edboc

I'm traveling to Europe in July for a couple of weeks.
Are there any recommendations for sim cards with a good data plan that cover most countries in Europe? I'm going to London for a day and then Barcelona. From Barcelona, we'll be on a Carnival cruise to multiple cities in Italy.
Thanks in advance.

05pearl

iTrader: (4)

Pretty sure you can buy a prepaid sim card when in Europe - for all over coverage. I think they may even sell them in vending machines.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

this is what i plan to do in May.

I have heard you may need to have your phone unlocked for international service regardless.

Verizon wants like crazy $$$$$$ for a month of international access. I heard 30 days of a sim card is like ~$20.

edboc

Do you know if there are ones that cover all of Europe or do they only cover plans for individual countries or areas of Europe?

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-ti...l-phone-europe

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

While working inn Europe in 2010-2012, I just bought a cheap disposable phone at the airport. (At the time, I owned a phone with no SIM card.) So far as I know, 100% of euro SIM cards will work in all of Europe. Mine, at least, didn't care whether I was in France, Germany, or The Netherlands.

edboc

Thank you

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

Where in Italy you going?

I'm flying into London, then doing Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Sorrento.

bahurd

iTrader: (8)

I used to travel to Europe quite a bit for business. At the time I kept an unlocked Android phone that was 4G compatible and bought a SIM when I got there. Most SIMS will 'expire' after a few months so don't buy a lot more then you expect to use. Data is the hardest because Europe isn't into the "free wifi" like our hotels and fast food places are.

If you buy at the airport expect to pay more. There are cell phone stores everywhere so if you look for the big 3 providers; Orange, Vodafone & O2 you can't go wrong.

Best advice is to go on Amazon and pick up an unlocked phone to take with you and get used to it before you go (use it in wifi mode for data at least).

EDIT: Just remembered, if you're a T-Mobile customer they're pretty travel friendly now and pretty much all you need to do is have them activate your phone for european travel (a call to #611). Pretty reasonable rates (for data). Not sure on ATT and I think Verizon continues to rape it's customers going there.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

Yeah we looked up the cost, it was like ~$100 or something crazy. I can check again.

We planned on picking up a sim card each so we could call each other and get data if we are lost.





otherwise the daily Travelpass is $10 a day. lol.

edboc

We're going to Sicily, Naples, Rome, and Florence in Italy.
We are also going to Marseilles and Palma de Mallorca in Spain for the cruise.

bahurd

iTrader: (8)

You should check with the cruise line on specific connection/data costs. They're usually seperate.

With the rest, a "euro" SIM should be fine.

edboc

Thanks, i'll check with Carnival.

bahurd

iTrader: (8)

https://help.carnival.com/app/answer...-phone-service

They don't make it easy.

I'd ask my US carrier specific questions like;

1. If I make a call to the US, how much will it cost per minute. Same if I accept a call from the US.

2. If I send a text msg, how much. If I receive a txt, how much is it?

3. What is the data rate per Mb?

All the above are charged for separately in Europe. If you have a prepaid european SIM is it even applicable when on board?

There was a time when I would by a monthly T-Mobile data plan (TMO Europe) and turn off my cell network radio and only use Whatsapp/FB or whatever else was in fashion to stay in touch.

The Europeans don't suffer the same drawbacks (costs) when traveling here.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

But then you're a t-mobile customer. I dropped them like a rock for straight talk with an att sim on the same phone. And now I've stuck with them after buying the nexus 6p (which can go to any carrier all over the world).

Cross reference your phones bands with the euro bands on GSM arena. if you're boned pick up a decent international phone, like current gen moto e specs or better. Dont be afraid of Hauwie for being chinese this ***** fine.

cal_len1

If you don't have a problem switching, Google FI doesn't charge you more for using data in all of Europe than they do in the states. Don't know how good their coverage is, but seems like a cheap option you could use both places.

buffon01

iTrader: (9)

Going to Japan I have Tmobile, my plan allows me to use my service there (unlim data/text/picture sharing $.20/min call)... Check your provider.

jbresee

If you need unlimited data, look at Unlimited Europe SIM - hipsim.

They will rent you a sim for the countries you are travelling to.

The pre-paid stuff does not usually include a ton of data.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

I got a sim card for 20gbp with 300min, 300txt, and 12gb of data with three.uk.