<p>Anyone know best low cost phone option for traveling for 2 weeks in England and Western Europe? Won’t need to use phone much…just calling U.S. a couple of times, and maybe calls within country to meet up with friends, check on touring/hotel arrangements etc. Won’t have computer (so, no Magic Jack.) Haven’t called domestic carrier (Verizon) yet to find out if there are short-term options for use in Europe, but checking it out. Leaving in a couple of days…so not much time to get a phone from an internet company.</p>
<p>Not for me…but for family member. Any suggestions of phones/services that have worked for others would be appreciated. England is first stop on trip. Probably leaving from Holland or Germany.</p>
<p>When our daughter went to Paris for a couple of weeks during high school, I think we got one from Verizon (our regular cell phones were through them) that we sent back once she returned. I would check with them. I don’t remember the cost but it seemed a little pricey for what it was but served the purpose well. She didn’t use it much except to call home a couple of times and a few times to contact others in her group.</p>
<p>I believe you can buy simple phones with SIM card there. There have been threads on this on this forum. Maybe try a search? We rented a phone at Heathrow for 5 pounds/day but had to return it to same place so that won’t work for you.</p>
<p>You can buy a phone and a sim card fairly cheaply all over Europe. My son used Vodafone when he was there for a semester. </p>
<p>If you have Verizon wireless, call them about their Occasional International Traveler plan. I think it’s about $15, they’ll mail you an international-ready phone. When you’re ready to leave you follow the instructions to activate the phone with your number. When you get back to the US you de-activate it and mail it back (prepaid). As long as they get it back within 30 days of when they mail it, that’s all it costs. Any usage goes onto your regular cell phone bill under whatever your regular cell plan is. You may have to add international calling to your phone plan but you can remove it when you get back. Rates are something like $1 or $2/minute, so it’s not for long calls - just for emergencies or a quick “I’m here” call. We’ve used this twice - once for a 6 day visit to Spain to visit S, and once when he did a 3 week tour of Europe. Worked fine both times and wasn’t expensive.</p>
<p>You can get free wifi all over the place, you can use that with Skype if you have an iPhone or similar. Then just use your US carrier at whatever horrendous price if there is really something urgent.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions. Verizon seems to have some kind of “occasional” international user program. Will look into that as well as try to find more information on cheap phone with sim card.</p>
<p>My last trip to Europe last year I did enable my cell phone for international calling though ATT and it was not expensive, only used once or twice but good to know that reachable if there was any emergency. I did not travel with laptop but all the hotels except for one had a free guest computer to use in the lobby. I actually always look for this when choosing hotels-really makes your life while traveling quite easy. If not, usually the public library will allow you temporary computer access for nominal fee.</p>