Phone service via EU SIM card

1. Your phone must be unlocked from Verizon in order to accept a different SIM card. Verizon can tell you how to do that. Your phone also has to be a quad-band, compatible with European frequencies.

2. A new SIM gives you a different phone number.

There are many threads here talking about the various options. You can find them via the Search box at the top of the page. Depending on your particular needs, the length of your trip, etc., one option might be better than another. It is safe and "no big deal" for me to use a different number during my trip, but it might not be ideal for you. If you need to access your regular voicemail, a new SIM will not let you do that.

jim,

i returned from a trip this past Sept and bought Pay As You Go (PAYG) SIMs from 5 different countries.

i should note that i have a Note 3 5.7 that i purchased outright late last year for my travels. Also, i can only attest to what i used and purchased. Since i only purchased SIM cards from vendors that had them (some were out!) and spoke english.

From what i can tell externally (as in operator interface and files) i have not noticed any changes. Internally, who knows, but i still have all of my contacts and such where i want/need/placed them. The SIM may add a desktop icon/link to their web site, but i just look at them and will dump them if they aren't important.

Just an important note. If you decide to buy a SIM overthere, make sure you can add minutes to it if you will be "roaming" around. Roaming will chew up your minutes faster. If you buy one in Germany chances are you will have to buy a "voucher" to add minutes. You can add more minutes when you buy the SIM too, but once you are out of the country of origin, you won't be able to buy a voucher, but you can add minutes via a voucher anywhere. I bought my vouchers at a gas station/convenience type store or at one of the provider shops around town. You need to know what provider you have too, but that shouldn't be an issue. You will need to buy the vouchers in certain denominations, but that shouldn't be an issue.

one other important issue.

Locked or unlocked phone. Samsung has installed "regional" locks in their new devices. You can google up on this and get educated. Being "low tech", is okay, but you should be an "informed" user. You really need to get your phones "unlock" code. If you have purchased your phone outright you need to get your code -period. Don't take any shop employees word that its "unlocked" since you paid for it outright. I did and my phone was locked. I found out when i was over in Europe trying to get my SIM to work. If you are from the USA, your phone will (should) work with any USA SIM. As soon as you install any non USA SIM it will lock if you dont have the unlock code. You can put your original SIM back in and it will unlock (for that SIM) and you can use it again, but only for that SIM.

Before you go, jot down the providers 1-800 or whatever number for help/assistance. IF you're lucky, they may have a world 1-800 number to call. Also, just an fyi, from what the service people told me, the unlock code can take anywhere from 24 hours to 1 month to get from the manfuacturer. If they dont have it, they cant give it to you. The manufacturer has to pass on that info, and from what i can guess, that info maybe lagging.

good luck and happy trails.

{Edit}

Nancy is correct in that your phone needs to be unlocked. AT&T has told me to call customer service a week beforehand trip to have them walk me through the process.

Do a search on this site for EuroBuzz. This company has had recommendations since 2010 on this website. A SIM costs $9 which is programmed w/a US number & a EU number that are yours to keep {as long as there is a valid credit card on file}. One is able to call all over EU.

I will be using one based on the research I have done.

If you have an IPhone5 or better, check the ATT new "Passport" program. Should Santa bring me an updated phone, this is the program I would go with.

As of now EuroBuzz is my choice b/c of the phone I own.

EuroBuzz works in any unlocked phone, not just certain ones, and you can call over 100 countries with it (including back to the US). They also sell phones if you want a dedicated phone for travel. I keep a EuroBuzz SIM in my dual-SIM phone because the number is permanent. But I also keep a local SIM in the other slot because it is cheaper to use. EuroBuzz is a post-paid system - you are not charged unless you make a call. The per-minute cost is higher, but you never have to add minutes or pay monthly charges, and your SIM never expires. Still, if you need to take calls from customers while you are gone, you might not want to deal with a different number. You also won't be able to access your regular voicemail. Your personal circumstances might make the Verizon plan the only one that will do what you want, but it will have drawbacks, too. If the customers don't realize that you are traveling, you could be getting calls at all hours because they don't consider the time difference. Only you can determine what will work better for you.

Thank you, Nancy, for being the voice of "experience" the OP asked for on a specific SIM.

Please allow me to add to Nancy's original post . Since you indicate that you have an S5 phone , as I understand , since the S4 , these phones are shipped unlocked and need no further action . I switched from a blackberry ( after 4 years ) to an S4 this summer in anticipation of our upcoming fall trip . After numerous calls to Verizon , I kept getting the same answer . We arrived in London on September 1 ,and popped in a LEBARA sim card - the phone worked like a charm . In any event , follow Nancy's guidance just to be certain . Also have a look at the LEBARA website which will indicate the countries where their sims are available .