European SIM for travel from the US

[geekette]

I'll be traveling for less than two weeks with my 87 year old mother and 2 sisters in September.  Normally, I wouldn't worry about having cell/data available, but with things being as they are, I'd like at least one of us to have a phone available while we're in transit, preferably me, since I tend to be the one to deal with problems.

Since I use Red Pocket, there's no "adding on" international service.

Any recommendations for a short duration SIM for Europe? 

[uniwelder]

Posting to follow.  We're in the same situation, so looking to hear recommendations.

[reeshau]

Where exactly are you going?  There is no roaming charges across Europe across carriers, so the big question will be network coverage.

In Ireland, I would just go with Tesco mobile.  In any place, check that the coverage is adequate, and then go for price.  Of course, there are plenty of options sold right at the airport, if you want to get operational immediately.

Also, assuming you won't be streaming, then of course you also don't need unlimited data.  You can also limit your data usage by loading offline maps of the areas you are traveling to--which also helps guard against coverage problems being a real issue.

Another way to go really cheap is to get an ip phone number, and then just rely on wifi connections for phone usage.  That won't help if you are genuinely in transit, but if it's mainly to be reachable by others back home, or confirming the next step of travel, everywhere you stay will have wifi.

Other things you might want your mobile for:  taxi (Free Now) / Uber requests, Deliveroo/ Just Eat deliveries when you are exhausted from sightseeing, Grocery delivery if you are cooking in but also maximizing time, hotel/airbnb communications, airline advance check-in...

Some of these apps will be looking for your mobile ID (I.e. Google ID) to be domiciled locally to show up in your app store.  Just create a throwaway Gmail account, homed in your visiting country, and all the local services will show up on the same device.

In my own situation, we are former residents and here for the summer.  We've had Google Fi since I gave up my work phone, and we love it.  And all our US suppliers / banks / etc. don't even know we're gone.  DW had Tesco Mobile when I had a work phone.  (For those considering this:  Google Fi is a US provider, with extensive international coverage.  You need to get a SIM and activate service in the US)

[secondcor521]

When I was in Europe last summer I bought and used one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Unlimited-Three-Mobile-High-Speed-Free-Roaming/dp/B07MVR985Y

It worked well, although as someone who doesn't really know much about cell phones, the activation process was a little confusing.  The key thing I remember is that there was some activation steps I could take in the US before my trip, but then when I got to Europe there was a second step I had to complete.  When I got to Europe, the SIM card appeared to be working just fine, so I skipped the second step at first.

It turned out that there is a small amount of initial credit (which lets you access the network to do the second step), which, when I used it all up after about the second day, resulted in the card not working.  Eventually I ended up calling their tech support by using wifi calling at the hotel, and they were able to get it sorted and I was able to use it the rest of the trip.

Perhaps their documentation has improved by now.

[geekette]

That SIM @secondcor521 linked looks good - thanks for the rec.

Most of the trip will be on a Viking river cruise.  It's really the getting there and back I'm concerned with.  At this point, airports are nuts, and having a way to contact Viking if things go sideways would be good.

Taking an 87 year old into crowded airports and on a river cruise is probably not a great idea, but it was hers, and she wants to go.  She's paying - her "girls" are along because that's what she wants.

We're also planning on Abisko, Sweden in February for a bucket list northern light trip.  I think at 87, Mom just wants to go - to hell with the risks.  YOLO...

[2sk22]

I just use the global digital roaming feature on AT&T it costs $10 per day and you get to keep your US number. For short trips like two weeks, its not worth there hassle of getting a local SIM card and changing your number.

If you have a relatively new iPhone (after the 10s), you don't need to buy a physical SIM card anymore. These phones can make use of virtual SIM cards, called eSIM. You can buy an eSIM directly from the Nomad app before you leave.

Modern phones are are very good at handling multiple SIMs simultaneously. You get a lot of flexibility: for example, you can switch over your data usage to the European eSIM while leaving the US number available for emergency contact.

[PoutineLover]

Look up the major mobile companies in whatever country you are going to first, and they usually have good short term travel plans (something like 20 euro for a sim card, couple hundred minutes and a bunch of data, usually works in other European countries too). You can often find a booth at the airport to buy and activate it. It's pretty simple, but make sure your phone is unlocked before you go, and test it before you leave the booth to make sure it's working properly.

[LightStache]

If you have a relatively new iPhone (after the 10s), you don't need to buy a physical SIM card anymore. These phones can make use of virtual SIM cards, called eSIM. You can buy an eSIM directly from the Nomad app before you leave.

Cool, I'll have to check this out for my next trip!

I always just buy a local sim at the airport. If it's a larger airport I usually pick out the vendor on the interwebs before I fly in so I know right where to go. Ten years ago it would be like 10x the cost to roam with an American carrier, so that was a no brainer. It usually takes me about ten minutes at the airport. Most often the store employees will install and activate for you.

But prices have come down now for international roaming. A friend of mine who spends most of his time overseas recommends T-Mobile post-paid, which includes some free international roaming. That's what I would do if I was out of the country more often.

[geekette]

Interesting thought - maybe I get an eSIM for a US carrier that allows international roaming, if there are any pre paid short plans.

[reeshau]

But prices have come down now for international roaming. A friend of mine who spends most of his time overseas recommends T-Mobile post-paid, which includes some free international roaming. That's what I would do if I was out of the country more often.

DW had T-Mobile post-paid before we switched to Google Fi.  It worked quite well.  If anything, coverage is *better* in Europe than the US, because it uses parent Deutsche Telekom's network.