Travel Advice/Travel Tips -  Cell Phone for Your Trip to Europe?

Mobile phones that are dual or tri- band and designed to work on the GSM protocol can be used in both the U.S. and Europe.

• If you do not own a dual or tri- band phone but would like to have a portable phone to use in Europe, several companies will rent you a phone provisioned for use in Europe.
• If you will be driving a rental car while in Europe, see if the rental company can provide a  cell phone, as many car companies will be pleased to provide this service.

If you have a tri-band band phone and want to take it on your trip, call your carrier to arrange service.

• The phone must be provisioned to work on the GSM radio wave band that is being used in the region that you are visiting. 
  • Check the User Manual that came with you phone, or contact your carrier to determine whether your phone is capable of international use.
•  You must have an agreement with your carrier that binds you to accept the cost of calls in Europe or other areas included in your travel plans.  
  • The agreement must be in force before you depart.         

Figure 1.  A tri-band phone capable of working in Europe, the Far East and the U.S.

Next, you must decide whether you want to receive incoming calls when you are in Europe.

• If you do not want to accept incoming calls, before you depart on your trip you will have to notify your carrier who will likely charge you a monthly fee for this service.