[snaimon]

PLEASE take a good supply of US calling cards with you OR purchase some locally. Calls can be made toll free from hotel rooms (check, however, sometimes they also
bill for toll free calls) using these calling cards AND the cost is usually less than with
a cell phone.

You WILL need an unlocked GSM phone with at least 900, best 900 & 1800 for Europe. I have bought ALL my phones on Ebay. You could go with a quad band,
but that is not NECESSARY for Europe.

Leave the CINGULAR SIM out of the phone or leave the CURRENT phone in your
car or at home or with whomever takes you to airport in USA and picks you up. See below on SMS from that phone if it stays in the US.

IF you choose the european cell phone, I would recommend one of the international cards, UM, 09, travelsim, etc. You are travelling in multiple countries. If you go this route, make sure you have a high enough balance to cover anticpated costs BEFORE leaving.

Realize there is NO perfect solution. The trade-off is IF YOU CHOOSE FREE INBOUND, the calling party will probably have to pay more to reach you. One antidote is to have them send you an SMS to your european phone and request you call them. You might also consider Callbackworld if you go free inbound.

YACKIE (new) gives you a US number so you are easy to reach, BUT you will pay to receive calls. If you are cheap like me and don't expect many incoming calls, I'd go with the free inbound. If you have money to burn then this does not matter - if you or family will not be travelling soon again, then also look at the entry price. Why invest a bundle?

Bon voyage!

Stan