I used one of the above firms this year, and was very pleased with the service - it was exactly as advertised (no surprises). As these are usually "post paid", the call are billed to a credit card so no worries about topping-up or running out of minutes in the middle of a call. If you don't presently have a quad-band, unlocked GSM phone you could have a look at E-Bay or similar sites. Some of the travel phone firms also supply phone & SIM packages. One other benefit of these firms is that the rate structure is the same regardless of which country you're in (that applies to western Europe - travel in eastern Europe is often slightly higher). If you buy a phone in Spain, you'll get the cheapest rates there, but when you venture to other countries you'll be "roaming" and the rates will be higher. Finally, you'd be able to obtain the phone prior to departure so it would be available as soon as you arrive (no waiting). Good luck and happy travels!