A Cost Effective Way to Communicate While Traveling Overseas

Heading overseas on a business trip, or just for pleasure any time soon? If so, have you thought about what you're going to do about communication? You may need to arrange cab service or get directions to an attraction, not to mention you, of course, want to stay in touch with the folks back home.

Hope you aren't counting on your personal cell phone. Industry experts estimate that some 100 million American cell phones won't work overseas due to compatibility issues. And even if yours does work, the roaming charges would be outrageous.

So what are your options? You could rent a phone with a local number in the country you're traveling to, but that wouldn't do you much good if you're going to be constantly on the go. A more cost effective, not to mention convenient solution, would be to rent a cell phone or satellite phone from a company like Global Cellular Rental, which has rented out more than 50,000 phones in its 13 years in business.  

The process is amazingly fast and simple. All you have to do is log on to the company's Web site, www.globalcellularrental.com and place an order for a phone. When you get there, the site will prompt you to detail what countries you will be traveling in, and how long you will need the phone. The company then ships a cell phone directly to the customer anywhere in the world. For most of the U.S., the phone can be shipped to arrive the next day.

The phone arrives with complete instructions on how to use it abroad. The traveler also learns his overseas phone number well in advance of the trip, enabling him to notify all vital contacts of the number before he ever steps on a plane. Tech support -- all in English -- is available 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world.

Roaming rates are usually 80 percent less than those charged by American service providers. In many countries, in-coming calls are free or charged at the lower local rate. Calls back to the United States can be discounted 40 percent or more. The rental cost is just $5 per day, and discount packages are available for long-term rentals of two months or more.

This cell phone solution is becoming so popular Global Cellular Rental actually has relationships with hotel chains around the world to keep phones in stock for hotel guests. And for those whose business or pleasure travel really takes them off the beaten track, the company also rents satellite phones. These phones work anywhere in the world -- from the Australian Outback to the rainforests of Brazil -- as long as you are outside.

To ensure you'll be able to stay in touch -- without breaking the bank -- before your next trip abroad, visit www.globalcellularrental.com. The first day of your rental is always free.

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