UK cell phones

Kay, it depends. How do you plan to use the phone? To call home to the U.S.? To allow others in the U.S. to contact you? To call only local numbers? To keep up with members of your traveling party? Do you plan to access data? Send text messages? General advice: Local prepaid phone will have the best local rates and may in fact have better rates for calling home to the U.S. (A phone card and payphone would be cheaper. Skype or something similar over wifi cheaper still.) Someone calling you from home will be making an international call. Phones can be bought pretty cheap in stores such as Car Phone Warehouse (check its website to see). Other options: Phone and SIM from travel phone company. Rates a bit more expensive (including the initial fee) than with a local phone, but you get a number before you go and some companies give you a U.S. number that will forward calls to it to your European number. Saves those calling you from paying for an international call, but you will pay an extra fee per minute. Finally, if you have AT&T or T-Mobile, you may be able to use your phone over there. It is costly, but if you don't call much, it is much easier. Verizon users aren't out of luck because Verizon will lease or loan a phone to its customers that will work in Europe. Same higher rates.