We will be traveling to Europe in a couple of weeks. A few of the companies we have services from have asked if we will have a mobile phone they can contact us on, once we arrive. We don't have global phones and weren't planning on adding the service to our US based Verizon plan. Should we re think this??

If you didn't already have your own personal reasons for wanting a cell phone with you in Europe, I wouldn't get one just so a company might call you.

I personally can't travel anywhere these days without needing a cell phone, but people did for years, and many people still do, so unless you need it for other reasons, I'd say no.

We haven't had a problem travelling without a cell phone, though I guess that something could happen one day that would make it handy to have.

Sounds like we probably don't need one. Let me take a different angle. If we did decide to "get one" what are the best options. I have heard I can add global service to my existing account. I have also heard we can purchase a pre paied phone once we get there. Anyone with experience in this catagory. We are leaving 3 children at home so it may be nice to visit occasionally.

I took my unlocked cell with me to Turkey (it is a GSM Quad band). Then I simply bought a SIM card there that had so many units of time on it. Did one recharge while there. I only used it for local/long distance calls withinthe country.

Sounds like you don't need a phone to me. No point in keeping up with the Joneses if you're not interested.

kmadsen - You sais you have Verizon Wireless but don't have global phones. Then you won't be able to just "add on" a global service because your verizon phone won't work overseas. Verizon uses CDMA whereas the rest of the world uses GSM technology.

If you do have a global phone w/Verizon Wireless, you still need to order their global SIM card before you leave in order to use your phone.

Thank you yk. By adding on I meant renting their global phone for a month. It is quite expensive.
I think we will forgo the modern technology and try to e-mail the kids at some point.
Thanks all for input.
k~

I, too, have Verizon Wireless and looked into renting a phone for a recent trip to Turkey, but decided it wasn't worth it. I left our hotel phone numbers with everyone and then used e-mail. If the hotel doesn't have a terminal or two with free internet access, there is bound to be an internet cafe with cheap access next door.

Phone cards purchased virtually anywhere and used with a landline also work. Just punch in a few numbers.

I purchased a Poste Mobile SIM kit in Montalcino for 15 euros. It comes with 15 euros of credit and uses the Vodaphone network. Calls within Italy are 16 euro cents per minute.

You can purchase these at bigger postal offices in Italy.

So on my last day, I had to use a taxi in Florence and I called 055 42 42 and they sent a taxi right over to pick me up and my luggage.

But then I tried to get a taxi arranged for the morning of my departure and they were asking for a phone number so we gave them my Poste Mobile number and the taxi dispatcher claimed it was a 10-digit international number which they can't call back.

In the end, the guy at the B&B gave them his number.

I found out later on prepaidgsm.net forums that 10-digit numbers are valid Italian mobile numbers and that the dispatcher was an idiot.

I remember leaving Madrid, I had the same problem, trying to reserve a taxi and requiring a phone number. I didn't have a mobile number so I gave them the number of the landlord whose apt. I rented without her knowing it.

Then in Paris, I tried to buy Internet access at a hotel and they were using the Orange Wifi service. BUt to buy a 24-hour pass, you had to give them a valid mobile number. They offered to send you the login and password as a SMS to the mobile but you didnt' have to take it.

Looks like mobile numbers are becoming more mandatory for a lot of services and businesses figure most people have phones.

I got the Italian SIM because Italy has some of the lowest rates, even roaming within EU isn't that bad, something like 24 euro cents for incoming and 59 euro cents for outgoing.

So when I go to other countries and they ask for a phone number, will they take an Italian mobile number?