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Calling/Texting Cell Phone to Cell Phone Within Europe

Posted by (Jericho, NY) on

So, I thought I had made the appropriate arrangements before leaving so that my family and I would be able to call and text while in Italy and Austria this spring. I have service though AT&T and I added their passport service to all three phones. Just got the bill and there are roaming charges on all the phones. Not as bad as some people (I have read the horror stories) but I mistakenly thought we were OK and would not incur charges. I am about to call AT&T to go over this with them (assuming I can get someone on the phone) but my concern now is this: In July we are going back to Europe (Switzerland and France). Our daughter will be taking a 2-week music program near Geneva and my wife and I will use the opportunity to do a little touring in Burgundy and visiting some sights in Switzerland. I need to make sure that we can call and text our daughter (and she to us) while we are all three in Europe without incurring big expenses. We use WeChat or What'sApp when wi-fi is available but it isn't always. I am from an older generation that grew up using rotary dial phones so I need a SIMPLE but effective and cost-efficient solution. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Bob

Posted by
1588 posts

Are your daughter's and phones unlocked?

If so, get SIM cards when you arrive.

Posted by
2622 posts

Do you go to Europe often like this - is twice a year a regular thing for you? What about simply switching carriers? I had ATT eons ago before numbers were portable and I thought they were the most outrageously-poorly-run company. Every single month they charged me for overages I could never figure out. I have TMobile. I love it. I arrive in a country, I turn on my phone and it works. Total simplicity. I never have to try to buy a SIM card for foreign travel or buy a new phone when I arrive somewhere.

My monthly bill for 3 phones with unlimited data etc. is about $140 with all taxes. Those phones get unlimited data while I travel (not super fast, but fast enough for my needs), unlimited texting and I make calls at 20 cents per minute. If I can get on wi-fi I can make the calls for free and I'm often able to do that as well.

Posted by
79 posts

Bob: I have a Samsung S7 phone that I got from AT&T. How do I know if it's unlocked? And please explain where I get a Sim card and what it does. Thanks.

Valerie: I wish I traveled to Europe twice every year but I don't. This year is an exception. The AT&T Passport plan costs $40 per phone for unlimited texting and calls at $1 per minute.

Posted by
262 posts

Go to the Poste located near the train station and purchase a prepaid Yallo.ch phone(s) which includes a simm card. You can also purchase them at Interdiscount, other department stores. I've seen for less than 20chf and when I was there last week, there was a touch screen phone for 39chf. They come with a 20chf credit. If you have a phone which is unlocked, you can just purchase the simm card. You will need your passport as you are held responsible for the cell phone number(s) you purchase. As far as roaming when you travel outside of Switzerland, you can add a roaming plan that costs very little. Look on their website, Yallo.ch and select English. Someone on this forum also recommended Salt.ch, but I have no personal experience with them. I also have an AT&T simm card that I use when I travel in the US. I find them more expensive than Yallo. I also make frequent phone calls to US from Yallo.ch and it's very inexpensive.

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