Use cell phone roaming or buy SIM cards?

Public phones are not as frequent as they used to be any more but you'll find them easily at railway stations etc. There's usually a minimum on SIM cards of around €15 so it doesn't really make sense to buy them given the short amount of time you'll be spending in each country. Your $1 roaming converts to €0.60 per minute so just do the maths...

Saby,

I am with t-mobile too. In order for you to use a non-tmobile SIM card, you will need to call t-mobile first to unlock your phone.You can buy a sim for as much as 5 EUR, but not sure if it will be enough.When you first use that SIM card you will be charge a little bit of money for getting a phone number, but not sure how much it is. Then you will need to figure out how much is per minute. Usually is about 20 cents for local calls.
You can use the sim card to call from one country to another, but I think it will more expensive if it's not a local call, even if you are within EU.
I think the best solution is to use your tmobile phone on roaming.
Maybe you can PM some locals in this forum.They know the best.ASk for rates for local calls and international.

Another thing to keep in mind.Try to tell everyone that knows your cell phone numevr, not to call you while you are in Europe. You will get charged for that at the roaming rate.
A wrong number called me once while I was in Eastern Europe and I got charged $1.99 per minute.
T-mobile told me that even if you don't answer you will get charged, but not sure about that. It's cheaper to send SMS, tmobile states that it's $.99 per message while roaming, but I was charged only $.35

Double check your phone to make sure your phone is usable in Europe. Even though tmobile offers international roaming, your phone may not work overseas

On a positive note, even if you find out the phone doesn't work,there are plenty of cell phone stores. Last October my phone broke in London, and I ducked into a supermobile store, got a prepaid phone, and was out within 20 minutes. It cost me about 80 dollars (39.99 pounds) and it was a good little phone too.

Saby, I have T-Mobile and have used the roaming as you suggest. I rarely use the phone, but it has been convenient to have a mobile for those times when a public phone is not available. I don't think that I have ever spent more than $20 total on a 3 week trip. Just remember that you need to call T-Mobile to activate for international use. Also, checking voice mail will cost you the international rates and there is a different number that you need to dial. Make sure you have the instructions before you go.

Just as your US SIM will work in all countries so will one you buy in Europe work in all countries. The lowest rate only applies in the issuing country, so you'll pay roaming rates when you're not in the home country. One advantage of a European SIM is that incoming calls are free in the issuing country (but your callers from the US are making an int'l call to a number you have to tell them).

My advice is that for the infrequent calls your planning, just take your home phone and use T-Mobile.

Just to follow up with Bea, T-Mobile will charge you even if you don't answer. Was up in Vancouver BC for a day, had my T-Mobile phone with me (turned off) and still got charged for two voice messages left on my phone (which I checked when I returned across the border). Follow up with T-Mobile ended up being successful, but only after two e-mails and talking to a supervisor to reverse the charges.

I don't know if Tmobile has this option, but ATT/Cingular has a $4.99/month plan for international use. I only sign up for the month I'm going to be overseas, then cancel it. It basically drops the "per minute" rate down to a more reasonable cost. You have to make certain you have the right type of phone, not all phones will work in Europe. Avis rents phones for $5 a week, I don't know what that includes, but I know other places rent them too.

I bought a $49 world phone from www.mobal.com. Came VERY highly recommended. The phone and # are yours for life. No other fees/cost.. only pay if used. Can't lose. No brainer. Hope this helps.

A US phone has to be tri-band type in order to work in Europe or other parts of the world.
T-mobile has many of those, but they don't come really cheap.

I strongly recommend you go to http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en to find information on SIM cards as they tell you about all the national and multi-national carriers and their rates. Excellent unbiased site. As to phone, pick one up here before going. There are great deals if you look around. Read my posting in Technology on the R.S. site "Cell Phones for Use in Europe" or PM me for a copy. I explain the whole process and point to good web sites for info.

I have previously loaned phones and SIM cards (someone is in Italy now with my Italian cards) at no cost.

I will answer any questions you have if I can. Just PM me.