2&1/2 days...cellphoning
Yeah, after having made 6-7 phone calls to get this all straight, the cellphone tips are post worthy.
International roaming is the ultimate hustle, and TRUST ME pays your cellphone provider WAY more than your little monthly bills. Here's the breakdown of how myCellPhoneProvider* gets you:
- roaming: applies to all calls - incoming, outgoing AND calls rolled to voicemail. If you get a call AT ALL, you get charged for 1+ minute. Even if you add a plan (such as I did), there's still a pay-per-use fee (albeit reduced) on top of the flat rate for roaming. And even if you don't add a plan for international roaming...YOU STILL HAVE TO NOTIFY YOUR PROVIDER YOU'RE TRAVELING, or your phone simply won't work.
- text messages: international text messaging is NOT included in text messaging bundles. And is $.50/msg. Unless you add a bundle...
- internet access: can you say - not bundled? It's a pay-per-use charge (mine's $.0195/KB) and given my having Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo IM, etc installed on my phone, I use data heavily.
- calling CustomerService: make sure you get their International Customer Service number before you leave, or else you will get hit with the roaming AND long distance charges for the call.
Let's say it all together now...nicccccce! The charges have already started to accrure before you even leave home. But here's the kicker...you may be inclined to try other options while you're out of the country. Two suggestions:
- rent-a-phone:: yes, you can rent a burner while you're there. However, I've heard the cost is like $50-75/day, on top of the long distance charges.
- callingCard:: but you still need a line (landLine?) to use it.
- internationalSimCard:: yes, you can buy a SIM card in the local country, but you a) have to have your CellphoneProvider unlock your phone b) they won't do it if you've been behind in your bill the last 90 days (*smiles, embarrassed* - which I'm always late paying) and c) may not work based on your phone's model, and the available cellphone networks where you're traveling.
Again, say it with me now - niccccccccce! Ok, I gotta go - need to email my entire contact list to tell everyone NOT to call me unless it's an absolute emergency. Maybe I should just turn the dayum phone off.