We highly recommend having a fully functioning phone while abroad. Relying solely on WiFi is typically not sufficient. Check with you phone service provider about international plans, or use a local SIM card. To use a local SIM card, your phone must be unlocked. If your phone is paid off, you can ask your phone service provider for the unlock code. Make sure you do this before you go abroad.

Here are some comments from the previous students:

• “I bought my SIM card from Three with a pre-paid plan that cost 20 pounds per month. I used Facebook to phone/message my parents and friends back home.”
• “I used the AT&T Passport plan. I would recommend buying a new sim card at Three though. It is much cheaper and you are given more data. You are also provided with a password for an app which offers great coupons for local restaurants.”
• “Phone plans in the UK are a lot cheaper than the US, so definitely buy phone plans after you arrive. In regards to choice of suppliers, I would recommend Three. They provide free data use all over Europe, so you can still get access to your 12 GB data when you’re traveling."