call phone usage in the UK

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Dd and I are trying to figure out her best option for the two weeks she's in the UK. For those of you who have traveled there, what did you do? Change your plan to include international, buy a new sim card, buy a prepaid phone when there? She mostly wants to be able to get in touch with the person she's staying with, not to call us at home.

TIA

[flexible Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close flexible]

If she has internet service this might help:

I recently paid for Skype's phone service to call 36 countries including land lines & mobile phones in the US but only land lines in the UK/Ireland for a flat fee of about $12.95 per month.

I could call mobile phones in the UK for a per minute rate.

Most people I call don't know I am calling from my PC.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Thanks, but she's going to need access to a phone when she's out and about and won't be toting a computer with her.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I will be in the same boat come July, What I did for last years trip to Europe I rented an international phone with my same # from Sprint. It was not cheap but at least I kept my # in case someone needed to get me.

[x3skier Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close x3skier]

Bought a cheap quad band unlocked phone on eBay and then a SIM card from Carphone Warehouse for 20 pounds (included 20 pounds of air time).

Just make sure it is unlocked and uses the Euro phone bands. Best way is to get a quad band phone.

Cheers

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

I'm trying to figure the downside of paying for the AT&T international plan which would allow her to use her existing phone. Cost would be $5.00 and the per minute charges would be $0.99/minute. The per minute is less than what I've seen for Mobel, and she wouldn't have to buy a new phone.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

I just use the phone cards, but my requirements are surely different from hers.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I'm trying to figure the downside of paying for the AT&T international plan which would allow her to use her existing phone. Cost would be $5.00 and the per minute charges would be $0.99/minute. The per minute is less than what I've seen for Mobel, and she wouldn't have to buy a new phone.

IMO that is a great deal if she keeps her # and uses her phone. I paid last year with Sprint if I remember right it was like I think $60 for the rental and then $1.99 a min. That was not using my phone but keeping my same #. If your DD can keep her phone she will have all her phone #'s with her.

[x3skier Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close x3skier]

When I bought the phone off of eBay and the SIM in the UK, it worked out about 20p (Right now ~$0.30) a minute to call the US from the UK. Next time it will be cheaper since I already have the phone and only need to "Top Up".

Google UK Phones and you should get links to Carphone Warehouse, O2, Orange and many others.

Cheers

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

When I bought the phone off of eBay and the SIM in the UK, it worked out about 20p (Right now ~$0.30) a minute to call the US from the UK. Next time it will be cheaper since I already have the phone and only need to "Top Up".

Google UK Phones and you should get links to Carphone Warehouse, O2, Orange and many others.

Cheers

I'm not as concerned about the calls from the UK to the US as calls within the UK.

[x3skier Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close x3skier]

I'm not as concerned about the calls from the UK to the US as calls within the UK.

Rates I have seen for the same companies are ~25 p per minute for the first 25 and then 5p for the rest of the day. There are some pay as you go that allow even cheaper rates to a specific UK area code, like central London.

Cheers