Advice Needed - Prepaid Sim Switz & Italy

[snaimon]

Look at some of the other posts of others travelling.............

If you are travelling in multiple countries, you would PROBABLY do well with one of the international SIM cards -- United Mobile, Travel Sim, 09, Callblue, etc. You probably want FREE INBOUND (watch Liechtenstein or wait to make calls when you are not longer registered on any of its networks). You will have ONE #. You will have to get the international card in advance. You should probably purchase at least ONE refill in advance IF YOU PLAN ON CALLING OUT LOTS. Check the rates and estimate your usage.

You might want to look into a callback service like Callbackworld (CBW) if you use the UM or 09 card. If you do the CBW thing, then you might postpone a refill purchase. I have not checked the rates on the Isle of Man (IOM) cards -- whether CBW or Enlinea (another callback provider) are worth it.

Pablo has some UM cards for sale -- see buy and sell forum. There are new links on the forum to some of the international cards that will benefit the web site. You can try Ebay. One seller is offering lots of Callbue cards and I bet they go begging for buyers.

Please note the disadvantages:

1. for your friends and family to call YOU, they may have to pay higher rates (all calls to European cell phones have saucy rates). You might be able to avoid this with the Travel SIM, 0044 or other brands with IOM origination. This will be true even if you buy a SIM for CH and one for IT. Check it out in advance -- rates they will have to pay to call you, especially if that is your plan of attack -- ie., FREE INBOUND.

2. reports of spotty service -- phone incompatibilities.

3. callback and double-callback procedures are an inconvenience.

4. reports that CBW is sporadic.

5. NOTE - you will have free inbound if you use Swiss or Italian SIMs, but only in the country of origin. Why invest in 2 cards when 1 will do?


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I have two United Mobile knock-off SIMs and am so far pleased with their service. I will be travelling with 3 family members and we also have local SIMs for Germany and Malta. Overkill.

I ALWAYS recommend taking US calling cards that will work from foreign countries (ATT, MCI, Onesuite, Enjoyprepaid are just a few that work). I also recommend purchasing one such card of modest value (say 5 euros) in country in case the US card does not work. In Europe it is almost always cheaper calling from and to landline phones -- you may have one in the hotel or home where you are staying. That would be my first choice rather than a cell.

Remember, most folks here want to save money. I don't know how many calls you will be making or receiving, if you need SMS service, etc. You'll have to check the details as to what suits your needs best.

Have a nice trip.

Stan