I called my sprint carrier and asked if my cell phone was able to work while in France and Italy. They told me it would as long as I added international roaming to my plan. I went ahead and added it, but after reading all the other old posts about cell phone use abroad that seems too easy.

Will this work or not? Has anyone tried this?

Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. The major problem is that when it does work it costs a lot. You would be beter off buying a sim card (if your phone is unloacked) or just buying a new phone (can cost as little as 39 euro which includes the SIM and 5 euro of talk time)

I'm surprised that you can get international roaming with Sprint, because their phones aren't usually GSM, and won't work in Europe. Have you clarified that with them? And have they given you any information on costs?

Check out this Slow Trav page on international roaming for more information on various options. At any rate, Cristina is right that even if you can do it, it is likely to be VERY expensive. Moreover, the EU has just passed regulations capping the amount that European carriers can charge for international calls, but I am pretty sure this doesn't apply to American phones being used in Europe. Remember, too, that you will pay for incoming calls with an American plan, and not with most European phones.

- Roz

I have a blackberry phone which they said would work at a rate of 30cents per minute and $3.00 extra per month. I will only be there a week so I don't think I will purchase a phone but for longer trips that is definitely the way to go. I just need so I can check in with my husband and kids.

If it doesn't work I'll just buy a phone card and hunt for a payphone that works like I've done in the past. Thanks for all your help.

That rate doesn't sound bad. Just make sure your BlackBerry isn't set to automatically check for e-mail every few minutes. Someone with an iPhone had that happen and came home from a few days in Europe with a $3000 phone bill.