I've spent a lot of time looking up, comparing, etc., the "buy your own vs. get it free" situation. I want to have one mainly for emergency use on my month long trip. True-- AutoEurope & RenaultEurodrive offer it "free", but when I add up shipping ($40),daily use/insce. charge ($35),calling costs of $2.10/minute for incoming calls, $1.20/minute within Italy, and $1.80/minute to U.S., I'm wondering if the "freebie" is really worth it. Also, I'm not thrilled about having my cc debited the required $500. Since I don't expect to be making many calls, which is best: buying or the freebie? I'd really appreciate your input. Thanks. Sal

Buy a pay-as-you-go phone over there for $50-$75, then keep it if you plan to return to Europe or sell it or give it away to someone when you get back.

Hi St. Cirq, We're going to Spain in October. Do you know if the pay as you go phones are available there, (southern Spain) and where we would shop for one? We did rent a car thru Autoeurope and that might be the least hassle for getting a phone, unless the pay as you go kind are easy to find. Thanks.

Mary..<BR><BR>Yes pay as you go cell plans are available in Spain and as in our countries make 1 million per cent more sense than renting a phone what with the rental costs and the obscenely high prices of making and receiving calls.<BR><BR>I keep hearing people talking of the "hassle" of buying a phone as opposed to renting. You go into any phone store and there are literally dozens of them in all the big cities so assuming you are starting in Madrid they are most assuredly easy to find. You go into the phone store and tell the clerk you want a pay as you go phone and plan. He or she will show you the models available, probably the cheapest fully functional without all the bells and whistles but with many of them such as voice mail and vibrating ringers at about 50 Euro. They usually come with some time of use. The clerk will explain to you the absolute particulars of the plan which vary from country to country and the cost for calls to the US. In some countries, I use the plan to call back to the US (England's virgin charges 20p a minute to call the US). If the cost is too expensive, then you use a prepaid long distance plan where you make a local call etc. But the most important part is receiving calls is always free (as long as you remain in the same country). The entire transacton should take between 10 and 15 minutes and you're done. Certainly to save $100 or $200, it's worth this "hassle."

Mary: Yes, the same deal is available in Spain - it's available in any European country. I won't go so far as the previous poster to say that it's a breeze (you've got to be able to speak the local language or the salesperson has got to be able to speak English) to buy the phone, get it working on the SIM card, and get the Mobicarte or equivalent working, but if you're pretty conversant with computers and current electronic equipment, it works out pretty easily and will definitely save you LOADS of money as opposed to renting one of those phones that the car rental agencies are now making millions off.<BR>Assuming you can manage buying the phone, what you do is buy a card (from the phone dealership or, in France, from any tabac or caf&eacute for a certain number of units. You turn the card over and on the back, like a Lotto card, is a space you scrape off. It gives you a number which you dial on your phone (after dialing a prescribed number given to you by the phone company, on your phone - usually 3 digits), and you'll hear a recording telling you you have now X number of minutes on your card. You can call anywhere in the world (almost) with such a phone - it's wonderful. And you'll spend a lot less than you would with one of these car rental phone deals, which are an incredible rip-off IMO.

But the best deal of all is to see my earlier posting (which I've topped for your benefit) in which you can borrow my phone for your trip, presuming that no one else is going to be using it during that period.....<BR><BR>I can't use the phone in the US, and to date at least 2 Fodorites will be able to enjoy use of the phone during their trips to Europe. If its of interest to you, simply email me for particulars..<BR><BR>Best Wishes.

does anyone sense anything wrong with this deal???

Dave, go away,you sound like a dirty old man,I really don't trust your offer!<BR>Don't you have friends or family who travel?To offer a cellphone sounds a little suspect to me,candy anyone?

Dave<BR><BR>sel it on Ebay. I'd be wary about giving my name and address to anyone I didnt know in 'return' for a phone, magnanimous a gesture as it was.

This is really an amazing forum sometimes!! The level of suspicion is way beyond what's called for in terms of taking care of one's self in cyberspace.....<BR><BR>It's easy to understand how my offer could be misconstrued....but for people to imagine somehow that simply to get a person's address, another poster would go to such lengths is beyond me......How about a much easier way if I simply wanted names/address/phone numbers??? Maybe the phone book????<BR><BR>I hope that the people who've been able to take me up on my offer enjoy the use of the phone, and that those of you who think I'm simply a nut case looking for YOUR personal details enjoy your travels as well......<BR><BR>I'm sure that I'll be flamed for responding, but the easiest thing to do is simply spend a lot more time on a "registered" board like Flyer Talk, and a lot less time here defending what is essentially a no-lose proposition. As for selling the phone on Ebay,,,that's a good idea except that I want to keep it and use it on my next trip. Best Wishes to all.