cell phone in Europe?

Can't speak about all of Europe, but in Italy, there are "internet points" now more often than cafes. There are cafes with free wifi but you need to have your own electronic device. In a pinch, Western Union has computers to use. Many hotels have a computer set up for guests' use in or near the lobby/front desk.

I switch my phone off when I cross the Channel and use Skype on my iPhone and netbook.

As with others, when out of country I switch my smartphone into airplane mode and turn on WiFi. I make calls within Europe and to the USA using Skype, but other programs available. It's easy to connect to WiFi as it's at many/most accommodations, some coffee shops, etc. Often WiFi is free, if not, a modest charge is usually the standard.

Patricia, no you don't need a cell phone, but some find it comforting or convenient to have one. I think your question answers itself as to your preference. Get a telephone calling card and you can use the remaining pay phones that still exist to call home.

During a trip to China, where time zones and work schedules made it difficult to find a good time to call, we used email as our main means of communication. We now find that the easiest way to go, since we can write when it is convenient and they can answer when it is convenient.

I don't have a smartphone and my carrier is AT&T. I have purchased the World Traveler calling plan which is about $8 per month (AT&T can turn the plan on and off at any time). It costs about $1 per minute to make calls to the US and also I believe to call European numbers. For $10 you can buy 50 text messages. If you want easy Internet access, bring an IPod Touch. If you have an older iPhone, it functions as a Touch if you take out the Sim card. If your hotels offer free Wifi, you won't need Internet cafes.

I like a cell phone to book my hotels. If you're on a tour, you won't need to worry about that. For calls home, I was really happy using Skype on my Ipod touch at wifi locations (most hotels, McDonalds, Starbucks, and a bunch of other places). We set it up to dial land lines, made a $10 deposit, and hadn't come close to using up our initial deposit after a month in Spain. It's easiest for calling home because you dial only the area code and phone number. To call Europe, you have to dial as if you are calling from the US by adding the international calling codes. If you travel to multiple countries, a cell phone is going to roaming anywhere except where you bought the SIM card - which costs more (unless you buy a SIM card that covers all Europe, but then you pay more for minute than a single country SIM all the time). Skype costs the same regardless of where you call from. The Ipod was also handy for music, travel alarm, maps, saved documents for our reservatios, and translator app.

patricia, I've also provided a few comments in your other Thread. Whether you "need" a Cellphone will depend on what you want to use it for. There are Internet Cafes in some places and many Hotels also provide a PC in the lobby for guests to use. However, I've found that it's sometimes difficult to get on the Hotel computers, as there are many people trying to use them at the same time. Another point to consider is that while there will be at least one free day and several free afternoons and evenings provided on the tour, it's sometimes difficult to find the time to get to Net Cafes on those days. You'll also need time for laundry and other "housekeeping". I travel with a Netbook and usually have Wi-Fi access at every Hotel, but even with that it's hard some times to find a few minutes to spend on the computer while on the tours. Happy travels!