Cell Phone for Europe

I'm traveling to Europe with my family, and I want two cell phones to use while there. Don't get over often enough to justify buying GSM phones and then picking up SIM cards as needed, and plenty of internet places rent phones.

Does anybody have a company rec? Anybody on F-chat do this as a business?

Phone to be used mostly in Italy, but a few other countries as well (France, Spain, maybe Greece and Croatia).

Thanks--Scott

 

If I require the use of a cell phone while overseas, I usually just rent one from the airport at which I arrive. I find the cost quite cheap.

 

I'm using Piccell Wireless, and since I've been careful, I've had no problems.

http://www.piccellwireless.com/en/whoareyou.php

The deal for me was, I got a free "rental" cell phone. I don't actually pay anything to rent it. (They tried to charge me, but I caught it the first month, and they haven't since.) I paid a fourty dollar one-time fee, and after that, I only pay for the calls I make on it. Incoming calls and text messages are free. (So its theoretically possible to go a month with a bill of $0).

Here are the rates for Spain:

http://www.piccellwireless.com/en/package_pricing.php?package_id=40

Calling within Spain is economical, but calling home is where they getcha. Also, its not very compatable with calling cards. My friend used a calling card with the phone to call America, and it drained the card's credit, but it didn't "take". She ended up with a $700 bill for the month. There's roaming fees to receive and make calls when out of Spain. I noticed I don't get service in America. I forgot to check in France.

 

hey fellow FCHATTER I do this for a living.....I have a couple of Triband GSM phones laying around that I can probably send you to use (no charge) you just have to buy a local sim where you are traveling and put it in and you are ready to go....these phones are unlocked so no worries about using SIMS in them.......don't try and call the states on these sims it will kill the credit you have on there.......PM if you are interested....that goes for anyone here......

 

Thanks for the generous offer. Most appreciated.