Purchase of SIM card before trip
Dec 27th, 2008, 08:05 AM
#1
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Purchase of SIM card before trip
Hi,
I have a cell phone with a Sim card that has expired(ie , cannot be recharged). I am looking to purchase a SIM card before leaving on my Spain trip as I need a cell phone once we land to contact the representatives of the apartment we have rented.
The sites I find that will sell and mail a SIM card are very expensive. The cheapest one I have found is www.simsforspain.com which offers a Lebara Sim card for $29.95, which comes with 5 Euros credit. Other offerings from Telestial, Cellularabroad, etc are more expensive.
Does anybody has any suggestions? Thanks!
I have a cell phone with a Sim card that has expired(ie , cannot be recharged). I am looking to purchase a SIM card before leaving on my Spain trip as I need a cell phone once we land to contact the representatives of the apartment we have rented.
The sites I find that will sell and mail a SIM card are very expensive. The cheapest one I have found is www.simsforspain.com which offers a Lebara Sim card for $29.95, which comes with 5 Euros credit. Other offerings from Telestial, Cellularabroad, etc are more expensive.
Does anybody has any suggestions? Thanks!
Dec 27th, 2008, 08:20 AM
#2
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Telestial's $5 chip that includes $5 airtime is out of your price range? That <u>does</u> limit your choices!
http://www.telestial.com/view_produc...T_ID=MSIM-PPLT
http://www.telestial.com/view_produc...T_ID=MSIM-PPLT
Dec 27th, 2008, 08:32 AM
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Several possibilities rather than buy a SIM card before you go (I have the same problem when we go to Cape Town and try to contact the rental agent of our apartment.)
First, there is often an agency selling phones and cards at the airport - not always cheap either, but perhaps cheaper than buying ahead.
The other possibility is to find a phone at the airport- there must still be some pay phones. I would ask at the information desk.
We usually rent a car, and I ask the attendant there to phone for me, to say that we are on our way.
First, there is often an agency selling phones and cards at the airport - not always cheap either, but perhaps cheaper than buying ahead.
The other possibility is to find a phone at the airport- there must still be some pay phones. I would ask at the information desk.
We usually rent a car, and I ask the attendant there to phone for me, to say that we are on our way.
Dec 27th, 2008, 08:42 AM
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cruiseluv, the only one I can personally recommend is On Spanish Time's Sim Card service (http://www.spainsim.com/home.htm)
It's €10 more expensive, but offers €18 call credit and is a new sim card. Some of the services offering less expensive sim cards are actually selling used cards, which can be a problem.
Are you sure you're expired sim cannot be recharged? I've heard that Vodafone will allow you to recharge a sim after it has expired, up to 1 year, since they do not reissue the number right away. I'm not sure if MoviStar will allow it, since I've had the same continuous service with them for more than 7 years.
It's €10 more expensive, but offers €18 call credit and is a new sim card. Some of the services offering less expensive sim cards are actually selling used cards, which can be a problem.
Are you sure you're expired sim cannot be recharged? I've heard that Vodafone will allow you to recharge a sim after it has expired, up to 1 year, since they do not reissue the number right away. I'm not sure if MoviStar will allow it, since I've had the same continuous service with them for more than 7 years.
Dec 27th, 2008, 09:24 AM
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Robespierre, your sardonic comment is not helpful. In case you are interested, the Telestial Sim card you refer to is not practical at all to use in Spain. It charges $1 a minute for outgoing local calls.
Carlux, in the end it might come to that, but I rather not waste time looking for a working pay phone.
Robert,
Thanks for the recommendation, I'll look into it.
Unfortunately, I'm sure my Sim card cannot be recharged.
Carlux, in the end it might come to that, but I rather not waste time looking for a working pay phone.
Robert,
Thanks for the recommendation, I'll look into it.
Unfortunately, I'm sure my Sim card cannot be recharged.
Dec 27th, 2008, 12:24 PM
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Check the sim. If it's Vodafone, then you may be able to recharge it if it has been less then 12 months since the phone was last recharged.
The Vodafone website is: www.vodafone.com/hub_page.html
The Vodafone website is: www.vodafone.com/hub_page.html
Dec 27th, 2008, 12:45 PM
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United Mobile offers sim cards that cost less for the sim alone than simsforspain.com. I suggest a United Mobile sim if you're going to do a lot of calling or if you expect going to Europe again in the near future. If you're going to do very little calling, try the Mobal card. The sim is free apart from shipping costs, but the calling rates are high.
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Dec 27th, 2008, 01:47 PM
#8
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United Mobile sounds good, if you happen to be calling someone who is also using the United Mobile plan (being on-net as they call it), if not, then you are charged a bit more than if you are using Vodafone or MoviStar.
You also have to add the "call set-up" cost 0,25 EUR for each call, which seems rather expensive if you are using the mobile to call someone locally, say to make restaurant reservations and are only going to spend a few minutes on the line.
Since the company is a Virtual Network Operator, if you have any problems, you have to deal with them and not someone locally in Spain.
Their Starterpack Light is the same cost as offered by the other sim card suppliers listed above, but includes a €10 credit instead of a €5 credit. The only advantage I see is that you can use it another country, if you happen to be headed someplace besides Spain. It perfect for some business travelers, but I have far better rates with my T-Mobile account if I need to call back to the States.
You also have to add the "call set-up" cost 0,25 EUR for each call, which seems rather expensive if you are using the mobile to call someone locally, say to make restaurant reservations and are only going to spend a few minutes on the line.
Since the company is a Virtual Network Operator, if you have any problems, you have to deal with them and not someone locally in Spain.
Their Starterpack Light is the same cost as offered by the other sim card suppliers listed above, but includes a €10 credit instead of a €5 credit. The only advantage I see is that you can use it another country, if you happen to be headed someplace besides Spain. It perfect for some business travelers, but I have far better rates with my T-Mobile account if I need to call back to the States.
Dec 27th, 2008, 01:54 PM
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The cost of using the Mobal service in Spain is outrageous! Incoming calls are $1.25/min. Local calls are $1.50/min. Calls back to the States or Canada are $1.95/minute. That's even most expense than using AT&T. It's nice that they'll give you the sim for free + shipping cost, of course.
Dec 27th, 2008, 01:58 PM
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<i>Author: cruiseluv
Date: 12/27/2008, 01:24 pm
In case you are interested, the Telestial Sim card you refer to is not practical at all to use in Spain.</i>
Sorry. I missed that criterion. I thought you needed "a cell phone once we land to contact the representatives of the apartment we have rented." I guess I misread.
Date: 12/27/2008, 01:24 pm
In case you are interested, the Telestial Sim card you refer to is not practical at all to use in Spain.</i>
Sorry. I missed that criterion. I thought you needed "a cell phone once we land to contact the representatives of the apartment we have rented." I guess I misread.
Dec 27th, 2008, 05:39 PM
#11
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I checked the United Mobile. It does offer more Euros to start with , but the per minute cost of outgoing calls is higher.
I just realized my parents will be in Barcelona in late January , so maybe they could buy the Sim card for me. Anybody has experience with buying the Sim card in Spain?
I just realized my parents will be in Barcelona in late January , so maybe they could buy the Sim card for me. Anybody has experience with buying the Sim card in Spain?
Dec 28th, 2008, 07:29 AM
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Just purchase a SIM card at the airport ( there are lots in Madrid) or once you get to the main shopping centre. Here in Spain you can purchase a simple phone and SIM card for about 20 to 40 € depending on what eh offer is. This will include call time too. I looked at these companies that help the traveller and they seem to charge a lot more then the local suppliers in Spain.
Dec 28th, 2008, 08:45 AM
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Yes, your parents can purchase the sim in Barcelona, but they will have to have a phone in order for the card to be activated.
ribeirasacra, of course the sim cards are more expensive when you use a service, it's a convenience. If you wait until you arrive in Spain to purchase the sim, then you will have to use your calling time to let everyone know the mobile number (calling long distance) and then have to recharge the card, which will end up costing you a bit more. If you don't want anyone at home to have the number, then you can wait until you arrive to purchase a sim.
Buying one at the airport is not the least expensive way to get a card. Used sims on EBay can be a problem. It there is anything wrong with the card you're stuck. You'll have to buy a new one since they do not come with a guarantee.
ribeirasacra, of course the sim cards are more expensive when you use a service, it's a convenience. If you wait until you arrive in Spain to purchase the sim, then you will have to use your calling time to let everyone know the mobile number (calling long distance) and then have to recharge the card, which will end up costing you a bit more. If you don't want anyone at home to have the number, then you can wait until you arrive to purchase a sim.
Buying one at the airport is not the least expensive way to get a card. Used sims on EBay can be a problem. It there is anything wrong with the card you're stuck. You'll have to buy a new one since they do not come with a guarantee.
Dec 28th, 2008, 09:42 AM
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Thanks for all the suggestions.
Robert, I saw on the website of one of the suppliers( called Lebara)that you can activate by registering it on their website. I guess it doesn't hurt for my parents to stop by the Corte Ingles (one of their selling outlets) and inquire if they can purchase it and activate later. My trip is not until March , so if they are not succesful I can always buy it from one of the suppliers or at the airport.
Thanks again!
Robert, I saw on the website of one of the suppliers( called Lebara)that you can activate by registering it on their website. I guess it doesn't hurt for my parents to stop by the Corte Ingles (one of their selling outlets) and inquire if they can purchase it and activate later. My trip is not until March , so if they are not succesful I can always buy it from one of the suppliers or at the airport.
Thanks again!
Dec 28th, 2008, 12:44 PM
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Again, you want to be careful if purchasing a sim from a non-Spain based company. They are not offering Vodafone or MoviStar, two of the main telephone companies in Spain. Lebara is a UK based company and offers UK based sim cards only.
The following is from the Lebara website:
Roaming Tariffs
You can use your Lebara Mobile Pay-As-You-Go SIM when you travel overseas and you want to call back to the UK.
We call this “International Roaming”. Unfortunately we can’t offer you the same low rates when you are “roaming” abroad as when you are calling from within the UK.
However, our roaming rates are still good value compared with the other UK Mobile operators:
The following is from the Lebara website:
Roaming Tariffs
You can use your Lebara Mobile Pay-As-You-Go SIM when you travel overseas and you want to call back to the UK.
We call this “International Roaming”. Unfortunately we can’t offer you the same low rates when you are “roaming” abroad as when you are calling from within the UK.
However, our roaming rates are still good value compared with the other UK Mobile operators:
Dec 28th, 2008, 02:57 PM
#17
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Robert,
Thanks for your comments. What I would buy is a Lebara Spain Sim card, no roaming charges as it is a Spain number. They charge 0.15Euro/ min for national calls in Spain and 0.06 Euro/min on calls from Spain to US. These charges are per the Lebara Spain website page. These are the best rates I have seen, even compared to Vodafone and Movistar. The other thing I like about Lebara (in case I get another card for my son's phone)is that if you call another Lebara phone the call is free.
After a while all of this makes your head spin!
Thanks for your comments. What I would buy is a Lebara Spain Sim card, no roaming charges as it is a Spain number. They charge 0.15Euro/ min for national calls in Spain and 0.06 Euro/min on calls from Spain to US. These charges are per the Lebara Spain website page. These are the best rates I have seen, even compared to Vodafone and Movistar. The other thing I like about Lebara (in case I get another card for my son's phone)is that if you call another Lebara phone the call is free.
After a while all of this makes your head spin!
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