Newcomer Passing on some advice about tourist SIM cards/chips

[Blockchain]

Do you have free roaming phone calls? I was told by T-Mobile I only have free text/data, and calls are $0.25/minute

I also am on T-Mobile for the free data/text while roaming. Great for Google Maps. Then use Google Voice which is free. You can get a number with whatever area code you want and call on wifi or even data if your speed Is fast enough. You can buy credits for much cheaper than T-Mobile's 0.25/minute.

I have TMobile and get free roaming on text/data and it is very fast. They don't like if you're gone more than 6 months to 12 months on it. But I got a warning that I had to at least visit the USA which did the trick. I think the calls are 25 cents a minute but I don't use it for calls. I use a Skype phone number hooked on wifi to call. It is very cheap that way.

I didn't know Skype had cellphone numbers. It sounds like the same set up as the Google Voice.

 

[Jenn]

I also am on T-Mobile for the free data/text while roaming. Great for Google Maps. Then use Google Voice which is free. You can get a number with whatever area code you want and call on wifi or even data if your speed Is fast enough. You can buy credits for much cheaper than T-Mobile's 0.25/minute.


I didn't know Skype had cellphone numbers. It sounds like the same set up as the Google Voice.

Actually I just looked and it seems like they don't sell online numbers anymore. But you can buy passes to call the USA.

Get a local phone number & answer calls on Skype from anywhere | Skype

Get a local phone number & answer calls on Skype from anywhere | Skype

secure.skype.com

Now they have subscriptions to call certain places.

https://www.skype.com/en/international-calls/

 

[Wally]

Actually I just looked and it seems like they don't sell online numbers anymore. But you can buy passes to call the USA.

Get a local phone number & answer calls on Skype from anywhere | Skype

Get a local phone number & answer calls on Skype from anywhere | Skype

secure.skype.com

Now they have subscriptions to call certain places.

https://www.skype.com/en/international-calls/

Didn't realize that Skype stopped. They must grandfather in old plans. I still have my Skype #.

 

[earlyretirement]

I speak some Spanish but I didn't think it was difficult. I did ask my Airbnb host and they helped me refill it and they just added it on to my Airbnb bill.

@LyellLanatone are you renting an apartment from someone? Can't you ask that owner? I think sometimes people can get frustrated if you don't speak Spanish. I think my Spanish is decent but sometimes people would get frustrated. I was surprised more people didn't speak English but I don't expect them to.

I think this is the best advice. It can be confusing getting a prepaid SIM but once you do there is some good advice on this thread. I think @LyellLanatone makes some fair points about the frustrations but I think that if you give it some effort, especially with Google Translate and other translation apps it is much easier.

Most tourists coming will be staying in a hotel or renting an apartment like some of you mentioned, and any hotel or Airbnb host will be happy to help out. I think people are mentioning the Mercado Libre not because they except tourists to have it but that it is so prevalent with all the locals and that probably anyone would be more than happy to help you refill your card if asked.

I think with some people that don't speak any Spanish they can get more frustrated vs. locals that might get frustrated. I have noticed over the past few decades and dealing with tourists and expats lots of them get frustrated that locals don't speak English when that expectation is not there. If you're living here then you should try to learn Spanish.

Do people not have service from their providers from USA? I have TMobile and it works great in BA and I had free roaming. Do you have to have a local number to use Rappi or anything else?

I have TMobile and I have had it for 20+ years traveling around the world and it's been fabulous with the free-roaming and data for almost everywhere in the world. Most years I am on the road internationally 100 days out of the year and TMobile has been amazing. You shouldn't need a local number to use Rappi. I have my USA cellphone number attached to my Rappi account which I also use in Mexico and Argentina and it works perfectly. I use Rappi all the time in Argentina.

Do you have free roaming phone calls? I was told by T-Mobile I only have free text/data, and calls are $0.25/minute

No, there might be a plan you can buy for roaming. I have a plan where I have free phone calls to Mexico and Canada while I am there but outside of those areas it's $0.25 minute like you mentioned. I use the Skype number as well if I need to make phone calls to the USA. But almost everyone in Argentina uses Whatsapp for just about everything. Almost all of my friends are on Whatsapp so you use that to call, text, etc so I don't have to use my TMobile plan for phone calls. I also have eSIM cards for just about all the countries I frequent often. iphones are great for being able to just switch eSIM's. I have a permanent Buenos Aires e-SIM that I pay each month. It's really affordable. I am with Personal and couldn't be easier. In Mexico I use Movistar e-SIM and I just can top it off whenever I want using the App Xoom (Owned by Paypal). Unfortunately I don't see Argentina listed for Xoom but agree with the others that most people will be glad to help you reload with their Mercado Pago if you give them the cash.

 

[daveholman]

I just found out my phone is dual-sim. So I can just get a local sim card and switch back and forth for calls or data and for US and Argentina. I also finally cut off my kids' phones (I told them I was going to) and reduced my T-mobile bill from over $200 to $45/mo

 

[Uncle Wong]

I just found out my phone is dual-sim. So I can just get a local sim card and switch back and forth for calls or data and for US and Argentina. I also finally cut off my kids' phones (I told them I was going to) and reduced my T-mobile bill from over $200 to $45/mo

Dual sim phones are great. ˆI like the esims better because you can add unlimited eSims but just can only use 2 at the same time. Very handy when traveling a lot. @daveholman isn't it unlimited data free with TMobile? I have the same bill with TMobile no matter how much data and calls I made. What are they doing to make the bill go up so much???

 

[Surfer]

Dual sim phones are great. ˆI like the esims better because you can add unlimited eSims but just can only use 2 at the same time. Very handy when traveling a lot. @daveholman isn't it unlimited data free with TMobile? I have the same bill with TMobile no matter how much data and calls I made. What are they doing to make the bill go up so much???

Love the eSim on the iphones. I can often times buy a sim card for a destination even before I get there online.

 

[Jeep]

This isnt my experience at all, after helping many tourists my guess would be less than 10 % of kiosko staff are not complete assholes who are extremely bitter towards "rich foreigners" as their own cost of living skyrockets. Times this by a million if the foreigner doesn't speak spanish.

But I respect your opinion and if this isnt your experience I am happy for you

Agree with you @LyellLanatone. These staff members are not in the best mood and do feel resentment sometimes as a gringo. I think people were more patient before but feel like lately people are getting frustrated at the expensive prices. More aggressive and impatient. Customer service sucks here. Not sure how anyone can disagree with that.