Phone and Data in Europe?

///M/// · 07-19-2018, 12:29 PM

Guys, last time I was in Europe in 2015 for the M3, I could not find any card locally that would work in multiple countries. They were all country specific and with me spending 2-3 days in each country, it wasn't cost effective to get country specific cards. Can anyone recommend a card/plan that I can use in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France? Mainly need it for the data for google maps and texting, emg. phone use.

Thanks.

Lading in Zurich, if that helps.

Thescout13 · 07-19-2018, 12:32 PM

If you are from the US and have ATT or Verizon use the international day pass ($10 a day and use your home data and phone plan). Less of a hassle than worried about the sim car and let's you make calls within country for free.

///M/// · 07-19-2018, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thescout13

If you are from the US and have ATT or Verizon use the international day pass ($10 a day and use your home data and phone plan). Less of a hassle than worried about the sim car and let's you make calls within country for free.

Thanks. Yes, am in the US. How much data does the $10 a day plan give? Am there for 16 days so that's $160. Seems steep.

zorrro · 07-19-2018, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M///

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thescout13

If you are from the US and have ATT or Verizon use the international day pass ($10 a day and use your home data and phone plan). Less of a hassle than worried about the sim car and let's you make calls within country for free.

Thanks. Yes, am in the US. How much data does the $10 a day plan give? Am there for 16 days so that's $160. Seems steep.

Its as if you are back home data-wise. We just did germany, austria, italy and switzerland 2wks and it worked fine. Data speed was slow but good enough I guess. We only turned my wife's on as hotels etc had wifi but yeah 10/day adds up. Good that you could phone usa or the country you were in no charge.

CigarPundit · 07-19-2018, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thescout13

If you are from the US and have ATT or Verizon use the international day pass ($10 a day and use your home data and phone plan). Less of a hassle than worried about the sim car and let's you make calls within country for free.

+1. That’s what I did.

///M/// · 07-19-2018, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zorrro

Its as if you are back home data-wise. We just did germany, austria, italy and switzerland 2wks and it worked fine. Data speed was slow but good enough I guess. We only turned my wife's on as hotels etc had wifi but yeah 10/day adds up. Good that you could phone usa or the country you were in no charge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CigarPundit

+1. That’s what I did.

We have on prepaid plans here. So it's month to month. I don't think prepaid plans have any $10 add on's.

Thescout13 · 07-19-2018, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M///

Quote:

Originally Posted by zorrro

Its as if you are back home data-wise. We just did germany, austria, italy and switzerland 2wks and it worked fine. Data speed was slow but good enough I guess. We only turned my wife's on as hotels etc had wifi but yeah 10/day adds up. Good that you could phone usa or the country you were in no charge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CigarPundit

+1. That’s what I did.

We have on prepaid plans here. So it's month to month. I don't think prepaid plans have any $10 add on's.

They do not. Just get whatever SIM card makes the most sense at the airport from any store. They all should sell them.

TXSoxFan · 07-19-2018, 02:56 PM

There was a long thread about this recently, started by SD M4. It should be within the first couple of pages. I think he surmised the Orange SIM was the best option for going outside your plan.

I did the travel pass when I was there last month (DE/CH/FR) and the service was kinda spotty for data. Odd because I have used it in more remote locations (Malaysia/Hungary) with better success.

///M/// · 07-19-2018, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CASoxFan

There was a long thread about this recently, started by SD M4. It should be within the first couple of pages. I think he surmised the Orange SIM was the best option for going outside your plan.

I did the travel pass when I was there last month (DE/CH/FR) and the service was kinda spotty for data. Odd because I have used it in more remote locations (Malaysia/Hungary) with better success.

Thanks. Orange it is then. Found it on Amazon for $50 and the reviews are good.

Space gray · 07-21-2018, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M///

Thanks. Orange it is then. Found it on Amazon for $50 and the reviews are good.

If I get a SIM card, I prefer to get it at a store there. I've had issues with activating card in the past so it's preferable if there's someone helping me do it.

CachacoF80 · 07-22-2018, 02:15 AM

I was there earlier this month and used mywebspot.com and it worked well. Had over 1Gb per day.

Device was a little clunky but did the trick for us.

///M4ster Yoda · 07-22-2018, 06:30 AM

This is the one I just bought for my wife and I. We are doing an ED for my fathers 4 series Vert this weekend. The plan is to hit 7 countries. Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Hungry, Slovenia, and Croatia. We will be gone for a few weeks.

Verizon wanted $10 a day which was gonna be over $500 for the two of us. We only really need data and some texting so I bought the pure Europe from Telestial. Easy setup and it will probably run us $100-150 for two phones the whole trip

http://www.telestial.com/europe-sim-card

Good luck

As a side note. This company is US based (I think Massachusetts). I was able to switch SIM cards at home and activate the cards for a test run. Made me feel better about it working correctly overseas.

Nikolas · 07-22-2018, 09:54 AM

Verizon does have an international plan for $40 per month, but data is really limited. I went over three times adding $75, but that was for 16 days.

HPIA4v2 · 07-23-2018, 07:56 AM

T-Mobile, gives you data/text using your US phone overseas for free. Convinient like heck since I travel a lot to Canada and Asia for business.
Albeit the data is throttle down to 3G most of the time, enough to check emails, see photo on social media (video is way too slow). Voice call is 20 cent/minute. The rest I use wifi at the hotel or Strabucks

07-19-2018, 12:29 PM	#1
///M/// Brigadier General 1862 Rep 3,661 Posts Drives: 2016 Manual AW F80 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Philly iTrader: (6)	Phone and Data in Europe? Guys, last time I was in Europe in 2015 for the M3, I could not find any card locally that would work in multiple countries. They were all country specific and with me spending 2-3 days in each country, it wasn't cost effective to get country specific cards. Can anyone recommend a card/plan that I can use in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France? Mainly need it for the data for google maps and texting, emg. phone use. Thanks. Lading in Zurich, if that helps. __________________ ========================= 2016 F80 M3 AW/SO (Manual) - Picked up at the Welt 08/28/15 My Amazing European Delivery Story
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07-19-2018, 12:32 PM	#2
Thescout13 Brigadier General 4947 Rep 4,976 Posts Drives: '20 F80 M3CS, %E2%80%9818 GT3 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: California iTrader: (0)	If you are from the US and have ATT or Verizon use the international day pass ($10 a day and use your home data and phone plan). Less of a hassle than worried about the sim car and let's you make calls within country for free. __________________ Wife's Car: 2020 X4M Competition, Alpine White on Black Alcantara and Biege Current Car: 2018 F80 M3CS, SMB, DCT, ZEC, MPE Recently Departed: 2020 F87 M2C, LBB, ZEC, 6MT (Euro Delivery Aug. 29, 2019, totaled by an idiot in a Camry who then ran from the scene) Wife's Prior Car: 2018 F80 M3, Yas Marina Blue, DCT, Black 19s, Carbon Structure Anthracite Cloth/Leather Combination, Driving Assistance Package (Euro Delivery Oct. 9, 2017)
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07-19-2018, 02:56 PM	#8
TXSoxFan Second Lieutenant 54 Rep 244 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	There was a long thread about this recently, started by SD M4. It should be within the first couple of pages. I think he surmised the Orange SIM was the best option for going outside your plan. I did the travel pass when I was there last month (DE/CH/FR) and the service was kinda spotty for data. Odd because I have used it in more remote locations (Malaysia/Hungary) with better success.
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07-22-2018, 02:15 AM	#11
CachacoF80 Captain 911 Rep 897 Posts Drives: San Marino Blue F80 - ZCP 6MT Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: SF Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	I was there earlier this month and used mywebspot.com and it worked well. Had over 1Gb per day. Device was a little clunky but did the trick for us.
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07-22-2018, 06:30 AM	#12
///M4ster Yoda Banned 4602 Rep 4,265 Posts Drives: '16 F82 M4 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (1)	This is the one I just bought for my wife and I. We are doing an ED for my fathers 4 series Vert this weekend. The plan is to hit 7 countries. Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Hungry, Slovenia, and Croatia. We will be gone for a few weeks. Verizon wanted $10 a day which was gonna be over $500 for the two of us. We only really need data and some texting so I bought the pure Europe from Telestial. Easy setup and it will probably run us $100-150 for two phones the whole trip http://www.telestial.com/europe-sim-card Good luck As a side note. This company is US based (I think Massachusetts). I was able to switch SIM cards at home and activate the cards for a test run. Made me feel better about it working correctly overseas.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-22-2018, 09:54 AM	#13
Nikolas Colonel 313 Rep 2,576 Posts Drives: 996 TT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sierra Mountains iTrader: (0)	Verizon does have an international plan for $40 per month, but data is really limited. I went over three times adding $75, but that was for 16 days.
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07-23-2018, 07:56 AM	#14
HPIA4v2 Major 254 Rep 1,391 Posts Drives: F80, F86 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Washington iTrader: (3)	T-Mobile, gives you data/text using your US phone overseas for free. Convinient like heck since I travel a lot to Canada and Asia for business. Albeit the data is throttle down to 3G most of the time, enough to check emails, see photo on social media (video is way too slow). Voice call is 20 cent/minute. The rest I use wifi at the hotel or Strabucks
	Appreciate 0 Quote