We will be traveling to Portugal and Spain this summer, and I'm looking for a reasonable way to call back to the U.S. I have an unlocked quad band GSM cell phone.

I'm thinking that my best option would be to purchase a SIM card and use it with that phone, but I'm not sure of the best way to acquire the card, nor what type to get. I looked around the Internet and haven't found anything that explains in plain English the best way to do this.

Should I order one over the Internet and have it mailed to me before I leave? Should I buy one when I arrive in Europe? The trip will be for 12 days, but only 2 of those days will be in Spain, so maybe a Portuguese SIM will do, and I will pay roaming charges when I'm in Spain.

Any help here would be appreciated! Thanks.

Skype works cheapest best for me.

mobal.com also good if constant international

contact is required.

Have done SIM in Portugal Spain in the past

a hassle expensive to roam reception issues.

Good luck,

We use our Spanish mobile service while visiting Portugal. The roaming charges are minimal. I'd check with On Spanish Time (www.spainsim.com/index.htm) to see what service they may be able to offer in regards to purchasing a sim card.

If you want to have a Portuguese based service, then you can buy a sim card from a local carrier when you arrive (Vodafone Portugal) instead on buying one online. It's less expensive and incoming calls are free. I'm not sure how many calls you'll be making back home, but if you need to call, you can buy a calling card to use with the Vodafone Portugal service.

I looked at mobal.com. That would work, but at $1.95 per minute to call the USA and $1.25 per minute for incoming calls, I might as well just add the international plan to my AT&T account and get better rates.

Skype is not an option, because I won't have Internet access, and need something I can take with me wherever I go.

Can anybody recommend a SIM that is cost-effective, from a reliable company? I can order it now and have it delivered before I leave for Portugal, or I can buy it there. I don't know which would be easier. Thanks for any help.

Sorry Robert2533, I replied before addressing your suggestion. Why do you say it's less expensive to buy a SIM card in Portugal instead of online? I thought the best price would be online because of the competition. Are you suggesting I just buy one at the airport when I arrive? Thank you.

Yeah. Mobal is quite expensive. I can't believe anyone is still using them in this day and age. Especially since the rates in the EU have really come down.

You definitely want to buy the sim when you get there. You will pay a premium if you buy it online.

There is Vodafone shop in Lisbon airport - arrivals; you can buy SIM card there. Reception is excellent all over Portugal; I was getting 5 bars in the middle of nowhere. 10 euro min refill. If you spend more than 10 euros they give you bonus credit. Cost to call US is 44 euro cents M-F & 22 cents on weekends. However the card is not usable in Spain (very high roaming charges) so buy another one there. If you got gsm smartphone then internet is accessible with the same credit.

It's cheaper since you do not have to pay a middle man, and great if you only need service in Portugal. I would go with the Vodafone shop in the Lisbon airport as mentioned by hkto.

Some companies that offer such services in Spain are worth paying for the service, but I have not found one in Portugal that offers services similar to what On Spanish Time offers.