Read all the posts....Will get celll phone unlocked for emergency contact...get sim card. Do we get that in US or UK?

ALso, what phone card is best for calling home?

Thanks ahead of time.

Why bother - it's as cheap to buy a cheap phone once you are in the UK

As to phonecards - they are all a much of a something, so just buy one you like the picture on the card at some small newsagent in London

Unless you just have to be in touch constantly and must have a cell phone - I agree w/ alanRow. A phone card bought in London will let you phone home for pennies a minute.

No vacation to me means escape...

NO need to phone much....just to let safe arrival be known.

WIll get the phone card there then...Glad to know that info!!

A phone card will definitely be all you need in that case -- plus you can also use it to phone w/i the UK. Like for booking the Eye, or theatre tickets, or phoning ahead to your next hotel if you have a change of arrival time or something.

Question...

Would anybody get in a car in this day and age without a cell (mobile) phone? Does anybody guarantee there will never be some sort of emergency at home that you don't have to be reached?

There are lots of good reasons to have a cell phone and there are various ways to deal with it.

UK mobile phone rates are among the cheapest in the world....if you have a gsm carrier at home, chances are you already have a phone that will work in the UK...(unfortunately for those in the USA, verizon which is the largest USA carrier does not use gsm so their phones are for the most part useless in much of the rest of the world)...but if you have a gsm carrier an dyour phone is at least a tri band and includes the 1800 mhz band (you don't really need 900 in the UK, it is helpful but not essential)...and it is unlocked...you can get a free T Mobile UK sim card if you go to their web site and your first hotel will hold mail for you (you can get 2 actually) and with a T Mobile UK sim card (which operates on 1800 mhz throughout the UK) you get

1. Free reception of calls throughout the UK.

2. 15p/minute calls to other phones, whether landlines or other networks while in the UK.

3. Calls for as cheap as 3p/minute through a third party called yourcallworld to other phones throughout the world outside the UKj..as good as any phonecard

4. Should you take a weekend say in Paris, T Mobile UK uses the eurotariffs and relatively inexpensive roaming rates (only 19p/minute to receive calls within the eu, 24p/minute to call a UK number from within the eu)

We've had this discussion before and I understand people might feel they're on holiday and want to make themselves in communicado but once you've done it and understand the convenience a cell phone, especially in the UK can easily provide, you won't leave home without it.

Yes, I agree on the handiness of the cell phone but should someone at home really need us they will have our lodging contacts. I have 3 teens traveling with me so it will be easier to say no phones no one. We plan to take one for emergencies/reservations but leave it off so we can relax.

&quot;<i>Would anybody get in a car in this day and age without a cell (mobile) phone?</i>&quot;

Yes - absolutely. I don't take my laptop either. People make travel seem like a dangerous adventure w/ perils around every corner. I like to simplify things when I'm on vacation - not take all the whistles and bells.

To clarify - if I had a phone that worked in the UK I <i>might</i> take it. But deal w/ buying a new phone, sim cards, or renting one over there - nope. Not interested.