Talk:Germany/@comment-31456633-20170305222309/@comment-24682153-20170306085129

Hi. Welcome to this Wiki. Let me give you a general answer, so that other users can do the same thing. We assume that your trip is before 15/6/2017 (or 6/15/2017 for Americans), because rules will change in Europe. First you need a compatible device: iPhone (5-7) - passed, works on European frequencies. It must not be SIM-locked to the US provider. Better check this.

You have essentially three choices:

1.) stay on your home provider, if they offer you a good roaming choice. But Verizon charges $10 per day, only T-Mobile US has throttled worldwide roaming included in some of their plans. Advantage: you'll arrive with a roaming solution pre-configured.

2.) buy a SIM card in Germany (your EU port of entry) without EU roaming surcharges and use it in Germany, Ireland, UK (as long as they stay in the EU). All three German network providers called Telekom, Vodafone or O2 sell you these. Starter with 1GB data is around €10. You probably don't get them at the airport, but in their branded stores in downtown Munich. Better go there than to a gas station or kiosk, as only there, they will help your with registration. Take your passport with you and remember the German address where you stay.

3.) buy a SIM card in every EU country where you travel. This you can still do, if you need a lot of data. Use your German SIM until data "is finished" and buy another SIM in Ireland or the UK later. SIMs in Ireland or the UK don't need to be regitered. We all hope in Europe that this hassle will come to an end in this summer with the new rules, but it still remains an option.