Keeping in Touch 
For many people the hardest thing about traveling is being away from family and friends.  Luckily, there are plenty of cost efficient ways of maintaining contact with the important people in your life while you are away.

  Phone Cards | Cell Phones |  Internet Cafés I Photo Storage
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Cell Phones/Mobile Phones
I realize some people can just not live without their cell phone/mobile phones, but if you bring one with you (and use it) be prepared to pay lots of money. Assuming you have a multi-band phone that can actually be used in Europe, the per minute usage costs begin as low as 99˘ and top out as high as $5.99 per minute. The average rate seems to be around $1.99 per minute to call from Europe to North America. Sending and receiving  text messages is a bit cheaper. 

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of International Cell Phone Service An in-depth article about using cell phones while traveling abroad. Read this article to help find out what option will work best for you.

Cell Phone Rental
If you don't already have a cell phone (or your cell phone does not work abroad), but you would like to have one with you while traveling, renting a cell phone is an option.

Buying Pre-Paid SIM Cards
Yet another option, if you have a SIM card compatible cell phone, is buying pre-paid SIM cards. Your phone must be a tri-band/world phone and MUST be unlocked for pre-paid SIM cards to work.

• Cellular Abroad offers cell phone rental and/or pre-paid SIM cards at reasonable prices. Currently they are offering a $10 discount if you mention the promo code backpack10 when ordering online or if you call 1-800-287-3020.

• Telestial Learn how to use your cell phone overseas, without paying high roaming rates. Some benefits from using Telestial pre-paid SIM cards and/or phones:
   

  • Excellent coverage in Australia and over 110 other countries    
  • Free to receive text messages
  • Send international text messages from $0.49 USD each
  • Recharge minutes anytime via the phone or web, or enable the Auto-Recharge feature
  • It is prepaid, so no contracts, no credit checks and no monthly fees

Charging Your Batteries
Many hostels have outlets you can use to recharge your phone, but you may have to compete for outlet time. If you don't want to have to worry about when/where you can recharge your phone (not to mention buying plug adaptors), you can consider buying a recharger that operates on one AA battery.

Check out my Packing Electronics for more information about bringing electronic equipment with you as you travel.