Frequently Asked Questions

Using a GSM cell phone (mobile phone) on your trip to Europe. This information is for Americans and Canadians traveling to Europe. Europeans traveling within Europe do not have these same concerns; they can use their cell phone easily in other European countries (but pay roaming fees).

GSM Cell Phones (World Phones)

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is a type of cell phone and network used in Europe and most countries in the world. Some US cell phone companies use GSM (T-Mobile, AT&T), but many do not. You need a GSM phone in Europe. These are sometimes called “World Phones” because they can be used around the world. In the United Kingdom, a cell phone is called a “mobile phone”.

SIM Cards

SIM (Subscriber Information Module) cards are a small chip that fits into your phone. This chip contains the cell phone number (so if you switch it to another phone, you still have the same number) and your account information. The SIM Card determines the network and phone number the cell phone uses. These can easily be switched in a phone, so you can put in one for Italy, then remove it and put in one for the US.

If you want a cell phone in Europe, you have these options:

• Purchase an unlocked GSM cell phone and European SIM card: Purchase a cell phone that works in Europe and a SIM card for the country you are going to. This is the best option if you travel to Europe each year and make and receive a lot of calls (calls are inexpensive). Read more about this option.
• Rent a GSM cell phone and European SIM card: Rent a cell phone that works in Europe and a SIM card for the country you are going to. This is a good option if you do not travel each year (calls are inexpensive). Read more about this option.
• Use your GSM cell phone from the US and your US cell account: If you are on a GSM system in the US and your phone and plan allow international roaming, this is a good option if you need the phone for emergencies only (calls are expensive). Read more about this option.

The European cell phone situation changes constantly – pricing, options available, whether or not foreigners can buy a cell phone in Italy or other countries. I try to keep this page updated, but read it through and then go to the message board to ask if anyone has more recent experience.

For more updated information from the New York Times May 25, 2016 please see excerpts below:

Here is a guide to taking your smartphone abroad on the cheap, including analyses by Alekstra on the costs of mobile services in five popular travel destinations: Britain, France and Spain.

Unlocking Your Smartphone

First and foremost, to use a foreign carrier’s SIM card, you usually have to unlock your smartphone or buy a cheap unlocked phone. Typically, when you buy a new smartphone, it comes locked so you can use it with only one carrier. After you have fully paid off the phone, you can ask the carrier unlock it.

Consider an AT&T iPhone 6S: After paying the $650 for the device, you can go to AT&T’s website to request an unlock. In my experience with unlocking a used iPhone 6 that I bought from a friend, AT&T’s system took a few minutes to process the request and then notified me that the phone was unlocked.

Each carrier’s unlocking process can be found online with a web search. Verizon generally does not lock newer smartphones, but you should call customer service to check that yours is unlocked before traveling. Sprint requires requesting the unlock through customer service on its website or over the phone. T-Mobile offers an app for Android users to ask for an unlock; otherwise, you can contact T-Mobile on the phone or through a web chat to request it.

Alternatively, you can buy a cheap unlocked phone. Motorola offers itssecond-generation Moto G, a well-reviewed cheap Android phone, for about $150 on Amazon.

Download Apps for Messaging

If you get a foreign SIM card, you will be using a different phone number from your regular one. To simplify taking a smartphone abroad, we recommend ignoring traditional phone and texting services and relying on free communication services that rely purely on data connections.

France

In France, Orange offers a two-gigabyte package in its stores for $33.60. That is its largest data offering, but if you run out of data, you can always buy another two gigs. If you order online, Orange offers a “holiday” SIM card that includes one gigabyte of data for $44.86.

Spain

In Spain, Vodafone offers three cheap options in its stores. Its one-gigabyte package costs $11.20, the 1.5 gigabyte option costs $16.80, and the two-gigabyte option costs $22.40. Each of the packages works for 30 days. We would recommend the one-gigabyte option for a one-week trip, the 1.5-gigabyte package for a two- to three-week trip and the two-gigabyte option for a four-week visit. The recommended option is one gigabyte for one week and 1.5 gigabytes for a two- to three-week trip, not 1.5 gigabytes for a one-week visit and two gigabytes for a two- to three-week visit.

Britain

In Britain, the carrier EE offers a handful of options in its stores, including a two-gigabyte package for $21.75 and a four-gigabyte package for $36.25. Both plans are valid for 30 days.

Bottom Line We recommend foreign SIM cards with a few caveats. If you are traveling to multiple countries — among Britain, France and Spain, for example — you will need a separate SIM card for each country, and the costs will add up quickly. In that situation, contacting AT&T and Verizon to set up international roaming or tolerating T-Mobile and Sprint’s slow data speeds may be better than the extra trouble of juggling multiple SIMs.

Or if you are a business traveler with a good expense account, paying for AT&T’s or Verizon’s international packages are headache-free options. Verizon also offers its $10-a-day TravelPass for roaming in more than 100 countries — a nice option, though the cost will pile up during a longer trip.

Otherwise, you can save a lot of money and get a lot more high-speed data by planning ahead and buying a foreign SIM card.

May 25, 2016 – New York Times