Rather than purchasing what was then a $70 “Passport” package from AT&T before leaving (the company has since switched its international plan to a $10/day International Day Pass, as we discussed in this series of posts), I instead bought a SIM card package in Paris from a French phone carrier for €39. Once I popped it into my phone, I just used my smartphone as I normally would, although I now was dialing with a French phone number.

The experience was actually much simpler than I had imagined. In the end, it provided me with a much more cost-effective way of using my iPhone while traveling outside the States. The biggest difference? I used my phone freely for calls, emailing and even browsing the web, and never even got close to exhausting my plan. All that fretting over data use — gone.

I’ll explain how I did it, and the various options I had below. But first, let’s quickly review the choices you face when traveling abroad with your phone.

This article was updated in November 2021 with new information and prices.

 EuroCheapo is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you!

Traveling abroad? Your smartphone options

As we’ve discussed in this series of posts, travelers from North America have several options for using their smartphones when visiting Europe.

Purchasing an international package from your carrier

You could sign up for an international phone/texting/data package from your carrier (for example, AT&T’s International Day Pass package). You will pay for these packages as an “add-on” to your normal bill. They will usually grant you some combination of data transfer (for emailing, using the web and apps) and text messages. They will also usually lower your per-minute charge for using your telephone, although it’ll still probably cost you about $1 per minute. Some plans will offer free calls to certain countries, including the U.S. (Read about AT&T’s and Verizon’s plans.)

Winging it without a package

Many American tourists just wing it, and plan to simply limit their phone use or “try to keep it turned off”. While this is an option, be advised that without a package, charges for texts and phone calls are more expensive. Data transfer charges are usually astronomically high. If you plan to use data (rather than Wi-Fi) to check your email or use the web during your trip, this isn’t a good idea. (One notable exception is T-Mobile, which offers its “Magenta” customers free international data and calls for only $0.25 per minute.)

Some travelers who “wing it” place their phone into “airplane mode” for most of the trip, restricting email and web browsing to times when they’re connected to a Wi-Fi network. Others just keep their cellular data and roaming off, and use their phones for texting and calling. Still, expensive dangers lurk (especially if you haven’t set up your phone correctly).

Purchasing a SIM Card abroad

You can also purchase a SIM Card from a local phone carrier in Europe. As we’ll discuss below, you can either use it in your regular U.S. smartphone (if your phone permits it), use it in an old phone that is SIM-card compatible, or buy a cheap phone (either back home before you leave or once in Europe) for the new SIM Card.

Options, options… Looking over the SIM cards available for purchase at a “Relay” newsstand at Charles de Gaulle airport. Photo: EuroCheapo

The benefits of buying a SIM card in Europe

Why would you go through the hassle of all this? Because buying and using a SIM card in Europe will almost certainly be far cheaper than using your home carrier while traveling abroad. When using a SIM card from a European carrier, you’re buying a new phone number. This means you gain access to the same low-cost dialing options available to locals.

There are many, many European phone carriers, and each offers different SIM cards, packages and options. Broadly speaking, to make this work for you, you’ll need to purchase two things:

1. a SIM card (which gives your phone the actual phone number), and

2. credits to make phone calls and use data.

During a trip to France, I purchased a $49 SIM package from Orange, one of France’s largest carriers. This package, aimed at international travelers, offers:

• a SIM card with a French phone number
• Unlimited calls throughout Europe
• 120 minutes of phone calls globally (placed or received)
• Unlimited text messages throughout Europe
• 1,000 text messages globally (sent or received)
• 20 GB of mobile data throughout Europe

Sounds great, right? I didn’t even come close to using all of my minutes, let alone my text messages or 20 GB of data! (I could dial #123# to track my usage.) If, however, I had exhausted my plan, I could have recharged it by buying Orange credits at any newsstand.

Note: This is by no means the best deal out there, nor are we promoting this particular offer. This was the most convenient for me, as I was a bit hesitant about setting up my phone for the first time. Orange operates stores throughout France and is staffed with friendly folks who will set your phone up for you.

Also, note that many Orange SIM cards are only available for 14 days before you lose unused data and need to top them off again.

If you are going to France, check out this article on the best SIM cards in France. You can also read about the top SIM Cards in Spain and Germany.

You’ll see plenty of SIM-related packages at newsstands in France and throughout Europe, like SFR’s “Call Cheap” package for visitors. Photo: EuroCheapo

How does it work?

A SIM (“subscriber identification module”) card is a small chip that you place inside your phone that controls your actual phone number and can also store your contacts. These are sold by cellular carriers and are used in all phones that operate using GSM technology (and some newer CDMA phones, as well).

Europe’s mobile phone carriers use GSM technology. In the U.S., AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM, while Verizon and Sprint use another technology, CDMA. If your phone uses CDMA, you should verify with your carrier whether or not your phone operates using a SIM card. (Many of the newer smartphones do.)

(Note: All iPhones use SIM cards, except for a CDMA version of the iPhone 4 produced for Verizon and Sprint customers.)

For an iPhone with GSM technology, you can unlock the phone (see below), pop open the SIM card slot (on the right side of the phone), remove the card, and pop in a new SIM card you buy abroad.

When the phone reboots with the new SIM card, you’re in business and operating with a brand new phone number.

What about locked phones?

Before you get too excited about using your phone abroad, you need to make sure that it will work with European SIM cards! Unsurprisingly, U.S. cellphone carriers are not exactly eager for you to start shopping around for cheaper calling options. To make the SIM swap more difficult, many carriers “lock” their phones. This prevents the customer from using a SIM card from another carrier. If your phone is locked and you load up another carrier’s SIM card, it simply won’t work.

To get around this, you’ll need to “unlock” your phone. Many American phones are eligible for being unlocked as soon as they go out of contract, or once any service or payment installments are paid off.

AT&T customers

If you qualify (or to check to see if you qualify), submit a request to AT&T to unlock your phone or tablet. They will then send you instructions on how to unlock your phone.

T-Mobile customers

Read the conditions for unlocking your phone here. Note that T-Mobile requires you to download a special app to unlock your phone. (As noted above, T-Mobile customers with “Magenta” plans already get free texting and data throughout Europe and calls at $.25 per minute. You might not want to go through any of this — lucky you!)

Verizon customers

Many Verizon phones are not locked after 60 days of purchase. Read more here.

In my case, my iPhone was out of contract. I filled out AT&T’s form, received detailed instructions on how to unlock it, backed up my phone on iTunes, and then reinstalled my data from a backup.

If it sounds complicated, it wasn’t. Within about an hour, I had backed up, jumped through some hoops, restored my backed up data to my phone, rebooted… and voila, it was unlocked and ready to go.

What happens if you can’t unlock your phone?

If you can’t unlock your phone, don’t despair. You can simply use another phone. Some people prefer to use a second phone anyhow, leaving their regular phone on standby throughout their trip in case it receives important calls or text messages. (Remember, if you swap a SIM card into your normal phone, you’ll be changing your phone number.)

Here are some other phone options you could use.

Use an old phone

Most people have an old mobile phone sitting around at home in the back of a drawer somewhere. While it might not be a cutting-edge smartphone, it could still do the job for your trip. Check out your collection of old phones to see if any of them operate with SIM cards.

Buy a cheap phone in Europe

Really cheap phones are easy to come by in Europe. Some SIM card packages aimed at tourists even come with a phone to use! In France, for example, the carrier SFR offers a package with a SIM card and cheapo phone. While some of these phones won’t be the most current models on the market, they can be used to make calls, send text messages, and even check in on your favorite apps.

Buy a cheap phone before leaving for Europe

You can also pick up a cheap SIM card-compatible smartphone for as little as $20 at major retailers, like Walmart and Target, in the U.S. When shopping for a cheap “no contract” phone, just make sure it takes a SIM card.

How do you install the SIM card?

So you have an unlocked phone and have purchased a SIM card in Europe. Now you just need to install it in your phone.

While the installation process is different for every device, the process should be as simple as powering off your phone, locating the SIM compartment, popping it open, removing the current card, and placing your new SIM card inside. When you power on your device, you usually will need to dial an activation number (provided with the card), and you should be good to go.

On iPhones 4 through 11,  the slot is located along the right-hand side of the device. On newer models (iPhone 12 and 13), the slot is on the left side. Regardless of the location, the slot can be opened by inserting a small point (such as the head of a pin or paperclip) into the hole. (Read more about loading a SIM card on Apple.com.)

Important note: It’s very important that you put your old SIM card in a safe spot! Don’t lose this card — it’s your home phone number!

A sign for the “Orange Holiday” package geared to international tourists in France. Photo: EuroCheapo

Buying SIM cards in Europe

Although rules and regulations about the buying and selling of SIM cards vary depending on the country, in most European countries, you can easily buy a SIM card in just minutes from cell phone stores, newsstands, tobacco shops… even vending machines in some relaxed countries! Other countries may require that you register with a passport or other form of identification.

Most commonly, you can buy SIM cards at:

• Newsstands and unaffiliated cellphone store: In France, for example, most newsstands at train stations and airports sell a variety of SIM-card products, including the cards, credits, and packages. These shops will sell you SIM cards offered by Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, low-cost Lycamobile, and other carriers.

• Carrier-specific stores: Don’t be afraid to drop into mobile carriers’ stores. Be aware, however, that they’ll obviously be limited to selling only their particular SIM cards and credits. They won’t be able to offer the objective advice you’re likely to find from a newsstand or unaffiliated phone shop. (On the other hand, they’re more likely to spend time with you talking through the options and helping you set up your phone.)

• Buy before you leave. Many international companies will sell you European SIM cards before you leave home for your trip. These can be convenient, saving you the hassle of hunting down a SIM card once there. But they rarely present the same savings you’d find simply by buying directly in Europe. (And, as noted above, you can also order the Orange SIM Card before your trip.)

Check out the options available in unaffiliated mobile shops, like this one in Paris. Photo: EuroCheapo

Considerations when shopping for SIM cards

With so many carriers and so many choices, you’ll need to do a bit of comparison shopping to figure out which carrier will work best for you. I would suggest heading for the nearest newsstand or unaffiliated cellphone shop once you’ve arrived, check out the SIM card options, and strike up a conversation with the cashier.

There are several things to keep in mind when deciding on a SIM card.

Package or pay-as-you-go

Are you buying a SIM card that needs credits or a SIM package that’s already loaded with a set number of minutes, texts and data?

How much do calls cost

When you buy credits, how much do calls, texts and data cost? (These credits usually come in increments of €5 / €10 / €15 / €25, and often include small bonus credits that increase the more you purchase.)

Connection charge

Are you going to be assessed an initial “connection charge” each time you make a call? (Lycamobile, for example, offers very low per-minute charges, but also charges to make the connection.)

Other countries

Will your SIM work in other countries, or will you need to buy another card if you cross borders? With policy changes in June 2017, SIM cards can be used throughout the EU without extra roaming charges. In the past, you might have had to buy a new card for each country, depending on your plan. You can see the details of the new EU rules here.

Wi-Fi hotspots

Does your SIM card grant you access to Wi-Fi hotspots? Many packages from larger carriers will offer this, which could come in handy.

Finally, don’t forget…

If you’ve made it this far in the article, you’re obviously serious about using a SIM card abroad. However, there is just one more major, if obvious, point worth considering.

When you place a SIM card in your phone, your phone number will change.

At the risk of repeating myself: The SIM card that you buy dictates your phone number. When I slipped the French SIM card into my phone, I now had a French phone number. (You can now see why some people prefer to bring along an old phone or purchase a cheapo “travel phone” expressly for SIM card use.)

This also means that if you swap a new SIM card into your phone, your normal U.S. number will not work. When people try to call your U.S. number, it will go straight to voicemail. You’ve basically just taken your number “offline.” You could prep for this by changing your voicemail message in advance to state that you’ll be traveling, and include your new number. (This can be tricky, as you usually won’t know the new number until you buy your new SIM card.)

And the same goes for text messages. As your phone number will have changed, your texts will be coming from a number that your friends will not, at first, recognize. This can be a touch awkward at first, but they’ll catch on. Some people get around this by sending text messages through an app like Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger. But these will only work when using data or connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Your SIM card questions and stories

Do you have an experience buying and using a SIM card in Europe? Share with us below! Have questions about how it all works? Ask away — we’ll try to help!

The post Buying a SIM card in Europe: The cheapest way to use a smartphone while traveling appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Luckily, we’re here to help you sort through the mess and make the most of your mobile phone in Europe.

Check on international capabilities

The first thing you should determine is whether or not your phone is indeed capable of international roaming. Since this can differ based both on phone and service provider (one iPhone model may work for one carrier, but not another), it’s easiest to check directly with your carrier.

Click below to read about your international calling capabilities on the following American carriers. Most of these links go directly to pages explaining each carriers’ international packages, most of which consist of some sort of bundling of calling, texting and data options.

AT&T
Verizon
Sprint
T-Mobile

How will you be using your phone?

Next, figure out how you plan to use your smartphone while traveling in Europe. Will you need to be on the phone for hours? Just for emergencies? Do you need instant e-mail access? Planning to search the Web or use apps?

Carriers offer separate rates and plans for calling, texting and using data (e-mail, web browsing). If you get all three, the costs can quickly add up. Here’s an overview of your options:

1. Making telephone calls.

Depending on your carrier, prices can vary greatly just to make and receive calls while abroad.

AT&T

AT&T’s three “Passport” plans cost between $30 – $120, and lowers your per-minute charge for phone calls to between $1 minute and $.35 per minute. As minutes normally cost $1.50 each, these packages can offer considerable savings, especially if you plan on making a lot of calls. (read more on our AT&T page)

Verizon

Without any special bundle, you’ll pay $1.29 per minute to call home. With a $40 bundle, Verizon includes 100 minutes of calls. (read more on our Verizon page)

Sprint

Without a plan, Sprint charges $1.99 per minute to call the US from Europe. Sprint’s Worldwide Voice plan ($4.99 per month) lowers this hefty rate, bringing it down to $.99 per minute. (Read more on Sprint’s not-so-user-friendly Website.)

T-Mobile

Of the four major wireless service providers, T-Mobile offers the best deal with their “Simple Choice” plan. This plan offers unlimited free texts and data (!), and lowers the cost of telephone calls from Europe to the US to $.20 per minute. (read more on T-Mobile’s website)

2. Text messaging.

If you think keeping track of all these minutes and rates might drive you mad, texting while abroad can be a much simpler and cheaper alternative.

AT&T

If you sign up for any of AT&T’s Passport packages, unlimited text messages are included. Without a plan, these will cost $.50 each.

Verizon

Verizon’s texting rates are odd. Without a plan or with their cheapest $25 package, texts cost $.50 to send. With their $40 plan, you receive 100 texts. Not great.

Sprint

Texts cost $.50 to send from Europe to the US, and $.05 to receive.

T-Mobile

With T-Mobile’s “Simple Choice” plan, subscribers get free unlimited texting from Europe to the US.

3. Data: Checking e-mail and Web browsing.

Using international data packages on your smartphone to check e-mail or browse the Web (instead of using Wi-Fi) can be a risky proposition while abroad. It’s easy to lose track of how much data you’ve used and wind up with a four-figure phone bill. Seriously. Luckily, most carriers offer data packages that can make internet usage a little less treacherous.

AT&T

AT&T offers three tiers of data in its Passport Plan bundles: $30 for 120 MB, $60 for 300 MB, and $120 for 800 MB. (Prices are per month.)

Verizon

Verizon, meanwhile, has only one pricing rate for data: 100 MB for $25.

Sprint

Sprint offers customers two international data “add on” options, although neither are cheap: $40 for 40 MB and $80 for 85 MB. Without the add on, you’ll pay a steep $.019 per KB.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is once again the exception, offering unlimited data with it’s “Simple Choice” plans.

How to set up your phone up to go abroad.

As we’ve previously detailed for iPhones, it’s essential when traveling abroad to set up your phone properly. With different charges for calls, texts and data, it’s easy to accidentally open an e-mail or receive a phone call that results in an unexpectedly bulky bill.

Luckily, there are some settings that can help you manage your minutes, messages and megabytes.

To make calls only

If you’re planning on using your phone solely to make and receive calls while you’re abroad, make sure to turn off data roaming, which will block your phone from using e-mail services, web browsing, and downloads. Your phone will still be able to receive text messages (though check with your carrier about picture and video text messages, as they’ll sometimes count as data downloads).

For Android phones

Do this by going to Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile Networks.  When there, you can make sure international data roaming is turned off and also uncheck all mobile data roaming as a safeguard .

For Windows phones

Go to Settings > Cellular > Data Roaming Options and switch the setting to “Don’t Roam.”

For Blackberries

Go to Settings > Mobile Network > While Roaming and select “Off.”

Managing data

If you need to use web services while you’re in Europe, but you’re worried about piling up data charges without realizing it, you have a few options.

The least drastic is to switch off your phone’s ability to receive e-mail automatically (turning off “push” email downloads and notifications).  If you still want to check your inbox occasionally, you can do so by “fetching” your email manually.

For Android users, this can be done by going to Settings, selecting “Accounts and Sync” and unchecking “Auto-Sync.”  This will additionally turn off any other applications that automatically sync data, such as weather updates.

Windows Phone 7 owners should go to Settings, then “e-mail and accounts” to select their account.  Then, select “Download new content” and choose “manually.” Finally, uncheck all “Content to sync” and save the changes by clicking the checkbox at the bottom of the screen.

For other phones, check the user guide or talk to your service provider for advice on how to stop automatic syncing.

Airplane mode

A final and more extreme solution is to go into “airplane mode” and only use Wi-Fi networks to access your email, Web and apps for free. All smartphones have this setting, which shuts off access to all phone and data networks. Activating airplane mode will prevent you from getting phone calls, normal text messages, and using your Web browser without a Wi-Fi connection. However, it will also prevent you from fretting about the charges.

When you do join a Wi-Fi connection, however, you can check your email, browse the Web and use your apps. This is generally the best solution for casual travelers who are fine with checking their phones just a few times a day, for example from their hotel or a cafe offering free Wi-Fi. It’s even more sensible these days, as free Wi-Fi connections are popping up all over European cities. (Read our posts on where to find free Wi-Fi in Barcelona, Florence, London, Madrid and Paris.)

When in airplane mode, you can make calls using the Skype app or Google Voice while on a Wi-Fi network. Both of these options are free between Skype or Voice users and very cheap when calling a US phone number.

Note that once you activate airplane mode, you’ll often have to manually turn the Wi-Fi connection back on. Also, when you’re finished, don’t forget to go back into airplane mode!

Here’s how to set up airplane mode on your phone:

Android phones

Simply go to Settings, then “Wireless & Networks” and check the box next to “Airplane Mode.”

Windows phones

Go to Settings and then select “Airplane Mode” to toggle it on and off.

Blackberries

Click “Manage Connections” in the main menu and select “All Off” or “Turn all connections off.”

Of course, everyone’s needs while traveling abroad are different, and often the right approach is a combination of plans, settings and packages. Just remember to work out your strategy before you leave, in order to avoid getting mixed up in a maelstrom of bills and charges.

More tips for using your phone in Europe:

Using an American iPhone in Europe… without Going Broke

Tips for AT&T iPhone customers

Tips for Verizon iPhone customers

Setting up your iPhone to avoid a billing “surprise”

AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile: A comparison of international plans

The post American Smartphones in Europe: Windows, Android and Blackberry customers appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

However, I felt a slight pull coming from the iPhone in my backpack. It had been several hours since I “checked in.” There were undoubtedly e-mails waiting for me—not to mention a New York Times app that could be updated. While I was at it, I might as well check to see if anyone had commented on a photo of a recent meal that I uploaded to Facebook the night before…

I hadn’t purchased any of AT&T’s expensive international data plans, so I was reliant on Wi-Fi networks to use my device. I scanned the scene and spotted a McDonald’s across the street that advertised, with screaming gusto, “Wi-Fi gratuit!” I headed for it, past several cafés and brasseries (some of which also probably had a connection). McDonald’s was easy and cheap.

As I entered, I felt a pang of guilt, as I knew that I was sacrificing a “brasserie moment” for a coffee in a paper cup with a side of connectivity.

This wasn’t the only wired tug I experienced during my trip. It happened several times a day—often when I passed signs announcing a free Wi-Fi connection. Should I just stop for a minute? Should I hover around outside and try to poach a connection?

Had my iPhone changed my way of travel? Was there any going back? Was I overreacting?

iPhones abroad and at home

Following my trip, I wrote a post about how American travelers can use their iPhones in Europe without going broke. The post has proven to be one of our most popular, as many Americans heading abroad grapple with the same tech and billing issues that I encountered.

However, one issue that I didn’t address was how to limit the use of your phone in the first place. Talk about an uncool topic.

It’s not something I had even given much thought to until this month when I bought and read William Powers’ insightful new book, Hamlet’s Blackberry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age.

In the book, Powers argues that our ultra-wired lifestyle often distracts us from achieving a level of depth in our daily lives. For inspiration on how to deal with information overload, Powers looks back to Plato, Shakespeare, Thoreau and other great thinkers who confronted, in their own times, technological shifts in the way humans communicated.

For many of us, we’re wired back home all day long. It’s a cliché, but remains true; we flip between e-mails, browser windows and instant messages during and after work. Many stay on top of Facebook and Twitter, as well.

Increasingly, we’re bringing our “wired” behavior with us while we travel. What’s wrong with this?

I’m afraid that we run the risk of becoming distracted travelers, losing out on the real experiences of our trips if our attention is hijacked by virtual activity. We might as well stay home.

Aware of the soapbox

Enter: the digital contrarian with full-throttled self-righteousness.

I’m sure that some, especially the most connected readers, will shake their heads (at least virtually) with exasperation. Digital devices have enhanced the travel experience in many ways, offering new ways to find out about destinations, make friends and share experiences. They also make travel Web sites (like this one, for example!) easier to produce and more timely.

Smart phones obviously make staying in touch easier and cheaper. Despite my philosophical grumblings, I returned to McDonald’s several times to use their Wi-Fi to call home for free using my iPhone’s Skype application. I found this feature incredibly helpful and liberating.

However, I would still like some help knowing how to more easily go “offline” while traveling.

Why? Because when checking my e-mails mid-day at the fast-food restaurant in Paris, I found nothing urgent in my inbox. Instead, I found something else: A strange sense that some aspect of my travel experience had changed for the worse. I was acting “busy,” but not by walking the streets, visiting Notre Dame, or buying a crepe. Rather, I was busying myself like I do back home, with finger on “refresh.” I wanted something back.

Limiting my iPhone use

How can I limit the use of my iPhone abroad? Is there a way to exercise greater control over my use of technology abroad than I seem to have at home?

Powers has come up with a few techniques, including a weekend-long “Internet sabbatical,” during which he unplugs his modem. I still want the option to connect when traveling. I just want to rid myself of the constant tug toward connecting.

I’ve come up with six suggestions that I’ll try out during my upcoming trip to Europe:

1. Start using (again!) a vacation message.

Set a password! Photo: Yun753

This is so basic it’s laughable. However, in the age of the iPhone, I stopped setting up a vacation message, as I assumed that I would always be connected. Setting up a message, with the email or phone number of an alternate contact in case of emergency, will set reasonable expectations for the sender. This should help you relax and feel comfortable checking e-mails less frequently.

2. Set a password on your iPhone.

We should all have passwords on our smart phones in the first place, as a lost phone can offer a treasure trove of e-mails, documents and other personal data. This security concern is only heightened when traveling.

However, a password can also serve as a hindrance to impulsive use, as it takes several seconds to manually enter it. Without a password, you can just slide and check mail. With a password, the brief commitment to typing it, no matter how fleeting, may help you overcome the pull—or at least remind me of why you set it in the first place.

3. Watches, maps, camera…  Go “old school.”

I don’t wear a watch any more, because I can always tell the time by glancing at my phone. This isn’t a good strategy when traveling “offline,” however, as every glance at the phone will be a potential tug to check in. Time for a watch.

The same can apply to the phone’s other features. Hardly anyone with a smart phone uses a map back home—but when traveling, carry one along. The phone’s camera? You know it’s not that good, anyhow. Bring along another camera if you have one.

4. Do the majority of your social media before you go.

Twitter and Facebook can be extremely helpful travel tools for meeting new people and getting tips on where to go for dinner, drinks and fun. If possible, do this work before you take off, so you’re not burdened with it on the road. Trying out a restaurant suggestion that you found before leaving, after all, is probably more satisfying than monitoring your Twitter responses from a hotel bedroom. (Just sayin’!)

5. Use your Facebook status to get off the digital hook.

If you don’t feel the need to change your Facebook status daily, try setting it to something self-explanatory that can buy you some time. A status like, “…is gallivanting around France and Italy for two weeks. Photos when I return!” could take care of updates for awhile. Also, rather than posting daily schedule updates, try posting a brief itinerary of dates and cities, so that your friends can track your trip in a single post.

6. Go offline. Talk to travelers. Talk to locals.

I’ll end my list with an obvious, but still relevant, suggestion. In an age when sharing stories and acquiring information happens increasingly through screens, we should push ourselves to “like” the experience of engaging in real conversation with the travelers and locals around us.

In Hamlet’s Blackberry, Powers notes that methods to reclaim some of your un-wired life will only succeed if you recognize that there are real benefits to not always being connected. One big benefit he mentions is deep, undistracted thought.

Hmmm. Deep undistracted thought. Isn’t that why I went to cafés in Paris in the first place? I have to first want it back.

Your thoughts? Your tips?

Do you share my concern that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to travel offline? Do you have any other suggestions for ways of making “unwired travel” easier to achieve? Do you think this is a non-issue and the paranoid rhetoric of a neurotic luddite? Share your thoughts in our comments section!

The post Traveling Offline: How to NOT use an iPhone abroad appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

I recently returned from two weeks in Europe, one spent in Paris and one in Venice. This was a work trip, during which I visited about 90 hotels for EuroCheapo. I brought along my laptop, but what to do with my iPhone? Was there an economical way to use it in France and Italy? Should I pay for one of the international data packages offered by AT&T (my carrier)? Should I get a new SIM Card? Should I just leave the thing in New York?

Connecting with friends and travel companions is obviously aided by sending text messages. Those, however, don’t always work with American cell phones and, if they do, require an international phone connection. And if you turn on your connection, you could receive phone calls from home — which will cost you. But I’m getting ahead of myself…

I realized that my iPhone could be handy. But how could I use it without going broke?

After hours of hair-pulling and squinting at fine print (and some phone time with Verizon and AT&T employees), we have compiled a list of pointers for American travelers hoping to use their iPhones in Europe.

Click below to get started:

Setting up your phone to avoid a billing “surprise”

How to buy a SIM card in Europe for your phone

Tips for AT&T Customers

Tips for Verizon Customers

Tips for Windows, Android and Blackberry Customers

AT&T, Verizon & T-Mobile: A comparison of international plans

How to Keep Your Smartphone Safe in Paris… and What to Do if It Gets Stolen

The post Using an American iPhone in Europe… without going broke appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

If you’re making plans for a 2010 getaway or adventure, here are six inexpensive and popular electronics people are adding to your “what to bring” checklist.

1. SIM cards for cell phones

Postcards, telecartes, and payphones just don’t cut it anymore when saying hello from abroad. Cell phones are an expected travel item worldwide, and the cheapest option is usually not a home-based plan. It’s a SIM card.

SIM (“subscriber identity module”) cards are simply thumbnail-size chips that users insert into their cell phone to make calls. Users are provided with an individual phone number on a pay-as-you-go credit program. These cards can be purchased, as well as topped off with credit, in supermarkets, kiosks, and most shopping centers.

For more on buying SIM cards abroad, see this Rick Steves’ article on mobile phones in Europe.

2. MP3 players: Bring a USB cord to keep the travel soundtrack rolling.

The most common uncertainty when it comes to toting along MP3 players is the relatively short battery life. Know this: All it takes is a simple USB cord to charge your personal music collection via any computer. Earbuds minimize space (no need for clunky headphones), and travelers can easily collect a more worldly selection of music by sharing and trading songs with others.

3. Netbooks: The smaller and lighter notebook.

I find small “netbook” computers perfect for traveling. Look for ones that are light in weight, usually from two to four pounds. Long battery life is key, and there are models with batteries lasting four-to-five hours. Screen size can dip below eight inches, which is compact, but tricky for Web browsing.

Try finding screens 10-to-12 inches with a sturdy feel and, if possible, a webcam. Prices vary, but basics start around $300 and creep up to over $1,000.

For a list of top-rated netbook computers, check out this Consumer Reports guide.

4. The power of the compact camera.

Digital point-and-shoot cameras have come a long way in the past few years and, let’s face it, they’re much easier to travel with than a professional SLR. Many are now waterproof, and features like video and audio are increasingly the norm. They’re also easy to slip into a pocket and able to hold buckets of high-quality images. Reconsider the convenience of small digitals before instinctively reaching for the pro piece with the monster lens.

For tips on buying a point-and-shoot, visit Consumer Reports.

5. Trust the Internet cafés.

Not in the mood to take a laptop or netbook with you? Don’t feel the need to be constantly wired? Internet cafés have gone through some extreme makeovers the last decade and offer a great service. Most are completely “pimped out” with sleek desktop computers, web cams, mic and headphones, and offer the latest software with the click of a mouse.

Hourly prices at most Internet cafes dip in the more competitive and big city areas, but rest assured that an Internet café is within reach when you least expect it.

6. Smartphones

Looking to consolidate your wires and devices while traveling? Consider a smartphone. Whether you opt for an iPhone, Blackberry, G1 or other types, these handy devices have rapidly become indispensable to many travelers (so long as you’re willing to swallow the cost of owning one.) Being able to snap photos, record video, listen to music, check email and post media to Facebook and other sites is undeniably appealing to many, although also abhorred by some.

If you’re considering using a smartphone while traveling, also consider this: photo and video quality won’t be quite as good as what you get with standalone devices, although recently it has greatly improved. Also, always be aware of your smartphone’s data and usage fees for overseas travel. Unlike the American Express card, you might want to “just leave home without it.”

Tell Us: How do you stay wired?

How do you stay wired on the road? Do you take your computer with you or simply check-in at the Internet café? Do you still pack your big camera, slip a small one in your pocket, or skip the camera all together? Tell us about it!

The post Cheapo Technology 101: How to stay wired while traveling appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Twitter for budget travelers?

So what does this mean for you, the budget traveler? Should you care? Do you really need to know about “tweets,” DMs and “followers”? Do you really want to introduce yet another social network into your daily routine?

Well, here is a primer to help answer a few of these questions and provide a proper introduction to Twitter… Cheapo-style!

The basics: what is Twitter?

Twitter allows members to send and read short messages (“tweets”) between themselves and other users. These tweets are text-based, frequently contain links to articles on other websites, and are limited to only 140 characters in length.

Twitterers are able to post tweets as frequently (or infrequently) as they like and on any subject they wish. As you might guess, there is a vast variety of subjects being tweeted.

Want to know if your cousin Larry just burned his coffee? No prob. Want to ask President Obama a question about the economy? Go for it. Interested in telling NBA great Shaquille O’Neal what to order at Dairy Queen and read other “random acts of Shaqness”? The list is endless.

Hmm… kind of sounds like Facebook’s status updates, right?

Well, sort of. One of the main differences is that anyone can “follow” someone else on Twitter without being approved Follow travel writers: If you have specific travel columnists, travel bloggers or other travel personalities you enjoy reading, look them up on Twitter. Most have a “Twitter presence” and reading their Tweets can add a fun, new dimension to what you read from them elsewhere.

—Only follow those who truly interest you: There’s a “beginner’s instinct” to build your list of followers by rapidly following others, but what’s the point? Twitter is most helpful and useful when you genuinely look forward to reading the Tweets being sent your way.

—Ask questions: Don’t be afraid to ask a question or request travel advice. We recently were looking for a budget hotel in Los Angeles and posted a Tweet asking for suggestions, and within minutes several Twitterers provided helpful recommendations. Tweet-o-rific!

—Share the love: Similarly, be on the lookout for Tweets where you can add helpful feedback or offer advice. It’s a two-way “Twitter Street,” and since we joined we’ve enjoyed the sense of community that builds over time from others in our network.

—Get airline info: Follow your preferred airlines for updates and offers for last minute deals.

—Stay in touch: Twittering makes it easy for the folks back home to follow your adventures abroad. Of course, you run the risk of overdoing it. But your followers may appreciate the chance to travel with you. Also, Twittering on the road permits you to ask your followers for rapid-fire advice on, say, a restaurant in Madrid.

—Get organized: For those who become hooked, consider using a Twitter “client” such as TweetDeck. These websites help manage your Twitter account, create individual groups, and make Twittering feel more organized and less manic.

A Few notable travel twitterers

twitter.com/eurocheapo – Surprise!
twitter.com/budtravel – The editors of BudgetTravel.com
twitter.com/jenleo – Updates from the LA Times travel blog editor
twitter.com/wendyperrin – Conde Nast Traveler’s very own Wendy Perrin
twitter.com/soultravelers3 – Updates from a family of three traveling the world
twitter.com/SEKeener – Follow Cheapo-friend and co-founder of BootsnAll.com, Sean Keener, while he travels throughout Australia
twitter.com/samdaams – Pithy updates from Sam Daams, the co-founder of Travellerspoint.com

Do you Tweet?

Do you have recommendations for using Twitter? Are there other travel Twitterers you enjoy following? Do you agree that Twitter can be helpful, or do you find it a waste of time?

Tell us in the comments below!

The post Tech advice: Twitter for budget travelers appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.