Travel Forum / Destinations / Asia / August 2005

Huh??
Where can you purchase a prepaid sim card for Thailand in the USA??
You must mean a roaming agreement?? You don't register with the Thai
government. If you have roaming you just turn your phone on and use it
as normal. If you don't have roaming then you get a Thai sim card at
any one of the 12 bazillion cell phone shops, put it in your phone,
and just use the phone as normal. This use of the Thai sim card
assumes that your phone is unlocked. If it is not, then take it to any
of the cell phone shops (I suggest Suchart in Panthip Plaza, Bangkok)
and they will unlock it for less than 400 Batht (10.00).
There is no 'registration' that I am aware of.
I bought my last sim card there on August 14th. No problems. Put it in
the phone and use it.
Simple.

Why on earth would you purchase a prepaid Thai SIM card in the USA? It's a
huge scam. You can buy one on any street corner in Thailand in 5 minutes
without having to speak a word of Thai. Should cost about US$2 plus however
much credit you get.

The registration requirement, at least when you buy one in Thailand, just
means that the salesperson incorrectly transcribes your name from your
passport into a ledger which I'm sure nobody ever looks at again.

miguel

Weird question - probably from an armchair bound American, who's never been;
and never likely to go to Thailand. (OK! OK! Address is Italian!).

In most Asian (and western for that matter) countries you can buy local
prepaid sim cards everywhere. The cost is usually just the cost of the
credits you buy (or a little more).

Most Americans are further surprised to learn that in most countries you pay
only for calls you make. Incoming are free!!

Another surprise bonus for Americans is that in most countries, national
mobile (cell) calls are charged at a standard time based rate. There is no
'long distance' rate. International calls of course are more expensive!

Check out www.SnapTheRoom.com for photos of some hotels.

Mr. Free Notes