Has anybody had any experience with renting mobile phones when travelling to a different country?

Having been severely stung with bills when using an English mobile in Ireland and Portugal we bought a Portuguese sim card, to use when in Portugal. We just top it up when we need to. Didn't know you could rent a phone but sounds interesting !

Alison,
I noted the reference to using a Portuguese sim card and top up
How or where do you obtain the card ? Is it on a fixed term agreement ?
Is there a "joining cost".
Not sure if I would benefit as I only make essential contact when travelling , but its a point of interest.
Regards,
Brian {half of norbri}

Hi Brian,

We've had some fun and games with phones but as far as I remember, we bought our original Optimus sim card (around £20) from a phone shop in Portimao and just put it in my English mobile. I had to check with Vodafone in the UK to get them to 'unlock' my phone to allow it to accept another SIM card - in theory they were going to charge me to do this but I don't think they ever did !
However, it isn't ideal having to mess around with fiddly SIM cards and sure enough, after lending it to friends when they were in our villa, the SIM card got lost so we ended up buying another one WITH phone.(Around £50) You can top them up in theory at any cash point machine but not with an English cash card ! - it has to be a Portuguese one I think. Otherwise you have to go into a Vodafone (or whatever network you are on) shop and they will top it up on the spot (cash only).
As you say, not sure if it is worth it for very occasional use. However, it has come in handy when we've been out for several weeks and for example, the son wants to drag you back from your nice coastal walk to pick him up from the tennis/golf club !
Again, if you [u]can[/u] rent a mobile at a good price, this may well be cheaper.

Alison

We bought a vodaphone last year for use in Portugal - we also paid about £50.00 and top up at the cash machine with our portuguese credit card or alternatively you can go to vodaphone shop in Portimao or Algarve shopping. I have also boutht another sim card (which I put in a unlocked phone from the UK) from Vodaphone for Eu 25.00 - this gives Eu15.00 calls and I can top this one up as well. Like you this is very useful when we have teenagers wanting to be picked up from beach/town etc. I now make sure I turn off my english mobile when in Portugal and give the Portuguese no. to anyone in the UK who may need to contact us. Calls to Portuguese mobile nos using telephone service 18866 cost 15p per min and 1p per minute to a landline. Hope this helps anyone.

There's a Vodafone outlet in Faro Airport. When we arrived we bought two simcards for our use while we're in Portugal, and every time we come through now we just top them up as needed (nb - worth noting that many of the Vodafone shops around the Algarve do not accept anything other than cash)