Portuguese phone/SIM in Spain

[StevethePlanner]

A question about SIM cards and countries. In 2015, I walked the CP from Lisbon. When my flight landed in Lisbon, I bought a cheap phone (Samsung) and SIM card (Vodafone) at the airport. She said the prepaid rate was the same for Portugal and Spain. I think that was true. It worked in both countries. I don’t know if I ever put more money on the SIM while in Spain. I tried once in Santiago at a tobacco store, but for some reason it did not work. I don’t know if it was just that store, or if a SIM bought in Portugal could not be added to in Spain.

My question is: in April-May I’ll be walking VdLP – all in Spain. Will my SIM card work (and re-load) or will I need to buy a new (Spanish) SIM at the Madrid airport (or when I get to Seville)? Pros/Cons?

 

[Bajaracer]

Most SIM cards will be deactivated after 9 months if there is inactivity with the number, I doubt you'll be able to reuse the Portuguese SIM card.
Most likely you'll have to buy a prepaid Spanish SIM card, make sure the cheap Samsung phone you bought is unlocked.

 

[StevethePlanner]

It's been well over 9 months. I don't mind buying a new SIM card. But I have no idea if the phone is unlocked (or what that implies). It worked in Spain before. Is there a way I can see if it's locked?

 

[Bajaracer]

It's been well over 9 months. I don't mind buying a new SIM card. But I have no idea if the phone is unlocked (or what that implies). It worked in Spain before. Is there a way I can see if it's locked?

Find a SIM card such as a US one from AT&T or T-Mobile, it doesn't have to be valid, just one that is not Vodafone. Ask a local independent cell phone store if you could get one and test it out.

 

[StevethePlanner]

Unfortunately, the charger is European and I have no cable here (in the U.S.) to plug it in to test unlock (battery is drained). I guess the worse case scenario is I take it to Spain, a new (Vodafone) SIM doesn’t work and it’s not practical to unlock the phone, so just end up buying a new cheap phone. Hopefully, it won’t come to that. There is a couple of weeks before I leave and I might be able to find a place who can test it.

 

[Bajaracer]

Unfortunately, the charger is European and I have no cable here (in the U.S.) to plug it in to test unlock (battery is drained). I guess the worse case scenario is I take it to Spain, a new (Vodafone) SIM doesn’t work and it’s not practical to unlock the phone, so just end up buying a new cheap phone. Hopefully, it won’t come to that. There is a couple of weeks before I leave and I might be able to find a place who can test it.

The wall charger may be an EU plug, but the charging cable is micro USB, and those cables are universal for all modern cell phones other than Apple devices, so if the EU charger and cable are one piece, find an android charging cable to charge it.