In my opinion it is definitely worth the effort if you are going to be in Europe for awhile.  If you are going to land in Budapest, tour for a couple of days, get on the boat and then get off the boat in Nuremburg, then travel to another city in Germany and then head back to the states, it probably is not worth it.  However if you are going to be in more than one country or if you are going to be in Europe for more than a week, I highly recommend it. I also urge you to carry one if you are going to be in remote areas.  Depending on where you are, your phone may be your only connection to an english speaker.

 I have a world phone through Mobal.com.  I only pay for calls.  There is no plan involved.  My phone works in 140 countries.  I travel alone and go to some remote places, so depending on where you are planning to go, you will most likely have coverage, even in some places in the Himalayas and the Carpathians.

I purchased my phone but there are companies that have rental plans.  I paid $99 for it through Mobal.  The only draw back is I have a London phone number, which I can never remember because I only activate the phone once or twice a year.

In most Eastern and Central European countries there are emergency numbers that can be called which connect to an english speaking operator.  For example the number is 112 in Poland and Slovakia. 

 Again, I will give a little bit of my executive protection advice.  The cell phone can be a safety device.  If you don't know where you are, you can always call your hotel and ask for assistance.  Also, if someone has targeted you and is following you, if you simulate you are talking on the phone, the person knows you are connected to someone and may decide to leave you alone.  Also, you can set the alarm on your phone to go off so it looks like you have received a call.  Again, this may be a deterrent to a scoundrel.

 Phones can also be a magnet for theives, so protect the phone by carrying it close to your person or concealed. 

If you are traveling with a companion, and if the two of you like to do different things, then you two can go do different things and still be connected to each other. 

Europe is on the GSM system so if you get a phone in the States, make sure it will work in Europe.  You can purchase go and throw phones all over Europe, so finding a phone is really easy.

Also, if you suffer a travel delay you can call your accommodation and let them know when to expect you.  You don't want to end up without a room because they thought you weren't coming. 

In some countries, the police are not always the best choice for getting help.  If you are traveling in a country that has a Tourist Police force, they will be a little more helpful than the local constabulary.  Also, if you are the victim of a crime, you will definitely want to connect to the US Embassy or Consulate and home.  In some countries, especially those of the old communist block, police corruption is rampant.  The police may only help if their palms are greased with enough moola.  (If anyone is interested, when we are on the ship sitting on the sundeck watching the beautiful countryside go by, I will tell you a story of the lost billfold in Greece)

 So, Nancy and Barb, in my opinon if you are going to be in Europe more than 7 days on the ship, I highly recommend a cell phone.

See you on Board!

Has anyone taken a cell phone recently to Europe? We are wondering if it is worth the effort.

Thanks,

Nancy and Barb

Great info - thank you!  One thing we have done in the past is scanned our passport and credit cards and then attached those to an email to ourselves.  That way you can access the information from any Internet cafe by logging in to your own email if it's needed without having to carry actual copies. 

Just be sure to clear the history if you use a public computer.

The easiest way to find the Embassy or Counsulate in the places you will be traveling is search on the web by typing US Embassy, followed by the cities or countries in which you will be traveling.  Here is Budapest:

http://hungary.usembassy.gov/information_for_travelers.html

Here is info on Germany:

http://germany.usembassy.gov/germany/citizen_services.html

Here is a website for travel alerts:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html

See you safely aboard!

 Seasoned Solo

Thanks, SS.  This is great information.  Another really good source for safety information, as well as travel advice and information in general, is Rick Steves's website.  I recently attended one of his day-long sessions in Edmonds, Washington, and while he did talk about safety, keeping your documents safe, using a money belt, etc., he also said that travel in Europe is very safe, as long as you exercise some common sense.  To sum up, he said "if you love your friends and family, take them to Europe."

This will be my first trip to Europe, and I'm very excited.  At the same time, I have my money belt!

Patty

Hello Sister Sojourners from the Pacific Northwest!  I am sitting here in my office with sun streaming through my window burning away the grey of what has been a long, wet and for some a very snowy winter.  The trees are budding so Spring must be on its way!

My office is on a lovely trail that follows a river.  I am surrounded by green and blue sky.  Sadly however, I am also watching police activity as a body is being pulled from the river.  The trail is a lovely place to walk and bike.  However, for someone last night it became an usafe place to be.

 So, since so many of us sojourners will be invading Europe this summer, I decided to share with you some of my Executive Protection knowledge.  None of us leaves on a trip with the thought "I am going to be a victim of a crime on this trip".  However, sadly it happens to many.  So, very briefly here are some safety tips.

1.  Pickpockets abound in Europe especially in crowded train and bus stations, and on some tourist route public transportation stations, for example, Deak square in Budapest.  Be on guard when in these places.  If you travel an night, be very careful to stay in lighted places.

2. Your watch, shoes and backpack will peg you as an American. The brands and styles give you away.  Also, if you are not fluent in the local language, as soon as you speak you will be identified as an American.  This can make you a target.  If you carry a purse make sure it rides close you your body.  Make sure it cannot be grabbed from behind so the strap becomes a garrot.  Be on the lookout for someone bumping into you with an ice cream cone or spilling some nasty substance on you.  This is a ploy to have you put your purse or pack on the ground.  An accomplice will swoop in and grab the pack and be gone.  The person who spilled the substance on you will also melt into the crowd.

3.  Do not walk around with a map in your hand.  This clearly communicates you do not know where you are.  Be very cautious of anyone offering you unsolicited directions.  This is a way to guide you down small alleys, into closes and into danger.  If you are lost, ask a local merchant for directions.  Instead of using maps in public, lay out your route on a small card you can hold in the palm of your hand.  You can discretely refer to it without brining attention to yourself.  If you need to get your bearings, step to the side of the street with your back to the wall and look around.  If someone approaches you, asking if you need help, say "No thank you.  I am waiting for my friend".  If the person persists, just walk away in very close proximity to a passerby so it looks like the two of your are together.  

4. Swarming vendors are not the problem in Europe that they are in other parts of the world.  However, the gypsies do practices swarming.  The gypsies have suffered horribly since the fall of communism.  They didn't have it so good under the communists, but they have it even worse now.  In some villages, begging is their only means of support.  It is very tragic.  If you are swarmed, yell and holler your lungs out.  A local will hopefully respond to assist you.  European countries where swarming is practiced are Estonia, Lithuania, Lativia and some parts of Poland. 

5.  Be careful when talking politics.  George Bush is not popular in Europe.  The Europeans, however, are very astute and do not hold American citizens responsible for the actions of the government.  They may engage you in conversation about Bush politics.  Be careful getting into this conversation, expecially if it is in a pub.  Alcohol can fuel heated debate which can turn violent.

6.  When traveling in Germany be viligant about the spontaneous gathering of skinheads.  This is a problem in Germany.  There are large groups which suddenly emerge and start demonstrating. There frequently is peripheral violence when this happens.  Steer clear.

7.  Keep in touch with someone who knows where you are.  I travel alone so I carry a wold phone with the emergency numbers of each country programed into my phone.  Each country has their own emergency code which calls local law enforcement and ambulances. I alson have the number of the US Embassy or Consulate programed into the phone on speed dial.  I call home and let my housesitter know when I have arrived in my destination city.  Also, leave you itinerary with someone at home.  A way to make this fun for your family and friends is to give them a map of the places you are traveling had have them highlight your route. 

8.  Guard your passport with your life.  Make a copy of it and any other critical papers and carry them separately from your passport.  Know where the US Embassy or Consulate is in each country in which you will be traveling.  If your passport is lost or stolen go to the US Embassy immediately.  A lost or stolen passport will put a big damper on your trip.  If you are staying in hotels in Europe, it is most likely they will keep your passport for 24 hours.  Do not be upset by this.  It is a law.  They are checking to see if you are wanted by Interpol. (Although they won't tell you that)  They will tell you they are keeping it for administrative purposes.

9. Healthcare: Depending on what countries you are traveling to, healthcare most likely will be provided by a national system.  If you are insured in the US by a Blue Cross carrier, check to see if they have contracted with healthcare providers in the cities in which you will be traveling.  You can find this information, usually, on your insurance carrier's website under some heading regarding international travel.  If you insurance is not with one of the "Blues"  check to see if your carrier has this same benefit.

10.  Public transportation in Europe is a delight and a great way to meet the locals and to see the countryside.  Just be vigilant about where your stuff is on the train.  So, if you travel alone and have to go to the bathroom, go before the train station stop.  If someone has targeted your back pack or luggage, they can't steal it if you are with it.  The time they will lift it is if you are gone from your stuff when the train doors open and disembarking or embarking is taking place. 

11.  Have fun.  We are all going to be on a delightful adventure.  Do not travel in fear.  Also, do not travel in ignorance.  My purpose in this posting is to hopefully increase your awareness and to impart that safety, security and fun can all be had at once.

 See YOU on the DANUBE!

 Seasoned Solo