MOBILE SERVICE ABROAD
Finding a decent mobile service while in Europe used to be a huge pain in the neck. Massive roaming charges, limited coverage, and temporary phones—the former solutions for communicating overseas were complicated with little payoff. Thankfully, mobile service today is pretty easy to find with just a few simple searches (which is probably what led you here). Depending on the service, it’s as easy as clicking an extra box online, while other options require a bit more legwork.
T-MOBILE ONE INTERNATIONAL
This is our preferred method of communicating while traveling. With T-Mobile One International, you pick up an additional $15/month charge and in exchange, you get service to pretty much everywhere—210+ countries to be specific. While the coverage is great and all, the real advantage is unlimited data, talk, and text in any of the covered areas. While bouncing around, from country to country, using GPS, researching your next stop, and trying to find a good bar to get a drink, you’ll be surprised how much data you actually use. This plan takes the stress factor of hitting your limit out of the equation, so you can continue to explore and discover new and exciting things wherever you are.
Learn More about T-Mobile International Plans
Learn More about Ultra Mobile Sim Cards
EUROPEAN SIM CARD
If you’re not already a T-Mobile customer and don’t want to make the switch, there are still a few options available. For phones that are unlocked or have dual SIM cards, using your cell phone while in Europe is easy. Dip into any electronics or cell phone store, at most airports or train stations, and pick up a SIM card designed for EU use. Different plans are available at varying prices, which typically start at around € 20 to € 50. Service is pretty reliable on these plans, but that really depends on where you’re going. Some plans offer unlimited services, and some are a bit more limited depending on price. The big drawback? You typically can’t port over your number to the new SIM card.
AT&T/VERIZON INTERNATIONAL PLANS
If spending $5–10 per day on cell phone use sounds like a good idea, then these massively overpriced add-ons are perfect for you. Oh, did we mention that the data is capped? All joking aside, these plans work but come with a giant price tag. If you’re traveling for more than a week and prefer not to be robbed by your wireless provider, we suggest exploring one of the options above.