nhguy

I do not have a global phone. I know it may be cheaper to just rent a phone when I get to Spain, but I need to know my number before I leave the U.S. so that people can contact me. I plan to rent a phone for about 2 weeks. I'm considering TravelCell, but I know there other companies. Recommendations? thanks

Robert2533

You might want to check with On Spanish Time (www.onspanishtime.com/) regarding their rental service. You'll receive the mobile number before you leave home and can have the phone waiting for you at your hotel when you arrive in Spain.

ribeirasacra

you can purchase a sim card for abaout 9€ or even a whole phone and sim card for as little as 30€ when in Spain. Much less than hire costs???? You also get call time included with these prices.

Robert2533

"but I need to know my number before I leave the U.S. so that people can contact me."

alihutch

"but I need to know my number before I leave the U.S. so that people can contact me."

Text them with the number as soon as you get the phone

Robert2533

How many text messages will that be? One? Two? 30 or more? Then the international cost of texting comes into play. It's fine if you only need to text one person.

Of course you can purchase an inexpensive mobile phone when you arrive in Spain, but it will take you a couple hours (standing in line) once you've decided where to buy one, certainly not at the airport, not if you want to save any money. Then once you buy the phone and set it up, you have to add a few Euros worth of time + the 18% VAT.

Depending on when nhguy arrives, it may be his second or third day in Spain before he's finally ready to receive calls.

xyz123

Here's what you do...there is a phone called localphone.com...you can buy from them a numer in most any area code in the USA or Canada you want...it costs $3 for the number and maintaining the number costs $1/month....you can set via the web a ring to number for very very favorable rates so....get the number, give it to your friends. When you arrive in Spain buy the cheap phone and sim card...find an internet cafe and set the ring to number to your Spanish sim card number. Done...price $4 if you give the number back after a month...for $1/month you can keep the number.

Works perfectly.

Robert2533

"find an internet cafe and set the ring to number to your Spanish sim card number" Sorry xyz123, I know you're a seasoned traveler, but this would be a total waste of valuable time for the first time traveler, especially someone unfamiliar with Madrid or anywhere else in Spain.

ribeirasacra

I agree text the message. Just one or tow texts and it can be passed around back home. Purchasing is still going to be cheaper than renting.
You can also purchase SIM cards on ebay if it is really important to you.

Graziella5b

I have and old cinexpensive NOKIA phone that I use in Buenos Aires when visiting, is it ok then if I take it to Spain, buy a chip and use it for local calls>?....then I suppose I can buy cards to add for more time...>?
Chips are sold in Tobacco shops, kiosks or where >?
I am fllying into Barcelona.

xyz123

Without displeasing anybody, there are of course many solutions that work....for example if knowing the number is what is most important, then you can go for a card such as ekit which will work in Spain fine and gives you both a US number where you pay 19¢/minute to receive and a UK number where you pay nothing to receive but your calling party pays for a call to a UK mobile as opposed to a USA number. Calling rates are higher than local sim cards but not outrageous that works. Local sim cards work.....giving out your number can be achieved by text messaging or by getting a local number; it works. Telesial.com has several international cards such as ekit; you can read about them on their web site.

But it's hardly brain surgery...ultimately one might have to fo s liyylr bit of research, invest a little bit of time and there's no one this is the best solution. But I will tell you the worst solutions although I haven't seen them.

1. Renting a cell pbhone...they can be had for next to nothing today.

2. Using your USA carrier if you are either a T Mobile USA or AT&T customer and have a gsm phone with the European frequencies. Calls cost an arm and a leg to both make and receive; if it's just for an emergency okay but certainly nt for any prolonged use.

Whatever you choose to do will work fine.

ribeirasacra

Graziella5b The brand does not matter it is the frequency the phone works on that will influence your decision. As I have said you cna purchase a whole phone for little money It will be brand new and you will get call time included. Sometimes as much as half the price of the phone. Deals vary with one company to another plus time of year etc.
SIM cards are best purchased from a phone shops as they can set up t phone for you. But you can purchase them in a lot of places including some supermarkets. A local SIM card is the best way to go if you want to make local calls as here in Europe the prices are capped, unless you phone outside Europe.

dgrutan

If intent is to use phone locally, SIM card works great as ribeirasacra notes and there are many plans for calls to US. Forget about knowing the number before you go, as Robert2533 said, one text back home and let them forward it on.

Another option, if calls are just to/from US and you have a laptop, consider VOIp. Depending on carrier and plan, there is no extra cost as it’s a US phone number and you can retrieve Voice Mail. This won't work if you must be reached real time. I use VOIp in US and Europe, same quality where ever you are, just connect to the net and your soft-fone works. AND, if your willing to suffer a two second delay, consider SKYPE.