Cellular Devices

No matter how hard you want to resist and/or think having a phone while overseas is not necessary, it is. You might use your phone once a week to never at all, a cellphone is still important. 
Why? 1. Safety 2. Having contact with hosts (if volunteering) 3. Convenience (Need a cab? You don't have to walk a mile just to use the payphone to get one) 4. Emergencies I learned this the hard way. I never thought I would be put in a situation where my family from the US would NEED to speak to me right away. I ended up finding out about a very tragic event hours after it had happened. 
Biggest problem about cellphones overseas: The outrageous overseas fees.  Solution: 1. SIM Card OR 2. Buying a cheap prepaid phone


SIM Card:  If you select this option see if you can suspend your current cellphone account while gone. What you will need before you leave home: An international phone with a SIM card slot. (FOR iphone users like myself: Iphone 4S or 5) What you will need to buy while in Europe: A SIM card (that you will 'top up' = load money/pay as you go) I have a Vodafone SIM card. 

Prepaid Phone: What you will need before you leave home: Nothing.. other than your important phone numbers.  What you will need to buy while in Europe: A cheap pay as you go phone (starting at $25 for old-school no-touchscreen bricks) that you will top up = pay as you go. 


Important reminder for everyone with smartphones:  Keep cellular data turned OFF at all times when not in use.  Data is still being used when you aren't using your phone because apps continually update themselves.