Cell Phone Rentals

Cell phone rentals can be an affordable method of communication while abroad for short-term international travelers who wish to stay connected with business partners or friends back home. With an international cell phone rental, you can avoid costly roaming charges while having the convenience of a mobile phone with you wherever you go. Most of these cell phone rentals come packaged with a plan offering a better per-minute rate on international calls while you are abroad.

Be sure to check out several options for companies that offer international cell phone rental to find the best plan for you. You may opt for a cell phone rental that includes an international SIM card, used in GSM phones, which is the global standard. An international SIM card allows you to make calls from hundreds of countries at one relatively low rate. Most plans also include free incoming calls and text messages, which can save you a considerable amount if you plan on having friends call you. You can also add a second number onto your SIM card that will forward calls from your domestic phone to your international cell phone rental. If you prefer to know exactly how much you are spending on calls, you may opt for a prepaid plan.

You can usually find cell phone rentals at the airport of the major city you are flying from, but be prepared to pay a premium for the convenience. Alternatively, search online to book your rental ahead of time for a better deal. Many companies will provide a postage-paid envelope for you to send the international cell phone rental back to them when you return.

Although cell phone rentals for travel can be convenient, they may not be the most cost-effective option. If you travel often, you may want to consider buying an inexpensive GSM cell phone, and having it unlocked so that you can purchase a SIM card abroad. In most countries, it is quite easy to buy a prepaid SIM card locally that will allow you to make local and international calls, and you will have more options from which to choose. You'll also avoid costly overhead and insurance fees that a rental company may charge you. If you're not sure if your country of destination offers prepaid local SIM cards, you may want to consider buying a prepaid international SIM card for your unlocked GSM phone, thus saving the cost of renting the phone itself.

If you need to have a phone connection when you are traveling in isolated areas that typically do not have cell phone service, such as on a cruise or in the mountains, you may need to rent a satellite phone. These phones tend to be expensive to rent, and service may cost you several dollars a minute. However, they are one of the only ways of reliable communication with the outside world if you are in an unpopulated area.