Well after clicking the back button every time I got to eh Buy Now option for the last few days I finally booked my flight to SFO. I cannot believe how amazing all the people are on SlowTalk who do this all the time. My goodness it was hard to decide and finalize.

Found a great price for a car rental so that is all set.

Hotel is all set (thanks for the ideas).

Now the next question. SIM cards. I will be bringing my Motorola phone with me so all I need is a prepaid sim card that is rechargeable. The only thread I found on this here points to going to Virgin or Net 10 but both of those seem to want me to get a phone from them. Is there any way just to get a SIM card?

It's harder to do this in the States - most services providers insist on locking their phones and most service is provided though monthly contracts. There are some pay-as-you-go providers, but even they want you to buy a phone from them.

I wanted to buy a SIM for my Motorola phone when I was back in Virginia in July but wasn't able to find one. Most of the sales people looked at me like I was crazy (Why wouldn't you want our 2 million "free" minutes per month plan?). I ended up buying a cheap pay-as-you-go phone from Cingular. It's not ideal, since the minutes expire if you don't periodically recharge it, but it was the best I could figure out.

When you add the lousy cellular service in the States as compared with most of Europe (limited coverage areas, routinely dropped calls, etc.), it really makes our service here look good!

quote:

Virgin or Net 10 but both of those seem to want me to get a phone from them

The Virgin phone from Radioshack may come with a 30-day return policy. I bought one last year for a relative and ended up returning it as my relative didn't like it. So in the end, it only cost me a few bucks for the minutes I used.

If you don't want to go through the hassle of returning the phone, I would just buy a cheap one like this http://www.virginmobileusa.com/phones/phoneDetail.do?skuId=VMK7LE
that costs $20 but comes with $20 airtime, so essentially the phone is free.

Steve

We have a prepaid U.S. sim from T-Mobile in our Motorola Razr. We didn't buy the phone from them.

Cris,

Why wouldn't you use your current SIm card? Is it the cost aspect? Remember that your phone needs to be tri-band to work in the US

Carl.

Our phone is quad-band. We bought it for use in Europe, but decided we wanted it for occasional use here in the U.S. without paying for a full-blown service. So we bought an inexpensive U.S. sim.

If you're confusing Chris and Cristina, she can answer better than I, but I imagine the cost to use her existing sim would be high, if it will even work. The SIMs we've had for England and France won't work in the U.S.

Cristina ---

I can't answer you question, but CAN direct you to Angie (tuscanartist) who had the same situation when she came here last March.

I THINK what she did was buy a cheap prepaid phone here,.... but you can ask her if she doesn't chime in here.

A friend from Italy visited me in New York about a year ago. I called a T-mobile store in Manhattan and asked if I could get a pre-paid SIM card for an international phone and they said yes. They directed me to a location that would have them.

My impression was that not all T-mobile storefronts have them.

He popped it in his Italian phone and was set to go!

Cristina, if you want me to, I will buy one for you here in NYC and mail it to you, so you have it when you land....no problem!

stella

Hi: I was given this by another slow traveler.
all they asked for was the phone id number.
http://www.internationalstudent.com/sim_cards/index.shtml

When are you going to be here? I'm about ready to change my phone service and get a new phone. I'm keeping my old one to use with my Italian sim card, but I'd be happy to loan it to you for the length of your visit.

Then you could just buy a pre-paid T-Mobile sim to use with it.

Let me know if you are interested. I can mail it to your first hotel to be waiting for you when you get there.

If you don't need the phone to be portable, another option is to buy a pre-paid phone card.
You can get them at many grocery stores, drug stores, discount stores like Target and Wal-mart.
Then you can use them with any land line you happen to be close to.

Alltell has a pre-paid phone for $20 with $20 worth of airtime. No contracts, no hassles. The phone is very basic but if you just need a phone it's great. Alltel has the biggest "foot print" in the USA so your likelihood of getting nailed with roaming charges or dropped calls is less.

I don't have an answer but I must ask this burning question. We used our T mobile Razr phone in Italy last June for a 3 weeks trip. The shock of the phone bill has me still realing. We have extra changes of $400.00. We did not use it except for may be 10 to 15 min. But we did not know that we were going to be charged for all unanswered calls as well. Each minute was $1.99 and we apparantly received many calls from USA (most of the numbers not known to us) and were charged 1 min rate for each of them (altogether 120 such min). Repeated discussing with T mobile turned out worthless.

Since travel to Europe or rest of the world is common for my husband, I am wondering if it is possible to use our Razr with the card from the country he or we are visiting? If not any other suggestions? Thanks.

Manabate,
I have a t-mobile.
Take it to your t-mobile store (not an authorized dealer, but a company owned store)
Ask them to "unlock" the phone.
Tell them very clearly that you own a TIM sim card, which you will be inserting in the phone when you get to Europe.
Make sure they understand that you want them to unlock the phone itself, not just the local SIM card.

Then when your husband gets to Europe he can go to the nearest TIM kiosk and buy a sim card.

Cristina--

What hotel did you finally choose?
Just curious...

jan

Have been so swamped with getting the kids ready for back to school tomorrow and planning I totally forgot about this thread.

Stella, that would be great if it wouldn't be a problem. Only problem is that I will be in SF and am wondering if you get a phone card if it will be for NYC? Send me an email if the offer is still goodcristina@expatsinitaly.com

Jan, my BIL got us into the Marriott Courtyard at Fisherman's Wharf. Oh so touristy but so perfect. I AM GOING TO EAT CRABS!!!!!!! I think I may drop everyone off at the hotel, let them check in then run down to my old buddies and get a few to bring back. Gotta run into a friend's restaurant to make some good mayo to go with them though.

I'm on it, Cristina...I will try and pick it up today...and email you..

Stella you truly are a STAR! Thank you!

OOOH Those crabs are really great!

Have a great time Cristina.

jan