EUROPE Coverage

[cgleon]

My kids are going to Europe for school and I need to provide them with a secure way of communicating w/ home.  I have asked about roaming w/ GoPhones ... however it seems that the only roaming facilities are offered w/ Mexico.  I think this is an excellent opportunity for AT&T to make additional business.

Please consider it.

[DWC1 ACE - Professor · Accepted solution]

https://www.united-mobile.com/

http://www.mobalrental.com/

http://travelsimshop.com/?ref=V8OEK

www.callineurope.com

[SMHarman]

Yes ATT are kinda missing a trick.  All the major European networks offer PAYG with global roaming, it could well be something to do with ATT's billing systems as it seems to take them a while to bill overseas use.

Anyhoo, if they are going to school, to me, that means they will be there for months rather than weeks.  In that case they will be better off getting a new phone handset (or just a PAYG SIM Chip) and putting it in their US (if compatible) handset, for the duration.  Their new friends at school there will also have local phone numbers and won't want to be calling international to arrange things with your kids.

You then get a decent international calling plan on your home phone line or a Vonage or similar VOIP line with cheap / inclusive calling to the country the hanset is located in (you don't say where in Europe so this is general guidance).

Where they going?  How long?  How old are these kids?

[vsc2008]

Hi,

Vodafone are a major player in Europe. You'll need GSM phones with either an international roaming SIM card or a local SIM card for the country you're traveling to. The local SIM would be the cheapest option if your kids were staying in one country within Europe. Local SIM cards can be bought from many shops in Europe for that country.

If your kids are traveling around different countries in Europe, then I would suggest a roaming SIM.

There are 2 options for roaming SIM cards, rental and purchase. Both cost effective depending on how long your kids are traveling in Europe...

If the trip is less than 3 weeks, or you only travel internationally occasionally then rental is a good choice. You can find complete rental solutions for a couple of bucks a day.

If your kids are in Europe for longer than 3 weeks or you travel internationally frequently then buy unlocked GSM phones. There are hundreds of companies around selling them.

BEWARE: Check the international call rates - Finding the cheapest handset does not always work out the cheapest phone to use. Find an unlocked GSM phone, without annual/monthly contracts. This way, you can switch the SIM for the cheapest local SIM when traveling if you want to.

Take a look at www.vodafonerental.com - they offer cheap rental and purchase options and their roaming call rates in Europe better than most.

I bought an international unlocked GSM cell phone from them a year ago as I travel frequently. Service and cost is great, I even get some free credit each month I use it.

I notice this thread was posted a couple of months ago, so my advice maybe too late, but hopefully this will help out others?

Happy travels!!

Message Edited by vsc2008 on 11-13-2008 02:48:09 AM