My parents want me to bring a cell phone with me on my
backpacking trip this summer. They want me to have it just
in case there is an emergency and they need to reach me. I
would really prefer to NOT bring one. I think that there
is a much better chance of the phone making me a target for
unwanted attention and possible theft than there is of a
real emergency occuring.
.
I expect that the only time that it'll be used is if my
parents call to see what I'm up to (since I'd only phone
them on a pay phone due to the cost). I do intend to go to
some smaller towns on my trip, but I'm certain that there
will be phones for me to use (France/Spain/Portugal/Italy/
Greece/Switz/Germany). I'm not complaining about the
sentiment, but I'd hate to have the thing ring if I'm in a
quiet restaurant or a church. Plus I'll have to bring it
to the beach or worry about leaving it at the hostel.
Also, I'd have to charge the thing every day or two which
means that I can't hide it away in my pack.
.
So am I just being a suck or are my worries justified?
What do you think?
If it makes a difference, I'm a 23y.o. Canadian who's done
a lot of travelling before and I've always contacted my
parents on a regular basis before.
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it sounds like you answered your own question. Promise to
call regularly and assure them of your safety. Save
yourself the considerable hassle of a phone.
a cell phone at all. There are nearly always phones to call from.
In answer to your question - yes I think you are being a
bit of a suck. It does not take long to charge a phone up
(you can do it when you are in a room for half an hour).
If you do not want it to ring in a church or restaurant why
not turn it ff when you go in.
I personally would not take one - not because of crime but
I do not see the need. but if you need to - relax.
A phone is no hassle at all. What's the fuss. Just turn it
off most of the time to make sure it doesn't ring. If
there's an emergency your parents can send you an SMS, which
is always received by the phone (even when switched off),
you just hear the incoming SMS sound when you open the phone
again. Charging the phone's not a hassle. The weight's not a
problem.
Simply put, there's no need for one. But there's no problem
in having one. Just take one to placate your folks!
Tony: if you are so well travelled, why have you not
considered the point that European mobile phone systems
are different from those you use and the phone will
almost certainly not work at all. I am not an expert on
Canadian mobile phone standards, but mobile phones made for
the American standard are certainly useless in Europe.
I am afraid technological differences render your
psychological navel gazing obsolete.
I know that you need to make sure you're connected to a
network that covers the areas you want. On mainland Europe
I don't know if this is a problem, but for the UK and
Ireland it is --- Just because you live in the UK (say for
example N.Ireland) the phone will not necessarily work in
Eire unless you've made the point with you phone network
that you need it to work in both.
Another option for you is a beeper. They are small and
reach internationally and are very cheap. Good luck
Canadian cell phones will not work in Europe, because of
different frequencies and different air interface standards.
A partial exception are the Fido PCS phones from Microcell,
which use the GSM standard prevalent in Europe, but still at
the wrong frequency. The solution is to buy the Fido phone
and service here and have Microcell arrange the rental of a
compatible phone from an operator in Europe. You then
transfer the SIM card from your phone to the rented phone,
et voila, its like you are calling within Canada, except for
the costs, which will be billed by Microcell.
Thanks for the comments that you've made so far. I thought
I'd post to let you know that it is possible to get a cell
phone in Canada that will work in Europe. Cantel offers a
worldwide service. I'd be able to get a phone from them
for $300 and it would work in all of the countries that I
intend to go to. Incoming local calls are free to me. All
outgoing calls are $2.00 per minute. Incoming long-
distance calls are $2.00 per minute, plus the person
calling you gets charged their regular long distance
rates. Another option is the Iridum service (satelite
phones) but that is way too expensive for me (I don't feel
good about spending the money for the Cantel service
either).
.
I like the suggestion about the pager (beeper). They hide
well and are much cheaper. If I find out anything about
international service then I'll post again.
.
Thanks, and please keep the comments coming.
As a parent myself (43yo with 3 teens still at home) I
understand where your parents are coming from. However for
three reasons tell your folks no.
1. The above comments about cell phone types is relevant.
I,m in Australia and ours worked fine last year but North
America has different type.
2. The cost of the phone calls is horrendous - I know from
experience.
3. As a single travelling you should know that lightness is
everything. A phone is not light, is expensive and easily
stolen and you would also have to have recharger etc. We
had enough hassle with car charger and I doubt you have a
car during your travels.
Just try and be aware of newsworthy things happening around
you so that if there's some rail crash or similar tragedy
nearby you ring THEN - IMMEDIATELY.
Get them up to speed on the net.
Much easier for you to keep in touch through a web based e
mail address like Hotmail or Yahoo and much more fun.
An international pager is a nice idea....but the problem is
that the frequency the pager companies in North America
uses for international pagers is a NATO frequency (told to
me by a SKY TEL rep.) therefore, the only countries that
you can be reached in are Mexico, South America, etc.
Go with the email suggestion! Happy travelling!