Cell phone for France, Switz, Italy and Austria in March

kathy, To begin with, it would help to have a bit more information. For example: > Do you presently have a Cellphone, and if so which network are you with? > What type of use do you anticipate in Europe - lots of voice calls within Europe, voice calls back to the U.S., mostly texting or ?? I wouldn't suggest renting a phone, as that tends to often be more expensive than buying an basic GSM "travel phone". Cheers!

I have verizon with a Non-smart phone so it will not work there.
I do not plan on texting mostly just call for reservations and info within Europe and a few calls back to the US

Realistically, how much are you going to use it for making reservations, info, etc.? Do you speak German, French, and Italian? You might be best off to just buy a cheap phone and some minutes when you get there, since you don't have a phone that would be usable there.

Check out RS's advice on mobile phones in Europe. It's very good. Works for us. We take a no frills unlocked GSM phone with us and buy SIM cards as we go. No surprises. I think the cards are kind of pricey (old school sensibility) but when it comes to arranging accommodations while on the go the price is small. Beats sleeping in the car. If you need major yak time consider a phone card from a tabac, kiosk, etc.

kathy, The first option you could look at is the Verizon Global Travel program, which would allow you to travel with your regular Cell number. Contact Verizon for details and prices. You could also consider buying an inexpensive phone from one of the travel phone firms such as Roam Simple, Call In Europe, Cellular Abroad, Telestial or Mobal. The cost is quite reasonable for a "basic" phone (~$49)and the calls are charged on a post-paid basis (charged to a credit card). The only caveat is that if the phone is lost or stolen, it's important to notify the firm quickly to avoid unwanted charges. Good luck!