Vodafone SIM cards

I've heard of those vendors on the street so apparently they are legit!

I'll be bring my phone for the first time to Greece.

Not 100% sure of how it works.

With the SIM card I can only text/call in Greece but not to another country. Is that correct?

If I use data (that's internet, correct?) Can I log onto my email account and send emails to another country without extra cost?

I'm new at cell phone use in another country.

Tommy, who is your cell phone provider at home? Perhaps they offer international roaming - some do e.g. T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T. If they do, you don't need to buy a SIM card to use the phone in another country. But the international roaming plan if available may incur an extra cost.

Your phone must also be "unlocked" if you plan to use a Greek SIM in place of your US SIM card. If you bought the phone from a provider like AT&&T, it may be locked by them. They may be able to unlock it for you by request - all that means is that they give you an "unlock code," and the very first time you insert a new SIM card, you'll have to type in that unlock code, just that one time, before you can use your phone at all.

But...if you get a Greek SIM card, you'll have a Greek phone number while that SIM card is in place. You'll be able to call/text back home but it will be an international call and possibly and extra cost, like calling Greece from the US.

You can use your regular apps, email, etc. on your phone with Greek SIM. However, keep in mind that you won't have your US cell number while you have your Greek SIM in place - so if you ever need to confirm your identity with 2-factor authentication (where a company texts you a code at your known cell phone number, to confirm who you are) that you won't be able to do that if you have a new Greek phone number and no longer have your US number for texts.

Email does not cost more if you send/receive it from overseas - only if you use mobile data (not WiFi). Your SIM card will have some mobile data included as part of the plan you buy with it, and when it runs out you'll need to buy more...or buy enough data in the first place with the prepaid Greek SIM so you'll not run out. If you use WiFi, you won't use any mobile data.

"so if you ever need to confirm your identity with 2-factor authentication"

Any bank or other entity that pushes 2FA should offer both texts and emails as options to receive the authentication code and emails will work with the Greek SIM.

Should but doesn't.

Do you mean YOUR bank doesn't or no ones bank does?

I've been doing the foreign SIM card trade out for like 6-7 years and have had nothing but success at rates far far cheaper than my at home provider offers.

I mean, some of the 2FA services I use only use a text to a cell phone number. Some allow the use of both. Don't assume every 2FA allows the use of email too just because your bank does.

I use Google Voice so I can still receive text messages on my regular number no matter what SIM card I have in place.

"With the SIM card I can only text/call in Greece but not to another country. Is that correct?"

That may or may not be correct it will depend on the plan you purchase - most SIMs that offer both minutes and data offer some or all the minutes for international calls.
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"If I use data (that's internet, correct?) Can I log onto my email account and send emails to another country without extra cost?"

That is correct.

In fact, if you have an iPhone you can continue to receive iMessages because iMessages operate on the data side not on the cellular side.

Further to all of this, if you had absolutely no need for making or taking telephone calls while on holiday in say Europe AND you have an iPhone, you could just set the phone to Airplane Mode, turn wifi on, and leave it on for the trip you could receive emails and iMessages whenever you pass by an open server, while you're out sightseeing - the caution there is security of the open internet.

"Don't assume every 2FA"

Your stated assumption was that no one offered 2FA authentication codes by email, period.

Hi all, just to follow up, it is true that I couldn't get the two-factor texts from my bank or other entity when using the Vodafone SIM card. However, you are typically given the option of receiving authorization codes by either text or email. The one time I was asked to verify I was me, I had the bank sent me the code via email. Verizon is my carrier and provides an option of using my phone for $10 a day while in Europe. I provide my temporary number to family and close friends so they know how to contact me for any urgent matters. Anyone else can just wait until I return. I find it cheaper and more convenient for contacting folks locally when using a foreign SIM particularly for taxi and travel apps. I also like that I have more than enough data to upload my pictures to iCloud as I take them, so that if anything happens, I know I am not going to lose my pictures. It is my understanding that smart phones are no longer locked, so switching to a foreign SIM shouldn't be a problem for anyone. I know I haven't had a problem with compatibility in the 10+ years I have been doing this both in Europe and Asia. However, you could probably check with your carrier for more info. Linda

Do they have a store in ATH? Or what other alternative carriers do they have at the airport?