From my experience when I vacationed in Spain, it is *not* true that the "
initial cost of a country's "SIM" card is in the card itself". It depends on
the carrier you choose. In Barcelona, I was able to get a prepaid Vodafone
SIM for 50 Euros which included 50 Euros worth of calls. In other words,
there was no initial setup charge. After using up the 50 Euros, you can
recharge from any newstand by buying a recharge card. Essentially you enter
a code and it adds the appropriate number to minutes you purchased. Other
carriers in Barcelona whose names I now forget, had an initial cost, so for
example you would purchase a prepaid SIM card for 50 Euros but only get 25
Euros worth of calls, so a setup or initial cost of 25 Euros.

So, if I can extrapolate based on my experience in Spain, then it's probably
true in most of Europe that if you pick the right carrier, there is *no*
initial or setup cost for a local prepaid SIM card and so I would definitely
go that way. The other problem of buying a SIM card from one country and
trying to use it in another is that the good old "roaming charges" come into
play. During that vacation in Barcelona, I actually had a few minutes left
on my Vodafone SIM card. When I turned on the cell phone at the Amsterdam
airport during a layover back to the US, a message indicated that there
would be "roaming charges". In short, I would go the route of buying local
SIM cards in the country where you're at. Hope this helps.

"emeryt" wrote in message
om...
Please comment, I want to hear from you.

First, some assumptions...

1) I need a mobile phone while in Europe on vacation. Yes it can be
costly vs. calling cards, but it gives me immediate access, as well as
allows work and family to call at anytime. Anyways, I now own a
900/1800 GSM phone (unlocked).
2) I expect no more that 150 minutes total usage (incoming and
outgoing).
3) I will only use it in Western Europe countries, ie Zone 1.
4) I will be in 5 countries in 30 days, mostly France, Germany and
Italy.
5) The initial cost of a country's SIM card is pricey.

Now the deductions...

Well, I have explored this board, and many other websites that deal
with GSM mobile phone useage in Europe, and I have to say, you've
given me a lot of great information. But as a traveler to Europe for
only the second time, one thing still puzzles me. Should I buy
several different country SIM cards or just buy 1 SIM from one country
and purchase extra minutes? For my situation and travel itinerary,
I've concluded that it makes more sense to do the latter. Cmon
people, tell me if I'm wrong!

My math tells me that since most of the initial cost of a country's
"SIM" card is in the card itself, and not the minutes, and my stay in
any one country will not exceed 6 days, it makes more sense to buy
just one SIM card (with extra minutes), and pay the price of the
international per minute rates outside of the SIM country? Do you
agree? This is based on assumption #2, of course. And, my research
tells me that Italy has the best per-minute rate for calls originating
outside of Italy to international locations, particularly the USA. Is
that right?

Let me know if I'm all screwed up!!!!! I'm sure someone will! LOL

Thanks, Emery