subject: An Easy Way To Save Money While Staying In Touch In Europe [print this page] One of the most intimidating things when planning to travel abroad is the issue of communication. While you want to keep in touch, you do not want to spend all of your money making expensive phone calls or responding to texts. To make your trip pleasant and continue to keep up with friends and family, try an international SIM card for your unlocked GSM phone. The Global System for Mobile Communications phones work internationally as long as they are not locked, providing more cost effective service than a regular cellular plan.
The expense of making overseas telephone calls on a normal plan can be outrageous, but sharing the excitement about the great places you saw that day is much more reasonable when using a SIM card. With no contract requirements you are not tied into a commitment that you would only use for this one trip. Even phoning your hotel to make sure your room is available is easier. There is nothing quite like a picture to share what you are experiencing, and posting photographs to social networking websites is cheaper with the minutes purchased on a SIM card. The cards also allow you to have reminders of everything you have seen and done by being able to download those photos right away, before accidentally deleting a picture you may not be able to duplicate.
When in a crowded or noisy area, placing a phone call to share your enjoyment may not be practical. A quick text to loved ones back home allows them to keep up with what you are doing, and does not cost a lot in the process when you use a SIM card. For those longer messages, utilizing email to describe the great gourmet restaurant you dined at ensures youve told your friend about it while the experience is fresh in your mind. If the cost was too prohibitive to share these moments, they could well be forgotten by the time you got home.
Data plans are optional on most SIM cards making online access and use of the internet convenient. Time savers such as finding your way around with downloadable maps, and suggestions where to dine or what attractions to see make your trip go smoother. Heading out to a historical landmark, you may want to know what other attractions are close by. Quick internet access with your SIM card puts that information at your fingertips. Touring that world famous museum has been one of your dreams. Getting their hours, what collections are currently on exhibit and if there are formal tours available is easier with a SIM card.
The SIM card enables the use of the phone in whichever country you are in. Purchasing cards specific for the countries you are visiting should be part of the pre-trip planning, since some countries do not allow non-residents to buy the cards. Support is available all hours of the day and night with many cards. Avoiding the commitment of a monthly bill by paying just for the minutes you will use, make international SIM cards the smartest and most economical way to communicate when traveling.
