Mobile phone

[daydreamer16]

Hi 

Our mobile phone carrier here in the US does not have an international plan. We are planning to be in Australia for 2 weeks  & then a couple of cruises. I'd like to buy a cheap phone loaded with a bunch of minutes to use while in Australia & possibly cruise stops in NZ. We will be in Sydney for 4 days staying in the Rocks area. Can someone recommend a place to buy a mobile phone that can be loaded with minutes?  Many thanks!

[d9704011]

18 minutes ago, daydreamer16 said:

Hi 

Our mobile phone carrier here in the US does not have an international plan. We are planning to be in Australia for 2 weeks  & then a couple of cruises. I'd like to buy a cheap phone loaded with a bunch of minutes to use while in Australia & possibly cruise stops in NZ. We will be in Sydney for 4 days staying in the Rocks area. Can someone recommend a place to buy a mobile phone that can be loaded with minutes?  Many thanks!

Where do you plan on calling?  The US?

[daydreamer16]

No, just local, I'd like to be able to make dinner reservations, confirm tours, emergency etc.

[d9704011]

43 minutes ago, daydreamer16 said:

No, just local, I'd like to be able to make dinner reservations, confirm tours, emergency etc.

From a practical perspective, you're going to need separate SIMs for Australia and New Zealand.  Can you go without the phone for the NZ portion of your travels?

[yarramar]

This one is so cheap, you could get another one in NZ. 

https://www.kmart.com.au/product/optus-x-start-3-smartphone-43184095/

You may need to pay to unlock it so you can reuse it in the US

[d9704011]

Gotta love KMart!  They closed up shop in Canada years ago.

 

I think I'd look at purchasing an Optus SIM upon arrival at SYD:

 

https://www.optus.com.au/prepaid/traveller-sim#plans

 

May be able to get a roaming package to use it in NZ.

[daydreamer16]

10 hours ago, d9704011 said:

From a practical perspective, you're going to need separate SIMs for Australia and New Zealand.  Can you go without the phone for the NZ portion of your travels?

Yes, probably can, spending 4 days in Auckland & then a cruise.

 

5 hours ago, yarramar said:

This one is so cheap, you could get another one in NZ. 

https://www.kmart.com.au/product/optus-x-start-3-smartphone-43184095/

You may need to pay to unlock it so you can reuse it in the US

Great, will look into this! thanks for your help!

[yarramar]

55 minutes ago, daydreamer16 said:

Yes, probably can, spending 4 days in Auckland & then a cruise.

If only in NZ for 4 days and if you get an Optus phone and or sim here, you could also buy this.

https://www.optus.com.au/mobile/plans/international-roaming/prepaid

[andlep]

You could buy an international prepaid sim card before you leave. 

[daydreamer16]

Thanks again, you guys are so helpful! Can't wait to go to Australia!

[tiggrbaby]

Would I be able to purchase a sim card and use it in an old Droid phone that is no longer on a network?

[yarramar]

4 hours ago, tiggrbaby said:

Would I be able to purchase a sim card and use it in an old Droid phone that is no longer on a network?

Maybe, the phone must be capable of receiving the radio frequencies that our networks use. https://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones/Guides/Will-my-phone-work-in-Australia-carrier-network-frequencies

Google your phone model and "radio frequencies"