Greece/Paris adventure with teens
Dec 3rd, 2010, 01:14 AM
#81
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To be clear, the problems to which I referred usually happen in school, on Facebook, etc, and I wasn't suggesting they will occur on your trip to France and Greece. If you and one of your kids already have phones with 900 and/or 1800 bands, then just check they are unlocked before you leave, and you can set yourself up cheaply once you get to Europe.
A word to the wise: many store clerks in the US are absolutely clueless when it comes to international cellphone usage, so make sure you are speaking to someone who knows what he/she is talking about. A call to your provider may be necessary. You can find out whether your phone has the 900 or 1800 bands by going to the user manual and looking in the specs, or doing a Google search using the full name and model number. The SIM card I mentioned in a previous post is the little fingernail-sized chip that fits behind the battery.
When you get to Europe you can buy a SIM card from any phone shop or electronics store. It's easy to change the SIM cards yourself, but the instructions for setting up the phone probably won't be in English. Ask the clerk to help you before you leave the store. Many supermarkets sell top-ups, so when you run out of airtime you can buy more practically anywhere.
A word to the wise: many store clerks in the US are absolutely clueless when it comes to international cellphone usage, so make sure you are speaking to someone who knows what he/she is talking about. A call to your provider may be necessary. You can find out whether your phone has the 900 or 1800 bands by going to the user manual and looking in the specs, or doing a Google search using the full name and model number. The SIM card I mentioned in a previous post is the little fingernail-sized chip that fits behind the battery.
When you get to Europe you can buy a SIM card from any phone shop or electronics store. It's easy to change the SIM cards yourself, but the instructions for setting up the phone probably won't be in English. Ask the clerk to help you before you leave the store. Many supermarkets sell top-ups, so when you run out of airtime you can buy more practically anywhere.
Dec 8th, 2010, 06:36 AM
#82
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Thanks very much. As I said, great info here!
Heimdall, thanks for the word of warning about kids and technology. I actually am plugged in in that regard. I'm quite familiar to FB, Myspace, back when that was the focal point, cell phone access to web, photos, etc., Skype and whatnot. It's all the inner workings of the gadgets that make my head spin and frankly are completely boring to me. I hate reading instruction manuals too! : ) However, I really appreciate your honesty, as there are parents out there who don't know what their kids are doing on-line or off-line for that matter!
Heimdall, thanks for the word of warning about kids and technology. I actually am plugged in in that regard. I'm quite familiar to FB, Myspace, back when that was the focal point, cell phone access to web, photos, etc., Skype and whatnot. It's all the inner workings of the gadgets that make my head spin and frankly are completely boring to me. I hate reading instruction manuals too! : ) However, I really appreciate your honesty, as there are parents out there who don't know what their kids are doing on-line or off-line for that matter!
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