How much is a European SIM card, exactly?
Apr 11, 2010, 9:15 am
#541
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,654
Apr 21, 2010, 1:33 pm
#542
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: MCO
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold UA CO DL BA SPG Hyatt Hilton Marriott
Posts: 41
SIM in Spain
Pardon me if this has been covered. Now in Spain you have to activate a SIM card in person with your passport in hand. It is due to their increased security. Thinking I was saving time, I had bought my card on the Web only to find I had to go through this process anyway.
Apr 27, 2010, 11:33 pm
#543
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bay Area
Programs: HH, PC, SPG, MR, GP, US, UA, AA
Posts: 3,477
Best option for Italy, UK, and France
I'm planning to travel to Italy, UK, and France in June. I have an unlocked quad-band phone, all I need is to have an emergency contact number for others to reach me, no need for data, since I'll travel thru 3 countries, low international roaming charges is preferred. Any suggestion about which SIM card suits my needs the most, or should I just buy new one in each country? Thanks.
Apr 28, 2010, 4:10 am
#544
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chicago
Posts: 579
If you are just spending a few days in each country, and as you stated that it's just for emergency, I'd suggest just buy a sim card in your first destination and roam with it in the others. EU roamimg rates on a card from an EU country is reasonable.
I'm planning to travel to Italy, UK, and France in June. I have an unlocked quad-band phone, all I need is to have an emergency contact number for others to reach me, no need for data, since I'll travel thru 3 countries, low international roaming charges is preferred. Any suggestion about which SIM card suits my needs the most, or should I just buy new one in each country? Thanks.
Apr 29, 2010, 12:12 am
#545
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bay Area
Programs: HH, PC, SPG, MR, GP, US, UA, AA
Posts: 3,477
Thanks for the reply. I'll spend the most time in Italy, which SIM card would you recommend?
Apr 29, 2010, 2:54 am
#546
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chicago
Posts: 579
Sorry, I personally do not have any experience with the carriers in Italy. However, most of the folks at prepaidgsm seem to recommend WIND and TIM. You can check out the European forums there to see what is mostly recommended.
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/italy.html
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/italy.html
Apr 30, 2010, 7:26 am
#547
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: GRR
Programs: Delta Plat & Million Miler
Posts: 1,382
Free to a good home--German SIM card
Just returned from Germany with an E-Plus SIM card that has about 13 euros value left on it. Since I won't be returning in the near future, I thought I would give back to Flyer Talk for all the good advice i've gotten.
If you can use this card, just PM me with your snail mail address--first one to respond gets it
If you can use this card, just PM me with your snail mail address--first one to respond gets it
Apr 30, 2010, 6:34 pm
#548
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: GRR
Programs: Delta Plat & Million Miler
Posts: 1,382
Just returned from Germany with an E-Plus SIM card that has about 13 euros value left on it. Since I won't be returning in the near future, I thought I would give back to Flyer Talk for all the good advice i've gotten.
If you can use this card, just PM me with your snail mail address--first one to respond gets it
If you can use this card, just PM me with your snail mail address--first one to respond gets it
May 3, 2010, 8:35 am
#549
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: ATL, BHM, DUB, County Wexford
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Posts: 4,869
May 11, 2010, 11:24 am
#550
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,919
thanks to gretchendz! for the SIM CARD they passed along to me, just for a good karma trade. I'll use it in June for another euro trip and give it a try, and then pass it on to another FT'er.
Thanks again GT
Thanks again GT
May 16, 2010, 7:55 am
#551
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Nebulous
Programs: Delta, KLM, Luftansa
Posts: 125
I've been traveling with a cheap GSM phone for years and have a lot of different sim cards. In my experience, it makes little sense to buy other than Vodafone cards as Vodafone serves nearly all of Europe and much of the Middle east.
May 20, 2010, 11:36 am
#552
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Programs: US Plat, AA, Marriott Silver, PC Plat, TSA Full-body scan - Glow in the Dark level
Posts: 38
My wife is traveling to both Ireland and Japan this summer. What recommendations do you have for a phone and sim card that could work in both or a phone that will work in both places and separate sim cards.
She would like to be able to call home in the US to talk to the kids and have an emergency number.
She would like to be able to call home in the US to talk to the kids and have an emergency number.
Last edited by INDSEAT; May 20, 2010 at 11:41 am Reason: forgot part of what I was going to say
May 20, 2010, 3:47 pm
#553
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 311
A phone with UMTS 3G 2100 band will work in both countries, the cheapest phones won't have this. An Irish Vodafone SIM would be reasonable value for Ireland. Japan is a bit of an outlier, you'd probably have to get a local SIM there, I doubt if any European SIM would give good value there.
May 26, 2010, 7:21 am
#554
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: ATL, BHM, DUB, County Wexford
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Posts: 4,869
My wife is traveling to both Ireland and Japan this summer. What recommendations do you have for a phone and sim card that could work in both or a phone that will work in both places and separate sim cards.
She would like to be able to call home in the US to talk to the kids and have an emergency number.
She would like to be able to call home in the US to talk to the kids and have an emergency number.
It offers free incoming in both Ireland and Japan.
l results are shown in US Dollars. Please note that currency conversion rates are subject to change.
Calling From Japan to United States $0.49 per minute
Service Fee for Calling From Japan $0.35 per call
Rate to receive a call in Japan on the Global Number FREE
Rate to receive a call in Japan on the US Number $0.19 per minute
Service fee for receiving a call in Japan NO SERVICE FEE
http://www.ekit.com/ekit/MobilePurchase/Sims
May 30, 2010, 4:05 pm
#555
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: DL MM, Marriott LT Titanium, AA EXP, Avis Chairmans
Posts: 1,399
I'll be in Amsterdam and France with my iPhone for two weeks. I'd like to get an unlimited data SIM card. For voice, I only need 30-60 min of semi-cheap time back to the US. Thoughts?