Using Your Cell Phone in Europe

Inspiration Travel

4 MIN READ

09/18/2018

Modern technology ensures you can stay connected while traveling, capturing and sharing memorable moments or staying in touch with loved ones. Cell phones also provide handy access for emergencies and confirming travel plans. To save money, ensure your phone functions efficiently and keep connected, consider following some basic guidelines and tips.

Before You Leave

Contact your cell phone carrier before your trip to ensure you can make calls home and avoid unexpected charges on your bill. Inform them of your travel plans and how you intend to use your phone during your tour. It's important to understand any potential costs involved, so ask your carrier for specific details regarding international or roaming charges.

Check With Your Carrier For International Dialing Access

Ensure your mobile phone plan includes international dialing access. International and maritime roaming rates apply to calls made on tour, and these charges will appear on your phone bill. Since roaming rates internationally can be high, it's wise to consult with your carrier about the specific costs before you depart.

Aboard Your Flight

Here are some tips to keep your cell phone battery lasting longer during your trip:

Switch your phone to Airplane Mode when you board your flight. This will stop all calls and texts but still let you use apps, the camera, and listen to music. The cabin crew will ask you to turn your phone off completely during takeoff and landing and will let you know when you can turn it back on.
Charge your phone every night on the tour to ensure it has enough power for the next day.
Turn off your phone when you're not using it. Keeping it on all day can drain the battery quickly, so consider turning it off while traveling, during meals or while reading

Smartphone Tips

Smartphones are crucial for staying connected, yet they can be challenging to manage internationally due to battery life constraints. Here are some tips to ensure your smartphone lasts longer while you're away:

Before leaving for your tour, turn off apps that constantly update in the background, like those for sports scores or weather alerts.
Keep the Data Enabled or Data Roaming option turned off and set your email to manual checking instead of automatic.

This prevents unnecessary data charges. Only connect to the internet through free Wi-Fi spots, like in hotel lobbies or internet cafes, to check your emails or other messages. These steps will help you save on data usage and preserve your phone’s battery life, letting you enjoy your trip without worry.

Phone Cards and Rental

If you decide against bringing your cell phone on your tour, there are still a couple of alternatives for staying connected:

Prepaid Phone Cards: Consider purchasing a prepaid phone card before your trip. This lets you make calls from public phones equipped for card use during your travels.
In-Room Phones: Your hotel room will be equipped with a phone. Check with the hotel’s rates before placing calls.

For more information, please call one of our Reservation Coordinators at 800 247 1899, Monday through Friday between 8:30am – 5:00pm, Pacific Time.