Question for International Travelers

[WhatTheHeel?]

Much easier to ask you guys than Verizon.

We'll be travelling to Europe later this year and I need to know the best phone option for staying in touch with people back here. I have an older Samsung and if I used the Verizon website correctly, they want to sell me a $10/day package that would add up to $150 for the length of the trip.

Can I just buy a SIM card overseas or the non-drug dealer version of a "burner phone?" I know I'll have wi-fi for e-mail, etc... but there may occasionally be a need for voice calls. Voice over wi-fi might work ok, but we won't always be near a hot spot.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

I've always done the $10/day thing, but only used it when I needed it. So on days you don't need/want to pay the $10, keep your cell service off. You can still use wi-fi to get internet, send non-SMS texts like Google Hangouts, and make Voip calls. Then if you need to make regular calls or send regular texts, turn your service on for that day and pay the $10.

Seemed easier than the whole burner phone route.

 

[uncboy10]

Just use a WiFi based app for messaging and calling. Most of them are free

 

[uncboy10]

Holy crap is this for UTMB? Lol

 

[prlyles]

I've always done the $10/day thing, but only used it when I needed it. So on days you don't need/want to pay the $10, keep your cell service off. You can still use wi-fi to get internet, send non-SMS texts like Google Hangouts, and make Voip calls. Then if you need to make regular calls or send regular texts, turn your service on for that day and pay the $10.

Seemed easier than the whole burner phone route.

This is good info. Where are you going in Europe?

 

[tarheel0910]

Much easier to ask you guys than Verizon.

We'll be travelling to Europe later this year and I need to know the best phone option for staying in touch with people back here. I have an older Samsung and if I used the Verizon website correctly, they want to sell me a $10/day package that would add up to $150 for the length of the trip.

Can I just buy a SIM card overseas or the non-drug dealer version of a "burner phone?" I know I'll have wi-fi for e-mail, etc... but there may occasionally be a need for voice calls. Voice over wi-fi might work ok, but we won't always be near a hot spot.

Any help is appreciated.

Is your phone unlocked? If so you can just buy a SIM card. It would probably be cheaper than the $10 charge. You'll need to check ahead though to make sure it is compatible. Verizon uses CDMA technology unless you have a world phone. A lot of countries either don't use CDMA or it is limited.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

This is good info. Where are you going in Europe?

Me? Next time I'll be in Europe is Reykjavic, Iceland for NYE this year.

 

[prlyles]

Me? Next time I'll be in Europe is Reykjavic, Iceland for NYE this year.

Never been to Iceland but it's on my list.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Never been to Iceland but it's on my list.

Supposedly a solid spot for NYE, so that's why we're doing it.

My main goal is to see the Northern Lights though. I've heard it's hit or miss, but I'll be pretty bummed out if we don't catch them while we're there.

 

[WhatTheHeel?]

Holy crap is this for UTMB? Lol

Well, the entire trip. But they do make me carry a phone (along with a ton of other stuff.)

 

[WhatTheHeel?]

Is your phone unlocked? If so you can just buy a SIM card. It would probably be cheaper than the $10 charge. You'll need to check ahead though to make sure it is compatible. Verizon uses CDMA technology unless you have a world phone. A lot of countries either don't use CDMA or it is limited.

This would be great. I can check on it but where do you buy the card? Airport over there?

 

[WhatTheHeel?]

Me? Next time I'll be in Europe is Reykjavic, Iceland for NYE this year.

Sweet! Maybe get some of the Northern Lights!

 

[WhatTheHeel?]

This is good info. Where are you going in Europe?

If you were asking me, mostly Italy. Rome, with a day trip to Pompeii/Mt. Vesuvius, Florence with a day trip to Cinque Terre, and Milan with day trips to Venice and Lake Como. Then Chamonix, France for a while. Coming back via Geneva.

 

[uncboy10]

Well, the entire trip. But they do make me carry a phone (along with a ton of other stuff.)

Haha I’m so jealous.

 

[prlyles]

If you were asking me, mostly Italy. Rome, with a day trip to Pompeii/Mt. Vesuvius, Florence with a day trip to Cinque Terre, and Milan with day trips to Venice and Lake Como. Then Chamonix, France for a while. Coming back via Geneva.

My wife and I just got back from almost the exact same trip. We spent a week in Rime than took a train to the Tuscany area for a week. Loved the Cinque Terre and Florence.

 

[tarheel0910]

This would be great. I can check on it but where do you buy the card? Airport over there?

Some airports have them or you can just buy one at a store over there.

 

[Louigi]

I am headed to Madrid on Friday and will do the $10 a day thing from Verizon. also, will use WhatsApp. I did the $5 a day Verizon thing in Bahamas a couple months ago and worked fine.

 

[keysersosay#1]

I will be headed to Italy with a Carolina alumni tour in Sept, then adding a side trip top Rome.The trip is quite nice as we stay at this villa/hotel in Tuscany and tour the entire area Florence ,Siena etc Taking the wife and daughter... looking forward to it as I have never been to Italy.

 

[ticket2ride04]

Just do the $10/day. You’ll want to use your phone and may need it in a pinch. Don’t monkey around with a burner. It’s a small charge relative to what it used to be.

 

[prlyles]

I will be headed to Italy with a Carolina alumni tour in Sept, then adding a side trip top Rome.The trip is quite nice as we stay at this villa/hotel in Tuscany and tour the entire area Florence ,Siena etc Taking the wife and daughter... looking forward to it as I have never been to Italy.[/QUOTE

Wife and I just got back. We spent a week in Rome and then took a train to Montalcino which our home base for another week. Spent a day in Florence, a day in the Cinque Terre and a day in Siena. Have a good time.

 

[Louigi]

Just got back from Spain last night. the $10 thing from Verizon and Whatsapp worked great. BTW, Oath, the new owner of Rivals blocks the Rivals websites in Europe. Was going to post this while there but Oath blocks access.

 

[prlyles]

Just got back from Spain last night. the $10 thing from Verizon and Whatsapp worked great. BTW, Oath, the new owner of Rivals blocks the Rivals websites in Europe. Was going to post this while there but Oath blocks access.

Yeah, I ran into the same thing in Italy a few weeks ago.

 

[prlyles]

Just got back from Spain last night. the $10 thing from Verizon and Whatsapp worked great. BTW, Oath, the new owner of Rivals blocks the Rivals websites in Europe. Was going to post this while there but Oath blocks access.

How did you like Spain? Where did you go?

 

[Louigi]

How did you like Spain? Where did you go?

Spain was great! The people are very friendly and nice. We rented a fully renovated 2nd floor 3 bedroom apartment in downtown Madrid next to the Royal Palace. We took day trips to Toledo, Segovia, Avila, etc. Went to a bull fight, Prato Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Reina Sofía Museum, etc.

Madrid does not sleep. Those folks go out to dinner at 10 and 11 pm all days of the week. There were little kids playing in street at 1 am all the time. They are meat eaters big time, pork especialy (stems from Catholic decree from 1492)

I did not realize when we went of Avila it is one of two fully walled cites left in Europe. The other is Carcassonne, France. We had gone to Carcassonne 15 years ago, so it was cool to see both.

Spain is also very socialistic. The wait staff etc, do not work on tips and can actually offend some of them if you leave to big a tip. Go figure.

Their unemployment is like 17%. Makes sense because it seems everyone is partying all nights of week....

Used Uber a bunch also and it worked well. First time for me using in Europe.

 

[prlyles]

Spain was great! The people are very friendly and nice. We rented a fully renovated 2nd floor 3 bedroom apartment in downtown Madrid next to the Royal Palace. We took day trips to Toledo, Segovia, Avila, etc. Went to a bull fight, Prato Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Reina Sofía Museum, etc.

Madrid does not sleep. Those folks go out to dinner at 10 and 11 pm all days of the week. There were little kids playing in street at 1 am all the time. They are meat eaters big time, pork especialy (stems from Catholic decree from 1492)

I did not realize when we went of Avila it is one of two fully walled cites left in Europe. The other is Carcassonne, France. We had gone to Carcassonne 15 years ago, so it was cool to see both.

Spain is also very socialistic. The wait staff etc, do not work on tips and can actually offend some of them if you leave to big a tip. Go figure.

Their unemployment is like 17%. Makes sense because it seems everyone is partying all nights of week....

Used Uber a bunch also and it worked well. First time for me using in Europe.

What did you think of the Roman aqueduct in Segovia? It is one of the best preserved I've ever seen. Sounds like you had a good trip.

 

[Louigi]

What did you think of the Roman aqueduct in Segovia? It is one of the best preserved I've ever seen. Sounds like you had a good trip.

Yes, that aqueduct is amazing. Not mortar and still standing after almost 2000 years.

 

[WhatTheHeel?]

I will be headed to Italy with a Carolina alumni tour in Sept, then adding a side trip top Rome.The trip is quite nice as we stay at this villa/hotel in Tuscany and tour the entire area Florence ,Siena etc Taking the wife and daughter... looking forward to it as I have never been to Italy.

Forget invading another team's message board. It looks like OOTB is invading Italy this year!

 

[WhatTheHeel?]

Just do the $10/day. You’ll want to use your phone and may need it in a pinch. Don’t monkey around with a burner. It’s a small charge relative to what it used to be.

It would be $320 to do my phone and my wife's phone. Granted, that's not a high percentage cost of the entire trip, but not cheap either.

Or, is it only $10 if the phone is used for anything but wifi on a given day?

EDIT: Never mind, I think I just answered that on the Verizon site. Looks like I can't sign up for it until closer to the travel date, though.

 

[prlyles]

It would be $320 to do my phone and my wife's phone. Granted, that's not a high percentage cost of the entire trip, but not cheap either.

Or, is it only $10 if the phone is used for anything but wifi on a given day?

EDIT: Never mind, I think I just answered that on the Verizon site. Looks like I can't sign up for it until closer to the travel date, though.

I'll ask my wife but I think you only get charged the $10.00 if you make a call or use data for that day

 

[heelbent]

Majorca, Spain is, IMO, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Spent a few weeks R&R there back in the day and fell in love with the place. I have given much thought to spending out my days there once this gig is up.

 

[prlyles]

Majorca, Spain is, IMO, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Spent a few weeks R&R there back in the day and fell in love with the place. I have given much thought to spending out my days there once this gig is up.

what part of Spain is it in?

 

[heelbent]

what part of Spain is it in?

It's an island in the Balearic Sea/Med, south of Barcelona and east of Valencia. Some spell it Mallorca, but when on my first trip it was Majorca so that's how I've always referred to it.

 

[prlyles]

It's an island in the Balearic Sea/Med, south of Barcelona and east of Valencia. Some spell it Mallorca, but when on my first trip it was Majorca so that's how I've always referred to it.

I've heard of it. Do you take a ferry out to it?