Comments on: Lazyweb: Phone for Europe (Vacation)? http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/ One foot in the muck, the other in utopia Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:50:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Grant http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-113277 Grant Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:58:22 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-113277 Coté, Your best bet is to get a SIM card here in Spain. The main operators also have sister companies in the UK; To get an idea as to the prices or pre-paid/pre-pago mobiles and their SIMs download the Phone House's catalogue (http://phonehouse.es/content/411/21/7/1/Descarga-Nuestro-Catalogo.htm) or just the tariffs (http://phonehouse.es/document/tarifas.pdf). Options for sourcing a SIM;Phone House (everything except Movistar), Branded shops for each of the main providers (Movistar/Telefonica, Orange, Vodafone) or the large supermarkets/department stores (Carrefour, Eroski, El Corte Ingles) HTH grant Coté,

Your best bet is to get a SIM card here in Spain. The main operators also have sister companies in the UK; To get an idea as to the prices or pre-paid/pre-pago mobiles and their SIMs download the Phone House’s catalogue (http://phonehouse.es/content/411/21/7/1/Descarga-Nuestro-Catalogo.htm) or just the tariffs (http://phonehouse.es/document/tarifas.pdf).

Options for sourcing a SIM;Phone House (everything except Movistar), Branded shops for each of the main providers (Movistar/Telefonica, Orange, Vodafone) or the large supermarkets/department stores (Carrefour, Eroski, El Corte Ingles)

HTH

grant

]]> By: ScottD http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-110804 ScottD Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:58:19 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-110804 IM me. I have an unlocked GSM phone you can borrow. Then just buy a prepaid SIM at your destination at a kiosk or grocery store. If you want to go really cheap, get a call-back service account set-up. Incoming calls are free in Europe, you'll pay something like $0.05/min for calls to the US (you'll still need a prepaid SIM) IM me. I have an unlocked GSM phone you can borrow. Then just buy a prepaid SIM at your destination at a kiosk or grocery store.

If you want to go really cheap, get a call-back service account set-up. Incoming calls are free in Europe, you’ll pay something like $0.05/min for calls to the US (you’ll still need a prepaid SIM)

]]> By: cote http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-110685 cote Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:23:45 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-110685 Thanks, Ferdy. It's sounding like the best option is to just buy a cheapish phone in Spain ;) Thanks, Ferdy. It’s sounding like the best option is to just buy a cheapish phone in Spain ;)

]]> By: Ferdy http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-110293 Ferdy Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:12:45 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-110293 You can also buy a cheap phone in UK or Spain and use your Verizon SIM card, but roaming charges will apply even for local calls. So avoid this option or get ready to empty your pocket! It's better to buy a phone + prepaid sim card in UK or Spain (starting at 29€). If you're going to use it mainly in Spain, don't buy the sim card in London. Carriers usually restricts roaming calls in prepaid cards, so you won't be able to use it in Spain. My suggestion is that you buy the phone anywhere in UK or Spain, and a sim card in the country where you are going to use it. You can start with a low balance and recharge it whenever you need it. You can also buy a cheap phone in UK or Spain and use your Verizon SIM card, but roaming charges will apply even for local calls. So avoid this option or get ready to empty your pocket!

It’s better to buy a phone + prepaid sim card in UK or Spain (starting at 29€). If you’re going to use it mainly in Spain, don’t buy the sim card in London. Carriers usually restricts roaming calls in prepaid cards, so you won’t be able to use it in Spain.

My suggestion is that you buy the phone anywhere in UK or Spain, and a sim card in the country where you are going to use it. You can start with a low balance and recharge it whenever you need it.

]]> By: Cote' http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-110100 Cote' Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:06:46 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-110100 Mike: that all sounds good, except Verizon is a CDMA so there's no the option to use SIM cards. I know! This totally sucks. Daintree: I really just want a phone for calling ahead to make reservations and coordinating with people we meet along the way. Seems like getting one in Spain is a good tip though. Glenn: I hear you. It's not that I want the phone to "be on the phone," but more that I want it for making vacation arrangements while on vacation ;) Mike: that all sounds good, except Verizon is a CDMA so there’s no the option to use SIM cards. I know! This totally sucks.

Daintree: I really just want a phone for calling ahead to make reservations and coordinating with people we meet along the way. Seems like getting one in Spain is a good tip though.

Glenn: I hear you. It’s not that I want the phone to “be on the phone,” but more that I want it for making vacation arrangements while on vacation ;)

]]> By: Glenn http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-110012 Glenn Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:06:07 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-110012 I suggest: do without a phone. You're on vacation, bro! I suggest: do without a phone. You’re on vacation, bro!

]]> By: Daintree http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-109957 Daintree Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:30:53 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-109957 Requirements, requirements, requirements - do you need just emergency/basic service (you know, what a phone used to be - make/receive calls), or the full caboodle? Given the high price of roaming in European countries (still!), depending upon the duration and ratio of time GBR:ESP, you might be better off picking up the phone in Spain and paying the penalty in the UK. Requirements, requirements, requirements - do you need just emergency/basic service (you know, what a phone used to be - make/receive calls), or the full caboodle?

Given the high price of roaming in European countries (still!), depending upon the duration and ratio of time GBR:ESP, you might be better off picking up the phone in Spain and paying the penalty in the UK.

]]> By: Mike Olson http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-109505 Mike Olson Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:11:21 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-109505 Call Verizon customer support at 611 on your mobile phone and explain the issue. I got Cingular to issue me the unlock code and instructions for my handset in exactly this case. I'd been a customer for a long, long time, and explained how this mattered a great deal to me. They did it readily -- I didn't have to argue much. Do unlock the phone before you get to Europe, though. Most airports have storefronts selling SIM cards, and the person there can install a new card for you. Call Verizon customer support at 611 on your mobile phone and explain the issue. I got Cingular to issue me the unlock code and instructions for my handset in exactly this case. I’d been a customer for a long, long time, and explained how this mattered a great deal to me. They did it readily — I didn’t have to argue much.
Do unlock the phone before you get to Europe, though. Most airports have storefronts selling SIM cards, and the person there can install a new card for you.

]]> By: Tarus http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-109348 Tarus Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:36:09 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/12/05/lazyweb-phone-for-europe-vacation/#comment-109348 I used Adam Phones in London a couple of times. At Gatwick head to the Travelex desk in the South Terminal and ask to hire a phone. You'll get a Nokia, charger, car kit, etc. in a little bag for a couple of bucks a day - plus airtime. Worked well as an emergency/short call solution. I used Adam Phones in London a couple of times. At Gatwick head to the Travelex desk in the South Terminal and ask to hire a phone. You’ll get a Nokia, charger, car kit, etc. in a little bag for a couple of bucks a day - plus airtime. Worked well as an emergency/short call solution.

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