Will be studying for a month is Spain and bringing my smartphone. Can I purchase a SIMS card at the Madrid Airport and have them put it in the phone before I leave the airport? I need to be able to use my phone to call the the hotel shuttle. Or are there phones to use in the airport to ring the shuttle?
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7398 posts
At London's Heathrow Airport, definitely, but for Madrid's Barajas, I can't tell you for sure, as we got our SIM at a Movistar store in Toledo, a couple of days after we landed, and they were very helpful installing it and getting our phone set up for use. I was curious, and did an Internet search just now. It appears others have asked the same question online as you for 4 years or more, and it appears there's a Crystal Media store in Terminal 1 that has SIM cards. Once you get out of the airport, you'll see Orange and Movistar stores everywhere, but that may not help you if you need to call from the airport! Can your hotel give you any tips or options? Hopefully someone can confirm this for you.
I will say that on our way to customs after landing in 2013, we HAD to walk thru a big retail store on the way . . . not certain if SIM cards were part of the forced merchandise display. I bet you can find one, but unfortunately can;t personally guarantee it.
Posted by
California 🦋
5226 posts
Laurie,
Do you know which terminal you will be arriving at?
I'd call the hotel for more information regarding the shuttle vans' schedule.
As I recall, there is an area right outside Terminal 4 where the hotel shuttle vans line up & wait for passengers.
We actually took our hotel's shuttle from terminal 4 & the driver drove to the other terminals looking for other passengers before driving us to our hotel.
I purchased a 'Lebara' SIM card at the Atocha train station, but according to this website, there is a shop in the airport (terminal 4, 2nd floor) where you can buy SIM cards: http://tinyurl.com/Madrid-Airport-shops
You may find this website helpful:http://tinyurl.com/International-Students-Madrid
Please note: In Spain, as in most or all European countries, the ground floor is the floor that is level with the ground (referred to as the first floor in the US), the first floor is the level above the ground floor, and so on.
Enjoy your study abroad experience!
EDIT: Make sure your phone is unlocked by your phone company, before you travel, otherwise a SIM card purchased in Spain will not help you.
I remember while waiting to buy my SIM card, the couple in front of us had just purchased 2 sim cards for their smartphones, but only one of their phones was unlocked & the couple were a bit disappointed...
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thank you for your help. It appears will be landing at Terminal 1, but not definite. Thank you for the helpful link about studying in Madrid. I appreciate all your help. Hopefully the store in Terminal 1 still carries SIMS.