# communicating with the US from Europe **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 29, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543 "2013-08-29T23:44:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/1 "2013-08-29T23:44:45Z")
Next month I’m going on a 2 week tour of Europe (Rome, Prague, Salzburg, Vienna, and Garmisch (near Munich)). Mostly 3 and 4 star hotels have been booked for our group. I’ve not been to Europe for ten years. Come to find out, my cell phone service provider, Verizon, does not cover Europe at all. I could Skype or email but that would mean bringing my laptop (my sole other electronic device), which I was hoping to avoid doing; it’s heavy, valuable, and there will be almost zero leisure time to do anything else with it. Plus, apparently, hotels in Europe charge briskly for wifi (the more expensive the hotel the more likely that is). Except Turkey! Where I won’t be going. What would be the very cheapest realistic way to briefly touch base with my family every day or three? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/2 "2013-08-29T23:56:09Z")
Unfortunately there’s no CDMA networks in Europe, so your Verizon phone is about as good as a brick. Can you buy a cheapo prepaid AT&T or T-Mobile (or any GSM) handset? Some have a feature that allows you to add cash to them via the web. Once you get back you can sell it on ebay or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/3 "2013-08-30T00:07:17Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Unfortunately there’s no CDMA networks in Europe, so your Verizon phone is about as good as a brick. > > Can you buy a cheapo prepaid AT&T or T-Mobile (or any GSM) handset? Some have a feature that allows you to add cash to them via the web. Once you get back you can sell it on ebay or whatever. I will look into this, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/4 "2013-08-30T00:22:49Z")
If you want to call within Europe you might pick up something similar there. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/5 "2013-08-30T00:28:17Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > What would be the very cheapest realistic way to briefly touch base with my family every day or three? Many hotels have public internet terminals in the lobby, and internet cafes are ubiquitous, too. I don’t think it’s necessary to carry your own equipment if all you want to do is send e-mails. ---
**Author:** ![chris.denning.1961](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@chris.denning.1961](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chris.denning.1961)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/6 "2013-08-30T00:32:50Z")
you can buy a prepaid “handy” just about anywhere in Europe, cheap enough to be considered more or less disposable. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/7 "2013-08-30T00:44:00Z")
When I went three years ago Verizon loaned me a Motorola ZC6 that worked in Spain, England and France. I returned it when I got back, and only had to pay for my calls which was just under $100 for the entire month of August. I would ask about that. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/8 "2013-08-30T03:14:44Z")
If your phone has wifi, why not just set up a Skype account and use it from internet cafes or wherever wifi isn’t crazy expensive? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/9 "2013-08-30T03:17:41Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > If your phone has wifi, why not just set up a Skype account and use it from internet cafes or wherever wifi isn’t crazy expensive? I just have a basic little clamshell phone. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/10 "2013-08-30T04:08:06Z")
Alas, internet cafes are not that common in Western Europe any more. Will you be taking a laptop or similar device that would let you use Skype or Google Voice? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/11 "2013-08-30T04:10:51Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > Alas, internet cafes are not that common in Western Europe any more. > > Will you be taking a laptop or similar device that would let you use Skype or Google Voice? I could. Prefer not to though. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/12 "2013-08-30T04:28:32Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > When I went three years ago Verizon loaned me a Motorola ZC6 that worked in Spain, England and France. I returned it when I got back, and only had to pay for my calls which was just under $100 for the entire month of August. I would ask about that. My understanding is that this is standard; Vz will loan you a world phone. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/13 "2013-08-30T05:22:39Z")
Weren’t the remaining CDMA carriers in the USA going to transition to GSM-family 3G and 4G technologies, the way the big ones in Canada did? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/14 "2013-08-31T01:20:36Z")
Do these Verizon loaner phones work in multiple countries? Do cheapo phones w/prepaid minutes work in multiple countries? ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/15 "2013-08-31T01:30:18Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Do these Verizon loaner phones work in multiple countries? Do cheapo phones w/prepaid minutes work in multiple countries? A loan GSM phone from Verizon (or any other CDMA carrier) should work anywhere in Europe. Sorry, don’t know about the pricing plans. ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jake\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/16 "2013-08-31T06:10:35Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Weren’t the remaining CDMA carriers in the USA going to transition to GSM-family 3G and 4G technologies, the way the big ones in Canada did? The transition is to LTE which is based on GSM standards, so I think you’re mostly correct. While LTE is not available in my city yet (allegedly being built now) my current Sprint phone (CDMA 3G and LTE ready) is the first one I’ve owned in 15 years that came with a SIM card. I don’t know a whole hell of a lot about mobile phone communication standards, but LTE implementations seem to be not as compatible as one would hope a technology standard could be. Time will tell, I suppose. “The nice thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from.” -Andy Tanenbaum ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/17 "2013-08-31T14:38:45Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Do these Verizon loaner phones work in multiple countries? Do cheapo phones w/prepaid minutes work in multiple countries? To the second, the phones themselves work; the pricing isn’t intended to cover roaming and any individual operator may be local, so it’s probably better to get local refills (many supermarkets and convenience stores provide those) than pay for a lot of minutes in the country of purchase - you’re not really purchasing “minutes”, you’re putting in some credit that will go much faster on roaming. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/18 "2013-08-31T14:51:18Z")
Most hotels have a computer or two with internet access for their customers, and most also have free wi-fi in the lobby (they give you the password). Beyond that, like others have said, certain US phones work just fine in Europe. I have AT&T, and on my last 2 trips to Europe, my phone’s just picked up some local carrier and I could call just fine (albeit with some hefty international roaming charges). What we did was get some kind of international texting plan, and basically did a combination of texting our relatives and using the hotel computers to check and send emails, other than the obligatory “We’re here and we’re fine.” quick calls to our elderly parents. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/19 "2013-09-01T02:08:15Z")
Whatever you do, don’t use the hotel phones. They are usually ridiculously expensive for anything but very, very brief local calls. But you _can_ give your friends and family the hotel phone numbers and have them forward the call to you. This usually won’t incur any charge on your hotel bill - check with the staff. Remember to give your room number to your family - the front desk staff will often refuse to forward calls if the caller doesn’t know the room number. If you want to buy a local disposable phone, remember to check with the staff about the activation terms. Depending on the country and their telecommunication laws, you may be required to register your phone number by form before it is activated. Since you won’t want to buy one per country, you’ll also want to find an operator that allows transferring funds to the card online. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543/20 "2013-09-02T20:27:29Z")
thank you everyone who replied. It looks like I will get there & decide what to do. Probably use the hotel computers to send emails. Last tour someone in the group made their own laptop available for quick emails, so that might work – or borrow a phone from a tour member for brief calls. It’s only 12 days and all I want to do is touch base with my family. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communicating-with-the-us-from-europe/667543.md?page=2)