Cell Phone Rental - Cellular Abroad?
Mar 19th, 2007, 05:53 AM
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Cell Phone Rental - Cellular Abroad?
I have never done this before, but I am leaning towards renting a cell phone for my husband and I to have for our week long trip to Portugal. I want our kids and family to be able to reach us if necessary and while they will have hotel numbers, we do not plan to spend much time at the hotels. So, I just checked out Cellular Abroad - it seems okay. Has anyone used them? Would you chose another company? Susan
Mar 19th, 2007, 06:06 AM
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Susan...
We go through this here all the time...renting a cell phone in the 21st century is almost akin to throwing money away....for the same price or better, yuo can set yourself up with a phone you own plus a plan that will enable you to receive calls for free...simply go into any cell phone store upon arrival in Portugal...you will actually own the phone and with some possible modifications, you will be able to use the same phone for any future trip to Europe......
I keep hearing the word "convenience"....how "convenient" it is to simply rent a phone...well while not pinning this on any cell phone rental agency in particular, there are many posts on this board of people who have been charged lots of money for calls they never made, for cell phones not returned yada yada yada..there is lots of info regarding cell phones in Europe that I have contributed and my information is all correct...just click on my name above and it will direct you to the threads where my excellent and invaluable information is found.
We go through this here all the time...renting a cell phone in the 21st century is almost akin to throwing money away....for the same price or better, yuo can set yourself up with a phone you own plus a plan that will enable you to receive calls for free...simply go into any cell phone store upon arrival in Portugal...you will actually own the phone and with some possible modifications, you will be able to use the same phone for any future trip to Europe......
I keep hearing the word "convenience"....how "convenient" it is to simply rent a phone...well while not pinning this on any cell phone rental agency in particular, there are many posts on this board of people who have been charged lots of money for calls they never made, for cell phones not returned yada yada yada..there is lots of info regarding cell phones in Europe that I have contributed and my information is all correct...just click on my name above and it will direct you to the threads where my excellent and invaluable information is found.
Mar 19th, 2007, 06:23 AM
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You can also check with your own cell phone company and get a world service with international roaming. You get a quadband phone and activate the service. You have your regular home phone number and the phone can be used both in Europe and US. Calling isn't cheap, but unless you are a gabber or phone addict while traveling it shouldn't break you. It's great for emergencies because people just call your home phone number.
Mar 19th, 2007, 06:28 AM
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Travmimi...
Good advice but emphasize the rates are asininely high...almost $1/minute with one carrier and $1.29/minute with another (unless you pay $6/month when they magnanimously lower it to $.99/minute but those $1's add up very quickly as calls are timed to the next highest minute and you don't know when the timing starts...and one 15 minute call $15 to me is obscene.
But for emergencies it is fine...however........
The international roaming in Europe is only available if your US carrier is GSM.....which T Mobile USA and Cingular are but which verizon and sprint most assuredly are not.
But you can get the same obscene pricing if you look up mobal but spending $1 or more a minute to receive a dall is not my cup of tea.
Good advice but emphasize the rates are asininely high...almost $1/minute with one carrier and $1.29/minute with another (unless you pay $6/month when they magnanimously lower it to $.99/minute but those $1's add up very quickly as calls are timed to the next highest minute and you don't know when the timing starts...and one 15 minute call $15 to me is obscene.
But for emergencies it is fine...however........
The international roaming in Europe is only available if your US carrier is GSM.....which T Mobile USA and Cingular are but which verizon and sprint most assuredly are not.
But you can get the same obscene pricing if you look up mobal but spending $1 or more a minute to receive a dall is not my cup of tea.
Mar 19th, 2007, 06:29 AM
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I suppose it all depends on what you feel is "convenient" or "economical" and, of course, how much international travel you do.
My regular cell/mobile is a quad band which automatically registers on local networks in Europe.
Yes, I pay more to call but I prefer not to deal with rentals, different phone numbers, changing SIM cards, and I consider my decision affordable.
There are many ways to approach your issue and one of them may very well coming to an understanding with the "kids and family" as to just what constitutes the need to reach you.
My regular cell/mobile is a quad band which automatically registers on local networks in Europe.
Yes, I pay more to call but I prefer not to deal with rentals, different phone numbers, changing SIM cards, and I consider my decision affordable.
There are many ways to approach your issue and one of them may very well coming to an understanding with the "kids and family" as to just what constitutes the need to reach you.
Mar 19th, 2007, 06:30 AM
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xyz123, Yes I know it would be less expensive in the long run to just buy a phone, but our trip is very short and I don't want to have to spend time in a store getting a phone. But if you are telling me that there is a lot of fraud with the rentals - that might persuade me. I just do want this quick and easy.
Mar 19th, 2007, 06:39 AM
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True. Calls are .99 a min. but for me it's perfect. I'm really not a phone person, and use it as an excuse not to gab away my entire trip with people. I really prefer not to be bothered. I check voice mail and make quick emergency calls, like "no that wasn't me killed in the volcano eruption" inside joke sorry.
Mar 19th, 2007, 06:42 AM
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...quick and easy...who is your home provider? If not a gsm carrier, then go to www.mobal.com and buy the cheapest package...you will own the phone...it may be sim locked which can be dealt with later if you so desire and they will give you a UK number and calls will be in the vicinity of $1.50/minute to make and receive (except in the UK where it will be free but you're going to Portugal)...easy as pie!
