Arthur's Blog: Learn How to Avoid Cellphone Data Roaming Charges When Abroad

Because Seth Kugel of The New York Times has written one of the first understandable articles on the use of cellphones whie traveling abroad, we invited him to be interviewed on this Sunday’s Travel Show.

Cellphone use is a complex topic, but Kugel demystifies it clear by dividing cellphone users into five categories, starting with the relaxed people who simply don’t want to stay in touch during their vacation travels, and leave the cellphone at home ("The Blissfully Disconnected"); and ending with the nervous, pressured types who move about with the instrument almost permanently affixed to their ear or in their hand, desperate to receive e-mails or data throughout the day ("The Addicts").

In between, he discusses the cost-saving tactics to be used by us moderate cellphone users, starting with those who simply wait until they are in a Wi-Fi hot spot like their hotel room before turning on their smartphone to receive e-mails or data ("The Sem-Connected"), keeping data roaming off all the time. The savviest among them also use Skype or Google Voice to actually make calls, again using the Wi-Fi in their hotel room. And then he goes on to discuss the more anxious travelers who need to consider the purchase and use of various foreign SIM cards -- the preferred method of keeping cellphone costs down while you travel. Mind you, use of a SIM card requires some advance planning on your part (and advising friends and colleagues of a dedicated, new phone number for your cellphone), and various other minor adjustments to your life. I’ve never heard anyone making the matter clearer than Kugel, in the interview we taped yesterday in the studios of WOR.

Since this is an important matter involving substantial travel costs, I urge you to tune in. You can hear the entire Travel SHow broadcast streamed live at WOR710.com at 12:06pm Eastern Time. Seth Kugel’s interview takes place at the start of our second hour at 1:06 p.m.