Palen, Museum card is much better,and less expensive, and includes the museums that we want to visit for sure, thanks.Will get for self and son.

Andrew... Son/adult is very Iphone savy, unlike myself, so he can help, but does not live nearby right now. I am beginning to think that a Sim card might make more sense but then you have to get one for every country, right? Why can't they make this cell phone issue easier? Maybe I will go out to the Verizon store and see if they will download the app for hangouts on my apple I phone. They will probably want to sell me some expensive "deal" that they have. Sue

Palen, If you have the Museum card which includes the Anne Frank house, do you still have to stand in the long line or can you get in ahead of the line? Sue (in July)

Yeah, I doubt Verizon will want to help you setup the Google Hangouts app so you won't need to buy their international package overseas! How about the genius bar at an Apple store?

You don't need a SIM in every country - you can roam in other countries most likely (at least, the countries where you are going). Roaming rates have been capped in the EU and I think disappear entirely this year. But keep in mind that if you buy a SIM in Amsterdam, you'll have a Dutch phone number while the SIM is in your phone; you'll be able to make local calls there easily but calling the US (unless you use Google Hangouts) is an international call, and anyone calling you would have to call the Netherlands - until you put your Verizon SIM back in.

Your iPhone will need to be unlocked to use an international SIM - not sure how it works with an iPhone. You may need to request a code from Apple or Verizon. You'll also need to set the iPhone to roam internationally, I believe. This is again probably all something you'll need help with, I'd guess.

FYI, you do not need to unlock the phone to use Google Hangouts to make calls.

Palen, If you have the Museum card which includes the Anne Frank house, do you still have to stand in the long line or can you get in ahead of the line? Sue (in July)>

At Anne Frank I think you first should make a timed entry reservation -on their site- at many museums yes you can skirt the ticket line with museum card but not all - I think lines are not as bad as you think - it the other card gives you priority entrance I think Museum Card may too.

After June 30 of this year there will be no roaming charges in the EU, so you could buy a single SIM card for any country and use it elsewhere, but of course it depends on when you go.

We were in Amsterdam at the end of April last year and the lines to the Anne Frank house were horrid. Can't say whether that was unusual or the time of year or what.

Yes Anne Frank House always has lines- book a slot for sure there- it's a small place so unlike museums can't accommodate large numbers at once.

OK Palen, we will get the Museum card, but sounds like we need another ticket that is time sensitive for the Anne Frank House too. I see that the museum card includes the A frank house, but don't think you can choose a time. right?

St. Cirq we are going in July 4 of this year so good, no roaming charges. Sue

I see that the museum card includes the A frank house, but don't think you can choose a time. right?> I think you can for a reservation fee but not sure.

Why not e-mail the Anne Frank House or call them- I'm not sure as have not been to the House for ages.

I should not have commented at all just know from many posting here that the Iam Card it overpriced for most for what most do.

Palen I agree completely on the Iamsterdam card being over priced and it does not even cover the Anne Frank house and only 2.5 discount of the Rijks, so museum card is much better deal for us, and I am glad you mentioned it. Will get separate tram card.

Also I am going with the Sim card as I am not that tech savy, but working on it. Sue

Sue, I guess I meant to say that for you, if you don't really know how to use your phone, the SIM card may wind up being even more confusing than trying to install an app, which should be really easy. Either way, you are going to have to have someone help you with the phone.

Thanks Andrew, I think store will put it in, or son will know how. I am going out to Verizon to ask about locked/unlocked issue. Sue

You take the back off the phone. You remove the battery. You take out (and keep) the SIM card that is in it. You replace it with the European SIM phone. You put back the battery and put the back of the phone back on. It's not terribly difficult. Takes maybe 2 minutes.

Actually, depending on the phone, it can be quite tricky to use an international SIM, StCirq. (Many phones don't have removable batteries or backs anymore, FYI. Can't remove the battery on an iPhone 5s without a tiny screwdriver) I've ready about people coming back from Europe unable to get their Verizon iPhones even to roam in Europe on GSM (without even buying a SIM). Others have complained they couldn't use their phones in the US once they got home, until they had someone fix a setting in the phone.

Others get confused because they now have a non-US phone number and don't even know how to make a call. Recall the OP doesn't even know how to install an app on her iPhone.

I know I had trouble with the data on my Android phone with SIMs I bought in Montenegro and Bosnia, until a store clerk fixed the settings. And I am not exactly a tech neophyte.

And then you have to activate the SIM, most likely. Instructions in English? If you're lucky. I always have the person I'm buying the SIM from activate it for me then test it out, so I don't have to worry about the language issue for activating the SIM. Many SIMs also have a simple PIN to unlock it for use; this little PIN can be removed in your phone settings with a bit of tinkering - but again, something else to worry about that could be confusing.

St. Cirq.... I am going with the Sim card and many say that the places that sell them will install them. If not, my adult son can do it. I plan to get it in Amsterdam. I know to keep the original Sim card. Will look for Sim shops who will install it, how about the airport/Schlipol? Has anyone been to the Botanical Gardens in Amsterdam, can you tell me about it? Thanks all. Sue

The Botanical Garden is a wonderful spot. A small fee will get you inside. There's a great tearoom in the Orangerie. And the hothouses are really interesting.

museum card gave me free entry to the tiny but neat Botanical Garden.

OK Palen thanks, and also to menachem that is a big help, will try to get to Bot Gardens. Now I am trying to purchase the Amsterdam Museum card now, so that I can book the A. Frank house as to the time to be there. It looks like only Dutch citizens can buy the Museum card on line, I am in the US. I want to get the Museum card ahead of time so I do not pay twice for the ticket. The green bar/place on the museum card site when I click it, my computer says it is a malicious site? How can I get the museum card ahead of time????Any ideas? .......I am pretty sure that I was on the correct museum card site. I know I can buy at the museums, but need to get ahead........Sue again.

Does the Anne Frank House need some kind of museum card number -if not just check Yes you have one- which can be bought at any participating museum or I presume at Holland Tourist Info at Schiphol.

I just got timed entry to Anne Frank house and will buy the museum pass when I arrive. It asks you if you're using a museum card, it'll give you something to print out (or keep on your phone). You will need to show it and your card on your appointed day/time. There's a .50euro cost per ticket.

You can buy the museum card online but we're opting to buy it when we arrive.

OK internetwiz...I saw that it was just .50 euros for the AF house with museum card holders, but when I try to download the paperwork at the green tab to get the timed ticket at AF House....the computer tells me it is a malicious web site, so how do you get this paperwork? Do you have the website to pass on , maybe I have the wrong one or my computer is incorrect? I wanted to buy the museum card at the first museum and am trying to get on to the Anne Frank site to get the timed entry. Thanks. Sue