Cell phone rental vs. phone card in Germany

Cell phone coverage in Europe is much better than here in the US. As Germany is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, you will have no problems finding a signal anywhere. The real issue is can use your US mobile phone in Europe to access your voice mail. This can be problematic as different systems are in use across the pond. What service are you using in NV?

Thanks so much for your thoughts. I spoke to Verizon yesterday and my phone and internet air card won't work over there. They said I can get an international phone for $4.99 for a month and time is 99 cents per minute. If I want email on that phone it's $29.99 for the phone rental.

Do you really want to spend your time in Europe on the phone? Buy a phone card and call from your hotel room. I remember last year in Salzburg enjoying a beautiful vista after riding the funicular and listening to an Italian woman talking loudly on her cell phone and ignoring the view.

DON'T rent a phone. For planned calls, a card is best. But nothing beats a cell for someone calling from home in an emergency, for two people trying to find each other when separated in a train station, etc. Really great but DON'T RENT. Buy a cheap used unlocked GSM phone before going home orget a cheap one there. you can use it on future trip. Buy a local SIM there so in-country calls are cheap. And you won't worry about paying overpriced fees for calls or for a phone you lost.
I have a Graffiti Wall document on the whole process in Cell Phone tips (search for "prepaidgsm" - one word) to find it. PM me for questions.

Matt, Sarah made it clear why she needed a phone over there. It's unfair of you to suggest that she's going to spend her whole trip talking on a phone. Just because some Italian woman was talking loudly on a phone while you were there doesn't mean everyone that has a cell phone while traveling will be obnoxious...

I would suggest getting an international cell phone -the one I got was only $49 and you only pay when you use it. Very convenient although not as cheap as phone cards

It's from Mobal - www.mobal.com

If all you want to do is occasionally check home, simply buy a phone card and either use your hotel phone (ask first if they still charge you as many hotels are moving away from this)or use one of the internet cafes that usually include call centers. You will be able to call the states for something like 2 cents a minute. Phone cards start at 5 €, so this is a huge savings compared to buying SIM cards, renting phones, paying roaming charges or any of the other things one needs if you want to bring your handy to Europe.

I agree with John: buy an inexpensive unlocked GSM phone ahead of time that you have confirmed will work on the European systems (the networks in Europe are different than North American systems) and charge the battery before you depart. Upon arrival, purchase a pre-paid SIM card. There are usually cell-phone kiosks in the airports and train stations, so you can have a fully-charged ready-to-use phone before head out to your travels. The major cell-phone providers are experienced at examining cell phones and helping select an appropriate network card.

If you are interested in more information, send us a private message and we'll be happy to share.

Todd, help me understand how the pre-paid SIM works. Do you have a new phone number? How much does it cost to call the US if you now have a European phone number (approximate, since it will obviously vary.) I want to have a cell phone for the purposes of calling the airline, B&B's we're staying at, museums/sites for info, to call others in our party if we become separated or to check in with my family once or twice. What if someone calls YOU from the US? OR, is there a website that can help me understand.

Amy, check out my previous posting in this thread. I point you to a whole article and web sites that will give you prices, etc. Basically, if you have a number for that country all your calls will be much cheaper.

It can be 0.25€/minute to more than 1€/min depending on country, the card you pick, etc.

As far as them calling you, mostly incoming is free to you but US callers are making an international call. For extended length calls, best to have Skype or phone card. When someone calls you from home, if it is expensive, you can call them back.

It sure is convenient to have a local cell and gives a good feeling of safety and security even if never used.

You can always PM me for info or a copy of that posting I reference.

Amy,

The primary cellphone carriers in Europe are Vodaphone, T-Mobile, and (in some countries) Orange. You might want to check their websites.

When you obtain a SIM card from a carrier, that SIM card will provide the cell phone a new telephone number that is a "local" number. For example, if you purchase a SIM card in Germany, you will probably receive a German telephone number.

You generally purchase pre-paid minutes for the phone, usually in 30 or 60 minute blocks. When your minutes get low, you can purchase more minutes, called "topping off" (think of "topping off the gas tank in your car), in a variety of ways. First, when you purchase the SIM card, you will receive a card that looks like a credit card. You can dial the telephone number shown on the card, and purchase more minutes with your own credit card. Second, you can go in a variety of stores that have a sign in a window (examples: bookstores, grocery stores, convenience stores) and purchase more minutes. Third, you can go to a store or kiosk for that carrier and purchase more minutes.

I don't know the "per minute" rate. I couldn't locate John's post on that topic (John, can you help?) but I understand that the rates vary depending on the carrier and, like here in the States, the time of day that you place the call.

If you want to make a long call to the State, I again concur with John that you will want to consider Skype. If you not familiar with Skype, it's a free download that allows a person to communicate directly with anyone else with Skype using computers with speakers and microphones. If you have a webcam, you can even see each other.

I hope this helps. Contact us directly if you have more questions.

I would suggest not renting a phone either...I used a company by the name of roamsimple.com excellent service. They have many European SIM cards and a roaming Euro card as well. Great rates like $0.39 per minute in Europe and they have a phone for like $49. Can't go wrong - worth a mention - affordable. 2 Thumbs up