International Cell Phone Plans

First, I'd print out the Swiss Passes. No worries of dead battery when it's on paper.
Second, why do you want to keep accessing sbb.ch? Only reason I can think of is if you keep changing plans on the fly. Otherwise, I've traveled all over Switz without phone access. Don't worry about trains changing or being late. They are utterly reliable and on time. Also, stations are willing to print out connections if you will be in a town for awhile and want to know when certain trains leave. Train station personnel speak very good English.

Get a SIM at the airport for 30CHF. For 9 days it will essentially be unlimited internet and calling.

Money well spent when you think of ALL the time it will save you with the internet, Tripadvisor, Google Maps, Google Translate (including the ability to point your phone at a menu and have it translate it!), grocery store apps, mySwitzerland and SBB apps, etc.

That sounds like a great idea. I have an LG G2 D800 with AT&T. I'm not sure if this is an unlocked phone that will work with a different sim card. How can I tell?

Based on this:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mobile_network_operators_of_Europe#Switzerland

And this:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LG_G2

Switzerland supports a variety of frequencies--check them out. All support 900/1800.

Your phone supports [2/3G] GSM 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS 850/1900/2100 and [LTE] 1900(2)/1700(4)/850(5)/700(17).

This will get you connected. Call your phone company and get it unlocked, or at least verify that it is, before you take off.

I am curious which prepaid plan simm card card is available at the airport for 30CHF that offers unlimited calling and internet. Would be great to know. Thanks.

LacLeman: I am not aware of any plans offered at the airport that offer actual unlimited internet and and calling.

"Get a SIM at the airport for 30CHF. For 9 days it will *essentially be unlimited internet and calling*."

Chad is going for 9 days. The plan that I picked up last time I was there, a couple of months ago, was for 30 GB internet and I don't remember how many minutes of talk time. For someone that will be in Switzerland for 9 days 30 GB and the talk time provided will feel, for all intents and purposes, like unlimited.

I used it for almost 50 days the time before last. I had to refill it a couple of times. In 9 days I don't think that they will use it all.

You can get a global sim for $10 with 200 min/mo. at www.freedompop.com
BUT, you need to cancel all the extras they will charge you for if you don't read the fine print.
Instructions can be found in the wikis (1st page) of the discussions of these on www.slickdeals.net Search for "sim", cancel what they tell you, and it will work.

Cabalist, thank you for your reply. That sounds like a great rate. I use a prepaid plan and if you remember the brand and/or carrier, I can pick up next week while I am at the airport. Many thanks.

Chad,

Your profile doesn't indicate where you're from, but the international plan with your home network is going to be the simplest and easiest option. $30 is a reasonable charge and in terms of the overall cost of the trip that's not a huge expense. For such a short trip, buying local SIM cards is hardly worth the effort.

You won't be able to use a SIM purchased at the airport (or anywhere else) unless your phone is unlocked. Your home cell network should be able to tell you whether the phone is locked.

I agree with a previous suggestion to print the Swiss Passes, as that's a safer solution than relying on a smart phone ("Murphy's Law").

Finally, be sure to check your phone charger to ensure that it's capable of use on European 220 VAC. You will of course need appropriate Plug Adapters in order to connect to the power outlets.

Salt.

In the US we pay something like $120/monthly for two lines for unlimited talk and 2 GB Internet. We are thinking about changing over from Verizon to another carrier but are worried about coverage. I would love to pay $30/monthly for 30 GB :)

Cabalist, thank you for your reply. A younger friend of mine had told me about Salt not long ago as I think they are fairly new or perhaps just becoming more well known. I have used Yallo for many years now for telephone only and they are considered a budget carrier. I haven't recommended Yallo to anyone other than locals because they required proof of residence in Switzerland when I purchased the plan many years ago. I'm glad to have a second recommendation for Salt and will pick up the sim when I pass through Geneva later this week.

LacLeman: They used to be Orange, which I used before.

Thank you cabalist for all your help.

War Eagle!

Cabalist,
Just to clarify, you picked up this sim card at the Salt store at the Zurich airport?

I did, at ZRH. If you are on a train you can stop at the airport, get it, and then get back on the train. ZRH is like an airport with a mall...or an airport IN a mall.

Hello again. My wife and I returned from a lovely Swiss trip last week. I wanted to share my experience with the Salt sim card. I was able to get a sim card with unlimited data for 10 days for 10chf. It worked out perfect for me. I just used google hangouts when I wanted to call home (it was free that way). I was expecting to have to pay 30chf like cabalist had mentioned, but this was great.

NOTE: the card I purchased was DATA ONLY; no cell calling available on this plan.

Qucick question, did you go Salt and did you notice if the 30CHF plan wa still available?

Go Longhorns! ;)