We will be going to France with 4 kids and want to know the best cell phone deal. Should we go through Mobal and get a French Sim card? Really am in the dark about the best way to go about this. Thanks for the help.

Buy it there (a pre-paid, no-contract model), then "sell it forward" here.

Even better, perhaps, ask if someone can "sell you one forward" - - having recently returned from a trip with a phone they bought there.

I'm going to France in September, and I'll be looking for someone to "sell me one forward" (in August?) - - or I would buy yours, if your travel dates fit. Or if that fails, I will buy one in September, and look to sell it forward myself, once I get back.

Best wishes,

Rex

Hi tb,

If you are going to use your phone for something other than emergencies, I recommend against the Mobal phone.

If that is why you want it, you don't need another SIM card.

I have both - a phone with a French number and SimCard, because I am in France often, -- and a Mobal for everywhere else -- the Mobal can also be used in the US if you need an emergecny backup for your US cell phone.
Jess

We will be traveling 7/15-7/23. Do we buy the phone once we get there? We just want it to keep in touch with each other in case we get separated, however, we might need to call the US as well. I'd be happy to help sell it forward for you as well. Thanks

Only the more expensive Mobal can be used in the US (if that's your experience) b/c the $49 model doesn't have the right freq. bands. Also, it's a UK phone # so you wouldn't want to use it in the US for any lenthy calls, just like you'd keep it short while in Europe as well. (avg. per-minute rate is 1.75-2.25Euro)

Hi
AT&T cellphones should woek if you have their service in the US. I have an at& phone thats a quadband and used it in Germany last year.

Hi tb,

>We just want it to keep in touch with each other in case we get separated, ..<

Does your family often have that problem when you travel?

Everyone should have a card with hotel's name, address and phone number and a 20E bill.

If someone gets lost, that someone goes to the hotel, informs the desk, and stays there.

Mom or Dad uses a prepaid phone card to call the hotel.

Saves buying 6 cell phones.

Enjoy your visit, and don't get lost.

Rex. If you are looking for a phone to use, email me.

Sherry

tbucks,

Our family of five (2 adults and 3 teenagers) just returned from our trip.

Before going, I purchased an unlocked quadband phone on ebay for about $65 usd and a global SIM card with $20 of calling time for about $55 usd (we purchased a global SIM becuase we were travelling to three different countries and 3 country specific SIM's were more expensive). We used this phone primarily to provide to family as a contact in the event of emergency and to call B&B's to arrange our arrival times. Had we been going to just one country we probably would have waited and purchased a French SIM card upon arrival.

As far as keeping in touch with each other, I would agree with Ira. We gave everyone a card with the apartment or hotel phone contact information and address, 20E bill, and made sure to arrange meeting times and locations and arranged to meet at the apartment if someone got separated. This plan worked fine.

The cost of multiple phones just seemed too high for us.

Good luck with your decision and enjoy your trip!