Eurotrip with iPhone 6: best SIM to get for data?
 

Dusting off this old gem... Another trip coming up, but this time more complicated. I'll be traveling with my parents this time. Two weeks. England, Wales, Netherlands, Estonia, Germany (we'll split up at some point). Here's what we'll need:

- Data for my iPhone (2-3GB worth). Minimal talk (emergencies only), no need for text. Will not be going to Germany or Estonia.
- Talk-only plans for my parents (one iPhone, one dumb phone - the dumb phone will be the only one going to Estonia)

GlobalGig, which I used to some success, apparently requires a 3-month commitment now, so they are out. Other options?

Tough. Thats a lot of countries. I'm not sure the roaming regulations will help you keep cost down yet. I think most of that kicks in at the end of 2015.

Is that the order of your trip? If so, I'd buy a France local SIM then an Italy Vodafone SIM. Roam in Monaco on the France SIM and limit use unless they have a special roaming with Monaco. I think Vodafone Passport covers the rest of your countries.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...im-france.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...sim-italy.html

http://www.vodafone.it/portal/Privat...SMART-Passport

You can check the threads for the countries you're visiting:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...i-country.html

Thank you! (and the poster above:))

Orange mobicarte holiday comes with 2 hours talktime and 1,000 text messages which can be used from every European country to all domestic and international numbers. Unfortunately, the data (1GB) can only be used in France.

It's 40€ and good for up to two weeks.

The highlighted is the problem:(. I don't need talk time and text as much.

You probably already know this, but if you get a post-paid T-Mobile USA SIM card, it'll work in most places with unlimited (limited-speed) data, which I've found is more or less good enough for calls, maps, etc. (You can pay extra for LTE-speed) It's $50/mo, but there isn't a contract. Calls are ten cents a minute or so. Coverage in the Alps is theoretically fine, but you'd want to double check against the partner carriers.

Looks like France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium are covered under the unlimited deal, Monaco is possible (but not unlimited) and Liechtenstein doesn't have a roaming agreement with T-Mobile.

Dunno if that meets your needs, but figured I'd mention it.

I do know this and I don't. Meaning: I've heard about T-Mobile having overseas coverage with unlimited data but wasn't sure it was available off-contract. Methinks it's time to swing by my local T-Mobile outlet for a chat with the friendly folks in pink.

I live in Europe and just ordered this sim for an upcoming week long trip to Germany and Belgium. Looks like a good one for roaming. Give it a go.

https://roamerapp.com/en/sim-shop/travelling-to/germany

Haven't been keeping an eye on prepaid SIMs now that T-Mobile US has free roaming, but that certainly looks interesting. I found a slightly better deal here (€18 w/€10 credit instead of €20/€5):

http://simcard.spainsur.com/orange/1...go-europe.html

Thanks! I'll definitely take a look.

Spoke to an employee in a T-Mobile store and he told me that the $50 plan with free international data is off-contract, so, theoretically, I can sign up right before I leave for my Euro trip in May, then cancel when I come back. Truth or am I missing something?

I believe you have to pay $15 for the SIM as well, but yes, that's correct.

There was a SIM in the package of an L90 that I got as a backup phone, but that doesn't do me much good in an iPhone situation, unless I can whittle it down to size somehow.

You can cut a normal SIM down to a micro, but not sure about getting all the way down to nano. Also, T-Mobile will do a hard pull on your credit when establishing service, if that matters to you.

Nano are thinner as well as smaller. I think it's theoretically possible to make a regular sim into a nano with care and sandpaper, but more likely to ruin it.