Most US, European and other developed countries' cell phones work internationally therefore allowing you to make and receive call, retrieve emails and browse the web. In general, almost all T-Mobile, Vodaphone and AT&T cell phones work internationally but (in the US) most Verizon and Sprint handsets will not work. In any event, there are many more budget oriented options than “roaming” with your current carrier when going abroad.

Broken down into two categories you have: one for international data and one for international cellular service.

International Cellular Service
Phone
US and European carriers charge anywhere from $1.00-$5.00 (plus tax) per minute for international roaming for all calls in and out. In general, Western Europe is on the lower side of the spectrum while Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe are on the upper end of the spectrum. Even if you are just pack backing through Europe, still, at a $1.00 per minute, your cell phone bill can add up quite quickly. The most affordable option is to get a local solution, i.e., a prepaid SIM card for the country where you are traveling. If your phone is not an international phone, i.e., doesn’t have the 900 and 1800 GSM frequencies, you can easily find a compatible GSM handset online. Make sure that it is unlocked so that it can accept any SIM cards.  Prepaid SIM cards are available for most countries in the world simply by going to a cell phone store when you arrive at your destination. There are a handful of countries that are getting a SIM card is not so simple, India and Turkey are two countries that come immediately to mind. The reasons usually have to do with counteracting terrorism.
Another approach to getting a SIM card, although more expensive than buying one locally, is to purchase one online prior to your departure. The advantages are several. The most evident are that you have the product and corresponding phone number in hand prior to your trip and second, the instructions will be in English as opposed to the local language. Lastly, many of the SIM cards available in the US for use overseas are actually hard to find abroad. The reason is that they are specifically meant for travelers who need to make many international calls. These SIMs are usually not sold in many cellular shops.
If you are traveling to more than one country (backpacking through Europe for example), trying to juggle several SIM cards at a time is probably impractical. There are several alternative companies to the large telecoms offering roaming SIM cards for overseas travelers. Rates are often just a fraction of what the large telcos charge and usually, there are also free incoming calls in many countries as well. International SIM cards are available online. One of the best selling international SIM cards is the National Geographic Travel SIM. While there are other SIM cards available – some with lower rates – the call quality may suffer with some of the no brand companies.

International Data

International data can be enormously expensive, especially handsets like the iPhone that are constantly updating. The best piece of advice is to do your homework before you depart and find out where free wifi is available, turn off the data on your handset and just use wifi for emails and web browsing. However, this can be impractical, particularly for those who need immediate access or are not traveling to major cities.

Currently, the only exception regarding high data roaming fees is if you happen to have a Blackberry phone and happen to use T-Mobile as your carrier. T-Mobile offers an email only international plan for just $19 per month and there are no activation fees nor minimums. Again, this is strictly for emails and does not include web browsing which is still painfully expensive with T-Mobile.

If you absolutely need to have access to the internet at all times, your best bet is to use a local carrier’s service or, if traveling to multiple countries, a roaming solution that is data enabled.

One Country TravelWatching
If your travel plans are limited to one or two countries, your best bet is to get a local prepaid SIM card with a data plan. While prices vary from country to country, most countries in Europe charge approximately $30-$40 for unlimited use or almost unlimited use (there is usually a cap at some point, for example, with most carriers in Italy it is 10GB). If you have an iPad or a smartphone, you can get a SIM card with the data plan. Based on personal experience, while this is by far the most cost effective approach, it is certainly not the most stress free (he most stress free is to roam with your current provider by the way – stress free until you get your roaming bill that is). You may have an issue explaining exactly what you want to do or have problems understanding the offering or having them added to your SIM card. So, while this does entail a bit of effort, it is definitely worth it.
If you have multiple devices, such as a PC, iPad and/or cell phone or are traveling with another person who needs internet access, a fantastic solution is to get a mobile hotspot device such as the MiFi or the Huwawei E585. While you still need a SIM card with a data plan, a mobile hotspot device will create your own personal hotspot capable of allowing up to 5 users or devices at the same time.

Multi Country Travel

If you are going to 2 countries or staying in each country for a couple of weeks or more, the above recommendation is still the best approach. However, if you will be traveling to several countries within a short time span, spending your time getting SIM cards probably doesn’t make much sense.
Many US providers do offer something in terms of international data packages. The problem is, when you consume beyond the allotted amount in the package (ex. $100 for 250mb of international data), the rates balloon up to ridiculous rates. An alternative is to use a roaming SIM from an alternative provider. While still expensive, the rates are fractions of the large telecoms. The National Geographic Travel SIM has decent rates for international roaming.

In sum, with a little bit of effort, you can save huge amounts on cellular and data service. The most convenient approach, and probably what Donald Trump uses, is to just turn on your phone just as you would in the United States. The most cost effective is to wait until you get to where you are going. This approach is definitely not for everyone. The in between approach, which can be less expensive than blindly trying to find just any carrier overseas, is to use purchase or rent the service prior to your departure.

With thanks to Sebastian Harrison - Cellular Abroad, Inc.

 

"The best thing about travel is that feeling of total confusion without rejection"

 

 

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