The convenience of a cell phone while traveling through Europe was often thought of as a luxury that most people could not afford in the past. These days, it is much more economical to use cell phones during your travels through Europe. Cell phones keep you far more connected than pay phones or hotel room phones, enabling you to contact your friends and family at home, as well as stay in touch with your traveling companions if you split up. If you want to use cell phones in Europe during travel, you have three options. You can use your cell phone from home (read below to find out if this is possible), rent or purchase a cell phone and use SIM cards in Europe, or purchase a pay as you go phone. Each of these options will enable you to make phone calls on the go while traveling. Read on to figure out which cell phone option will work for you.
Do US Cell Phones Work in Europe?
Depending on your carrier, your US cell phone may work in all or some of Europe. Cell phone networks have gotten a lot larger, making it much easier for everyone in the world to use their cell phones when they are away from home. If you have a Verizon or Sprint phone, you must have a special version to be able to use it in Europe. Check your owner’s manual for this information; it will say quad-band or tri-band functional if it will work out of the country. A large majority of phones from T-Mobile and AT&T work throughout Europe.
Call you mobile provider before you leave to find out if your phone will work in Europe, how much you will be charged for roaming, making calls, receiving calls, and making and receiving texts. This way you are aware of all charges that you will incur while on vacation. You can end up paying astronomical roaming fees if you have a smart phone. You can also consider asking your company to unlock your phone, so that you can then insert SIM cards bought in European countries (more about SIM cards later) which enable you to use a European number and pay much more affordable rates.
Getting a Europe Travel Cell Phone
Another option if you want to use a cell phone but do not want to pay the fees on your American phone is to get a pay as you go phone when you are in Europe. There are a number of places that sell these phones such as drugstores, department stores, and corner stands. These come loaded with your minutes and are a great alternative to using your expensive American phone.
Another option for cells phones in Europe during travel is to rent a phone from a mobile phone carrier, hotel or department store. This can be a pricey choice, as there are often hidden fees related to going over on your minutes that can really add up. If you are a Verizon customer, there is an option for renting a Verizon phone that is very affordable and will work in Europe. Contact Verizon to find out about this Europe travel cell phone.
SIM Cards in Europe Help You Avoid Extra Phone Charges
Gadgets known as SIM cards are tiny chips that store information like your phone number and can be purchased all throughout Europe. They can be used inside of any unlocked cell phone, whether it is a phone you brought from home or a pay as you go phone in Europe. These give you extra minutes and enable your phone to work in other countries. You can buy these anywhere, but first time users should purchase one from a mobile phone store in Europe (they are much cheaper across the pond than in the U.S.) where the clerk can walk you through how to use it.
New mobile options make communicating with friends and family while traveling through Europe much easier than ever before.
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