Best Sim Card for World Wide Travel?

[Allanmac]

This year I've look I'll be going to a few countries for work, such as USA, Canada, Korea, China, HK, Singapore, UAE etc, Egypt, Israel.. Basically everywhere and I'm looking for a sim card/network that would be best used for phoning home? Last time I just got a sim free phone and hoarded sim cards from various countries, but more of the time I didn't have time to go and get a sim card so calling home was rather expensive.

Anyone able to help/recommend any?

Edit: These Lyca and Lebara sims didn't look that good if I remember as they are mainly for calling abroad to another network. I imagine if I called home from China with it the connection few and the minute rate would be huge?

Edited by Allanmac on Friday 6th January 12:03

[Alfa numeric]

When I went travelling with a friend I took my Vodafone mobile with me as the contract still had a year to go. It worked everywhere bar the jungles of Laos and wasn't much dearer than a dedicated sim. In countries with a Vodafone network I even got my free minutes (albeit with a 75p connection fee) thanks to Vodafone Passport. In contrast my friend bought a "worldwide sim" and discovered that it didn't work in China and outside of major cities in most of SE Asia.

Another option of course would be to set up a Skype account and use it on your smartphone in a wifi area.

[Puggit]

This isn't valid for most of the countries you're planning on visiting, but my Vodafone tarrif gives me 25MB per day of data when in Europe - free...

[sneijder]

Install Skype ?

[randlemarcus]

Get a work phone, and their SIm, that's on their bill. Best things ever

[Bezerk]

I used to be on Vodafone with their Passport option and couldn't fault it, but data charges are still high.

In case you didn't know, you'll not get entry into UAE with an Israel stamp in your Passport, so need 2 Passports if going to both Countries.

[HFLagos]

Bezerk said:

I used to be on Vodafone with their Passport option and couldn't fault it, but data charges are still high.

In case you didn't know, you'll not get entry into UAE with an Israel stamp in your Passport, so need 2 Passports if going to both Countries.

You can ask for your passport not to be stamped (they'll stamp a piece of paper instead that you can keep in your passport whilst you are in Israel)

[Allanmac]

When I arrived in Israel they interviewed us (If I remember correctly?) then gave us a peice of paper which they stamped, and then again when we were leaving the country. (At Tel Aviv airport as I went home there)

I work on ships, and the company hasn't installed broadband, we only have a confusing email system thats hard to communicate with, so using Skype is out the window, howver I do go to starbucks and use it there when I can but cant get ashore at every port. Was hoping to use it when I'm in port but unable to go ashore or at night time if we're anchored.

The Vodaphone Passport which charges you a 75p connection fee then uses your minutes only works in the EU (And Oz I heard?) but in every other country its expensive; ie $1.50 in Canada.

Oh well, will just have to use my own Vodaphone and international sims when available.

Thanks for the help

[C3BER]

Look at Sat phones.

[sussexjob]

http://www.globalsimcard.co.uk/

[Shortbloke]

Just get a local pay as you go sim... if you dont have time to just go to a shop and get one then put up with high charges. Simples. I have worked in 16 different countries in as many years and its always cheaper just to get a local sim.... or use a phone box.. if you can find one. God knows why people try to complicate things with all these 'offers' from companies such as Skodafone. Has no-one heard of Skype via wifi?