Global/Travel Phones

[carvidep]

So I'm almost a month away from heading over to Spain, and one thing on my list is to get myself a phone that I can use over there. I do have skype, but it would be helpful to have a cell with me in case of an emergency, and a little extra convenience. Plus it would be really helpful if I get lost trying to find my guy at the airport in Madrid!

 

Does anybody have any experience or recommendations as far as global/travel phones go?

 

I'm with Verizon right now, and they have travel phones that I could rent. But I'm also looking at the Mobal GSM World Phone and the Cellular Abroad National Geographic phones that I can buy and keep, only paying for the minutes I use + sms.

 

I looked up info on skype phones, but I think you have to have it connected to the computer to use it. Also, I read in the FAQs that it doesn't have access to emergency numbers around the world, so it may not be ideal.

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, and I just realized that this isn't exactly an LDR related post, but I know there are a lot of travelers in here so I figured you guys could give me the best advice.

[TMichaels]

Does anybody have any experience or recommendations as far as global/travel phones go?

 

I'm with Verizon right now, and they have travel phones that I could rent. But I'm also looking at the Mobal GSM World Phone and the Cellular Abroad National Geographic phones that I can buy and keep, only paying for the minutes I use + sms.

 

I looked up info on skype phones, but I think you have to have it connected to the computer to use it. Also, I read in the FAQs that it doesn't have access to emergency numbers around the world, so it may not be ideal.

 

 

carvidep,

 

You're right. For the most part, you would need to have access to a computer to use a Skype phone. There is one that's not available yet in the US that's like an IPhone -- IOW, it uses a wireless internet connection via your phone to allow you to make/send calls at data -- not voice -- rates which can be cheaper but since this new phone is not readily available, I'd just cross that option off your list.

 

As you probably already know, you can't use your own Verizon cell phone overseas because most US cell phone companies (Verizon included) use the CDMA network. In most of the rest of the world, the GSM network is used.

 

There are two American cell phone companies that *do* use GSM (AT&T and T-Mobile) but even if you had either of these two companies as your regular cell phone provider, chances are your phone still wouldn't work abroad as the US and Europe use different frequencies for cell phone services. You'd need a multi-band or so-called "World Phone" to use your AT&T or T-Mobile cell phone service overseas.

 

There are other options, and you've already discovered. You can rent a phone for use abroad or you can buy one. Rentals tend to be more pricey but if you don't travel overseas very often or will be making many calls while there, it might be the best choice for you.

 

However, buying one can be cost-effective as well. True, you might pay a bit more at the outset to own your phone but on the other hand, once you do, you can buy a European SIM card (it's a little chip card that you insert in your phone) that will allow you to make calls at local rates which can save you a bundle. Plus, you won't be charged for using the phone, unless you do use it -- whether that be next month or next year.

 

Should you rent or buy? Check this nifty site which may help you decide based on your travel plans.

 

Regarding the Mobal and Nat Geo options you've already looked at, you may want to take a look at this review.

 

Lastly, many study abroad programs have recommended this company which offers both rental and purchase plans.

 

In the event you decide buying or renting a phone to use in Spain is just too much hassle or too expensive, there is another option -- a bit old fashioned, but it works...

 

Simply buy a pre-paid phone card when you get to the airport in Madrid. Depending on which one you buy, you can use it to make local calls and/or back home from any call box or pay phone. Keep in mind, however, if you make calls from a hotel room the hotel will probably tack on a hefty additional fee. Sometimes it's possible to get around that by making the call from pay phones in the hotel's lobby.

 

Also, many European countries don't have *one* emergency services phone number like "911" as in the States. In Spain, for example, for medical emergencies, you dial "112." For the local police it's "092"; national police "091"; Ambulance "061"; Fire "080" or "085," etc... If you're concerned about having ready access to such numbers, you might want to Google the list, print it out, tuck it in your wallet, and/or program the numbers into any phone you may decide to rent or buy...

 

Hope some of this is helpful to you. Best of luck and have a great time!

 

TMichaels

[carvidep]

Wow, thanks TMichaels! That is way more advice than I ever expected to get!

 

I think I'll buy a global phone at this point, but I'm gonna look at your links before I decide on anything. I've been looking for reviews, too, so thank you for finding a reviews link for me!!!

 

As for the emergency contact numbers in Spain... oh my!! I think I'll look 'em up and program them in the phone when I get it haha.

 

I greatly appreciate your help!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!

[TMichaels]

I greatly appreciate your help!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!

 

You're welcome, cavidep.

 

When you start researching the various plans that are available, you'll see that one big difference between a lot of them is whether they offer both a US phone number AND a European phone number as part of the package.

 

At first glance, you may be thinking "why do I need/want a US phone number if I am going to be using this phone abroad?"

 

All depends... If the plan offers you "dual numbers" then that means your friends/family could conceivably call you while you're in Spain by dialing a local and/or 800 number -- IOW, that means they wouldn't have to know/learn how to dial an international number and the call would be relataively cheap and/or free for them.

 

The other advantage of a "dual number" plan is that many also offer the option of you being able to have calls made to your usual cell phone forwarded to your US number which in turn would be forwarded to the phone you have with you in Spain. Probably more valuable to business people who need to keep in touch, but on the other hand, if you're worried about missing an important call, say about a job offer or school-related, you would have assurance that the call would always reach you.

 

Dual number plans can be more expensive than those that offer just one number (the number of your overseas GSM cell phone) and some charge you monthly to allow you to keep your US number longer than one month. Not a big deal if you don't want to pay the extra monthly fee -- you don't have to -- you just will be assigned a new US number the next time you travel and want to use your overseas cell phone with such a plan.

 

Ridiculous how complicated all of this can be, but I suppose no different than the countless plans and providers that are available in the States. Just be sure to check and read all the fine print and make up a comparison chart of your own. Some plans look great price-wise at the outset, but may not be so when you dig deeper...

 

Just a thought...

 

Best,

TMichaels

[carvidep]

Yeah, I'm seeing a lot of differences in rates especially. I'm a little impatient, but you're right, I really need to do my research before jumping into a purchase. Which phone did you get when you traveled abroad? Did you like it? Is there one that you would have preferred?

 

thanks again!

 

carvidep

[TMichaels]

carvidep,

 

My advice to you would be to keep in mind how often and in what way you envision needing to use a phone while you are in Spain.

 

If you Google around and get some consumer reviews of many of the popular companies that rent/sell GSM phones for overseas use (as opposed to the glowing recommendations that are always featured on a provider's website) you may have a different opinion about whether one of those options are right for you.

 

Do you know Verizon does have a dual-band phone available that might be a possibility? It only costs 30 bucks and you'd need to port your existing cell phone number over to it if you didn't want to pay for two cell phone services/have two numbers. However, be sure to check out how much roaming costs would be for you to use it in Europe as well as if the frequency it utilizes is the correct one for use in Spain.

 

To be honest, unless you could get a really good deal on a phone plan from Verizon using one of their dual band phones, I would be tempted to forgo purchasing or renting one of the other GSM packages you've considered and just pick up an inexpensive prepaid "pay-as-you-go" mobile phone when you get to Spain. Your local call rate would be rock-bottom, and chances are, that would be the bulk of your calling anyway.

 

In the event you wanted or needed to call the U.S. I'd purchase a prepaid international phone card and use that to call home. The rates would be cheaper than what would be available on your cell phone alone and probably cheaper than most of the rates quoted by the U.S. rent/buy GSM phone package companies that you've checked.

 

Prepaid international calling cards are available just about anywhere -- newsstands, post offices, etc. With the number of foreign nationals living and working in Western Europe since the advent of the EU, there are also "call centres" in most larger cities where you can make international calls home for favorable rates. This article will give you a bit more information that may be of help.

 

All the best,

TMichaels

[Oliveman]

Not sure about the global phones you're asking about, but I travel a lot, and have found that a good option is to wait until you get to the country you're going to and then buying a cheap prepaid phone. I'm in Asia right now, and I went to the 7-11 in Singapore and got a phone for $48...then had to buy the sim card for like $15, and then calling cards. I'm not sure how it works in Europe, but in Asia all the countries have prepaid sim cards now that can be swapped out into most phones...they even work with some US phones, but it's hit or miss since some of the companies block non US sim cards or something. But even if it didnt work in your normal phone, you could get a cheap phone and the calling cards and probably save quite a bit over an internatonal plan/new fancy US phone that works over seas. I'm no phone expert or anything, just a well traveled guy giving you another thing to think about...as if you don't have enough to think about already. Good luck!

[RA1]

I'm with Verizon right now, and they have travel phones that I could rent.

I was with Verizon but switched to AT&T precisely because of this issue. The Verizon travel phone was expensive and inconvenient. With AT&T I just take my normal cellphone with me and I can receive calls almost anywhere. (You do need a quad band phone for near-global coverage but quad band phones are cheap these days.)

 

It's still about a dollar a minute to use my AT&T cellphone overseas (to make calls or receive) so I try to minimize its use. Main advantage of taking it with me is that I won't miss an important call and I can always use it in an emergency.

 

I go a lot to the UK so I bought a cheap UK pay-as-you-go phone for making local calls when I'm over there. If I want to make extensive calls to the USA from the UK, I use www.superline.co.uk -- 1.8 pence per minute (about 2.5 cents per minute). You just have to register the UK telephone numbers from which you want to make cheap international calls.

 

If you plan it carefully, international calls can be dirt cheap.