The phone I own is not GSM and I will be in Italy, France and the UK over a 2 week period. What do you suggest, no phone, rent a phone ahead of time, buy a prepaid when I get there, better ideas?
Posted by
San Diego, CA, United States
10 posts
We rented a phone with our car thru AutoEurope and it was great. Not very modern but it worked for our purposes and it was very inexpensive.
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
368 posts
What were you planning to use the phone for?
Personally, I wouldn't bother with one unless you are trying to keep separate groups of people on the trip in touch. Everything you need to do in regards to reservations, etc. can be done via email...
Posted by
OP
Auburndale, FL, USA
8 posts
Keeping in touch with family back home, but as you said, that can be done with email.
Posted by
OH, OH, USA
1158 posts
Get an unlocked tri or quad band from ebay. A used one is around $30-40, or less if you are lucky.
Buy a SIM card when you get to the first country, and/or other ones in each country you are going to travel to.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32352 posts
As someone else mentioned, you could buy an unlocked quad-band phone from Ebay and buy a SIM card when you arrive in Europe. The problem with that is that when you travel outside the country where the card was purchased you'll pay high roaming rates.
You might also check Cellular Abroad or Mobal for rentals or SIM cards. If your present cell plan is with Verizon, I believe they have a rental plan.
Keeping in touch with family back home is quite inexpensive when using text.
Happy travels!
Posted by
Colorado Springs
334 posts
I have used Mobal for a number of years now. The phone was only $49 (only tri-band for Europe)- no contract, just charges for calls. It's not cheap to use ($1.50 + per minute) in most of Europe, but the comfort of knowing family can reach us if they need to, and that we can go our separate ways once in awhile is nice. We rarely have over $100 in call charges during a 6 week trip - depends on how much you use it. It is an international call from the states, so can be more expensive from here.
Posted by
OP
Auburndale, FL, USA
8 posts
Did you purchase the protection plan?
Posted by
Orlando
191 posts
I am responding to your intended use, keeping in touch back home, and would suggest if you are travelling with a laptop you can always use skype to call landlines back home for around 2 cents/minute.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Brad, I use Mobal, too, and did not purchase the protection plan. I carry mine only for emergencies and sometimes never use it at all on a trip. I prefer email if available.
Posted by
Grapevine, TX, USA
875 posts
I bought an unlocked GSM phone and then used Range Roamer for service rather than buy multiple SIM cards. It worked well for us. Have added minutes to my balance remaining from last year and will use again this year. Easy to use.