ira

Hi Calipinay,<BR> If it will make your mother less anxious, take the cell phone.<BR><BR> A word on etiquette, which I am sure you don't need; when you get or make a call, please go outside to converse. <BR><BR> It is very annoying to other people in public places to have someone speaking in a loud voice on the phone.<BR><BR> Have a great trip, and tell us about it when you get back. Keep track of how many times Mom calls.

Travelnut

I just ordered a Sony Ericsson T300 (tri-band) with a basic Nationwide calling plan with T-Mobile from www.Amazon.com.<BR>The phone was free ($199 on T-Mobile, or $99 after their rebate), the service plans offered via Amazon are the same as T-Mobile's (I will actually activate the phone when it arrives, and start receiving my bills from T-Mobile; the only difference ordering via Amazon was the cost-savings on the phone). <BR>To use the phone in Europe, you have to notify T-Mobile a few days in advance. Then, it will cost 99 cents / minute for incoming or outgoing calls, to the same phone number you would use in the States.<BR>After reading all the notes about renting or buying phones, this was what I was comfortable with.<BR>I agree that prepaid phone cards are the least expensive method, but they only work 'one way'. Renting a phone might be best if you don't plan to return very often. The whole SIM thing per country, changing phone numbers, then the SIM card expires if you don't use all of it sounds like too much bother and expense.<BR>I hope my plan works out OK !

michelleNYC

Travelnut, I have international service with T-Mobile and STRONGLY suggest that you contact them more than a &quot;few days&quot; in advance. When I activated my service right before (3 business days) I went to Europe last time (just a few months ago), it ended up taking about 5 days AFTER I was there to sort out why it wasn't working when I got there! So call about a week or more before and then verify that the service has been activated a couple of (business)days before you leave.

bookchick

&quot;Need&quot; is pretty much a relative term. I am getting by okay without one, but have to admit, it would be convenient to have one to make dinner reservations, etc. while out touring during the day. I am considering purchasing one, because I can probably write the cost off as a business expense, but it is unlikely I will buy one on this particular trip. Also, I DO use a cell phone back in the USA, as the commute between my home and office is about 40 minutes, and feel if the car breaks down, it is a safe, handy thing to have at my disposal. Then there is the issue of my elderly parents, neither of whom is in great health...if I cannot be reached in my office, their doctors know to try my cell phone.<BR><BR>BC

Gino

To Travelnut &amp; michelleNYC<BR>Why wait to activate your International World Class Roaming feature. It can be activated anytime with TMobile and once done will stay active thereafter.<BR>I use a TMobile tri Band phone and activated it last year and it remains active for my trip this year.<BR>When in Europe use your phone menu to change your freqency from the US 1900 Band to the European band of 900/1800. If you don't your phone won't work which is what might have happened with Michelle.

michelleNYC

Hi Gino, Yes, I had the phone set correctly and the reason why I activated it at such a late date was because I had just purchased the phone. I should have done it immediately after purchasing the phone and not waited until the last minute right before I left.

michelleNYC

P.S. T-Mobile acknowledged they had made the mistake and credited me for all my calls while in Europe due to the inconvenience this caused. When I requested the service, someone apparently forgot to &quot;flip the switch&quot; and my request was never noted on my account.

jor

Traveled solo may times. Never had a cell phone. Never needed a cell phone. Never wanted a cell phone.

RufusTFirefly

No one needs a cell phone, solo or in a group or travelling or at home. If you can afford one it can be useful at times, but certainly not a requirement.

Travelnut

Gino, thanks, that was going to be a question posed to T-Mobile. I didn't know if you activated it once for all future use, or if it was a fraud control where they wanted to know the periods of time you would be making the calls (ie activate/deactivate every trip).<BR>Since it is the former, I will activate the Worldplan upon receipt of the phone.<BR>Thanks.

Gino

Travelnut,<BR>Once activated, One can always tell if their phone is still active by going to their webpage.<BR>Click on the link that says activate the World Class International Roaming feature. When you do, it will tell you that you are already activated.