PrePaidGSM.net Forum (Archived) - View Single Post - What cell sim cards should a USA guy use in Europe

bobsofi · **What cell sim cards should a USA guy use in Europe -** 30-07-2013, 00:48

I posted awhile back, and thanks for all your reply's. I am 3+ weeks out and it's time to pull the trigger on what advance purchase cell sim cards a USA guy should use in Europe.

So I Q'd several experiened Ebay Sim Card sellers; and recieved some new to me reply info. I will post their replys exactly as I received them, for others that follow. Gotta love Ebay!

HERE'S WHAT I WROTE

Hi, USA citizen travelling on a 40 day cruise next month, the baltics and down into and all through the Mediterranean. I would like affordable data on land in 32 ports, in many countries. I have an unlocked Samsung Note 1, i717 phone (GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100). What sims and strategy should i use to get maximum data and make voip telephone calls. !!! THANKS !!!

FOLLOWING ARE SOME REPLY'S
1)
Thanks for the very interesting question.
I think your phone will work as normal in Europe.
Unfortunately, data costs are quite significant in European roaming with UK SIM card. I am not sure about non-EU SIM cards, because I don't deal with them.
I see 3 possible strategies for you.
1. Buy SIM cards in each port as soon as you land. You will definitely have the lowest rate for the country. The downsides are: your number will change often, if you want your family to call you. Also, you'll have a hassle to buy and topup the SIM card. Your unused balance will expire.
1.1. As a sub-version, you can try EU (non-UK) SIM card in the first port of landing and use it across EU. It may be cheaper than the use of UK SIM card all the time. But I am not sure, as I said: I only deal with UK SIM cards. Also, topping up the SIM card abroad can be troublesome (it is always the case).

2. Buy an international SIM. It tends to be expensive, but may be more flexible. Check online. Again, I don't deal with them.

3. Buy a UK SIM card with good European roaming rates. I checked some from my stock (Virgin, O2, Vodafone, Orange) and must admit Orange offers the best solution. Here are some of them:

* Vodafone World: 2 GBP for 25Mb of data each day you use it.
http://www.vodafone.co.uk/cs/groups/...ftst062362.pdf

* O2's service is O2 Travel, but it is only 15Mb for 1.99 GBP
O2 | International | O2 Travel Pay & Go ? Data from 1.99

* Orange's packages: 20Mb for 1 day for 1 GBP
Using Your Mobile Abroad | Roaming | Help and Support | Orange UK

Usually,you will have problems topping up SIM card abroad (doesn't matter the country of SIM issue). For sure, non-UK credit card holders have problems with topping up UK SIM cards online. Just a little relief, Orange and Vodafone UK have facilities to topup in Spain.
If you purchase a UK SIM card, then, as a solution, you can calculate and add enough credit to your phone while you're in the UK. Or I can help you with this. I charge $20 per 10 GBP topup. I can topup the SIM card before dispach, or send you a topup voucher with it, or send it later by email. You can use topup vouchers abroad on O2 and Orange. It does not work on Vodafone, as far as I know.

The choice is yours now!

2)
Hi,

Yes the o2 sim card will be perfect

Just choose the international option when topping up ...

thank you

3)
This depends on the countries to which you are travelling. We only stock UK sim cards currently for Europe.
Our Three sim card:
UK Three Pay as You Go Sim Card Use Soon as You Land Unlimited Data 3c MIN to US | eBay
Will give you unlimited data in the UK with a £15 voucher
Hope this helps
You might want to check out the Three Ireland sim (even if you are not in Ireland) which will allow free data roaming on Three in Italy, Austria and Sweden provided it has credit and a suitable add-on
Regards,

4)
Thanks for your inquiry, European data especially on PAYG is still relatively expansive, I have managed to compare them on different UK networks and had found Orange to be the most affordable. Here is the link to buy an Orange SIM card from us, further top ups can be purchased from us at a cost of additional 5% to cover PayPal charges, e.g. £20 would cost £21.

UK Orange SIM Card with £10 credit | eBay

The EU bundle from Orange is here

Using Your Mobile Abroad | Roaming | Help and Support | Orange UK

If you prefer the rental option our business associates Global Travel Telecommunications Inc have a counter at LAX.

5)
Hi thanks for your email, whilst our SIM is great value if you are in the UK elsewhere you pay Data Roaming charges etc Calls and Tariffs to countries other than UK you may be better off with a Roaming SIm and just Google this for suppliers.

I hope this helps.

	(#1)
bobsofi (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 4 Join Date: 27 May 2013 Country:	What cell sim cards should a USA guy use in Europe - 30-07-2013, 00:48 I posted awhile back, and thanks for all your reply's. I am 3+ weeks out and it's time to pull the trigger on what advance purchase cell sim cards a USA guy should use in Europe. So I Q'd several experiened Ebay Sim Card sellers; and recieved some new to me reply info. I will post their replys exactly as I received them, for others that follow. Gotta love Ebay! HERE'S WHAT I WROTE Hi, USA citizen travelling on a 40 day cruise next month, the baltics and down into and all through the Mediterranean. I would like affordable data on land in 32 ports, in many countries. I have an unlocked Samsung Note 1, i717 phone (GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100). What sims and strategy should i use to get maximum data and make voip telephone calls. !!! THANKS !!! FOLLOWING ARE SOME REPLY'S 1) Thanks for the very interesting question. I think your phone will work as normal in Europe. Unfortunately, data costs are quite significant in European roaming with UK SIM card. I am not sure about non-EU SIM cards, because I don't deal with them. I see 3 possible strategies for you. 1. Buy SIM cards in each port as soon as you land. You will definitely have the lowest rate for the country. The downsides are: your number will change often, if you want your family to call you. Also, you'll have a hassle to buy and topup the SIM card. Your unused balance will expire. 1.1. As a sub-version, you can try EU (non-UK) SIM card in the first port of landing and use it across EU. It may be cheaper than the use of UK SIM card all the time. But I am not sure, as I said: I only deal with UK SIM cards. Also, topping up the SIM card abroad can be troublesome (it is always the case). 2. Buy an international SIM. It tends to be expensive, but may be more flexible. Check online. Again, I don't deal with them. 3. Buy a UK SIM card with good European roaming rates. I checked some from my stock (Virgin, O2, Vodafone, Orange) and must admit Orange offers the best solution. Here are some of them: * Vodafone World: 2 GBP for 25Mb of data each day you use it. http://www.vodafone.co.uk/cs/groups/...ftst062362.pdf * O2's service is O2 Travel, but it is only 15Mb for 1.99 GBP O2 \| International \| O2 Travel Pay & Go ? Data from 1.99 * Orange's packages: 20Mb for 1 day for 1 GBP Using Your Mobile Abroad \| Roaming \| Help and Support \| Orange UK Usually,you will have problems topping up SIM card abroad (doesn't matter the country of SIM issue). For sure, non-UK credit card holders have problems with topping up UK SIM cards online. Just a little relief, Orange and Vodafone UK have facilities to topup in Spain. If you purchase a UK SIM card, then, as a solution, you can calculate and add enough credit to your phone while you're in the UK. Or I can help you with this. I charge $20 per 10 GBP topup. I can topup the SIM card before dispach, or send you a topup voucher with it, or send it later by email. You can use topup vouchers abroad on O2 and Orange. It does not work on Vodafone, as far as I know. The choice is yours now! 2) Hi, Yes the o2 sim card will be perfect Just choose the international option when topping up ... thank you 3) This depends on the countries to which you are travelling. We only stock UK sim cards currently for Europe. Our Three sim card: UK Three Pay as You Go Sim Card Use Soon as You Land Unlimited Data 3c MIN to US \| eBay Will give you unlimited data in the UK with a £15 voucher Hope this helps You might want to check out the Three Ireland sim (even if you are not in Ireland) which will allow free data roaming on Three in Italy, Austria and Sweden provided it has credit and a suitable add-on Regards, 4) Thanks for your inquiry, European data especially on PAYG is still relatively expansive, I have managed to compare them on different UK networks and had found Orange to be the most affordable. Here is the link to buy an Orange SIM card from us, further top ups can be purchased from us at a cost of additional 5% to cover PayPal charges, e.g. £20 would cost £21. UK Orange SIM Card with £10 credit \| eBay The EU bundle from Orange is here Using Your Mobile Abroad \| Roaming \| Help and Support \| Orange UK If you prefer the rental option our business associates Global Travel Telecommunications Inc have a counter at LAX. 5) Hi thanks for your email, whilst our SIM is great value if you are in the UK elsewhere you pay Data Roaming charges etc Calls and Tariffs to countries other than UK you may be better off with a Roaming SIm and just Google this for suppliers. I hope this helps.