First ABD trip & first trip to Europe questions ...

[GSLand]

We are signed up for the London/Paris ABD trip in September.
I'm confident ABD will take care of us on the trip but I have a few electronics and packing questions:
1. Will my Verizon iphone5 work in London and Paris? Is that something I should work out with Verizon?

2. I know the electrical plugs are different and I will need adapter plugs to use my hair dryer and curling iron. They are both dual current 250/125 V - so the adapter plugs are all I need?

3. Back to iphone and camera charging - just an adapter - or do I need the current converter box?

4. We are spending extra time both before and after the ABD trip. This is probably a silly question - but are there laundry facilities (washer/dryer) for travelers or will I need to wash everything by hand?

Just a little nervous about these details. Thanks for your advice

 

[sayhello]

We are signed up for the London/Paris ABD trip in September.
I'm confident ABD will take care of us on the trip but I have a few electronics and packing questions:
1. Will my Verizon iphone5 work in London and Paris? Is that something I should work out with Verizon? It should. But I'd check with Verizon to be sure. You can also sign up for an international plan for a month that will reduce the cost of any phone calls.

2. I know the electrical plugs are different and I will need adapter plugs to use my hair dryer and curling iron. They are both dual current 250/125 V - so the adapter plugs are all I need? Again, all you *should* need is an adapter plug. But I'd be leery about the hair dryer. Stuff like that, with powerful motors, have been known to blow out circuits, or themselves, even if dual voltage. It happened to one of the folks on our Knights & Lights trip. I'd double-check with the hotels, but the hotels we stayed in all had blow dryers that worked well. I know they're using a new hotel in London, and we didn't have the Windsor stay. I always use a converter if I'm taking my own blow-dryer.

3. Back to iphone and camera charging - just an adapter - or do I need the current converter box? Most modern electronics, such as iPhones or digital camera batteries, only require an adaptor. So unless your camera is pretty old, you should be good.

4. We are spending extra time both before and after the ABD trip. This is probably a silly question - but are there laundry facilities (washer/dryer) for travelers or will I need to wash everything by hand? You can pay to have the hotel do your laundry. Beyond that, I really can't answer this question, as I have never, ever done laundry on vacation unless I'm staying at a condo with laundry in the unit or with family.

Just a little nervous about these details. Thanks for your advice

This is a *fabulous* trip; you're really going to love it. Feel free to ask all the questions you'd like; I'll be happy to answer all I can, as I'm sure others who have been on this trip will, also!

Sayhello

 

[carpenta]

Just a note on the hair dryers and curling irons. I have stayed in a few older hotels in Italy that have been built hundreds of years ago and the wiring is older also (of course not that old). I would check with the front desk of the hotel to see if the electrical service can handle such electric loads. You don't want to cause a fire. Hope you have a great trip....one of many.

 

[SingingMom]

We were on this fabulous trip last May. (Can't believe it was a year ago now!)

Each hotel had hair dryers, even Fox Hills. I'd save lugging it with you!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[abdgeek]

We are signed up for the London/Paris ABD trip in September.
I'm confident ABD will take care of us on the trip but I have a few electronics and packing questions:
1. Will my Verizon iphone5 work in London and Paris? Is that something I should work out with Verizon?

2. I know the electrical plugs are different and I will need adapter plugs to use my hair dryer and curling iron. They are both dual current 250/125 V - so the adapter plugs are all I need?

3. Back to iphone and camera charging - just an adapter - or do I need the current converter box?

4. We are spending extra time both before and after the ABD trip. This is probably a silly question - but are there laundry facilities (washer/dryer) for travelers or will I need to wash everything by hand?

Just a little nervous about these details. Thanks for your advice

1. Verizon has an international calling plan that you can get for however long you need it. That's what I get when I go overseas. I don't get the data plan. Because its too expensive. I use the hotels wifi which ABD may include with your room. At least they did on the Greece trip and most hotels have free wi-Fi in the lobby.

You may want to buy the adapter set for the iPhone. It includes adapters for Europe. I used it when I went to Greece to charge my devices with no problems. Some people borrowed ones from the hotel, but they said they didn't always work.

4. Call ABD and ask them the laundry question. When I went to Greece, I had the same question and was advised that doing my own laundry in Greece wasn't going to be easy. Definitely take items that can be easily washed in the sink. We weren't in hotels long enough to have time to do laundry.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I had a similar question when I bought my iPhone. The Verizon rep at the store said to call and tell Verizon that you would be traveling internationally (kind of like when you call your bank to let them know that yes, that's me spending money in Europe on these dates).

The call to Verizon should take only 5 minutes. Mine took 35, but for most people they said it's a quick and painless 5 minute phone call to set up international calling and make sure that you're phone is ready to go over there.

 

[jcb]

We are signed up for the London/Paris ABD trip in September.
I'm confident ABD will take care of us on the trip but I have a few electronics and packing questions:
1. Will my Verizon iphone5 work in London and Paris? Is that something I should work out with Verizon?

2. I know the electrical plugs are different and I will need adapter plugs to use my hair dryer and curling iron. They are both dual current 250/125 V - so the adapter plugs are all I need?

3. Back to iphone and camera charging - just an adapter - or do I need the current converter box?

4. We are spending extra time both before and after the ABD trip. This is probably a silly question - but are there laundry facilities (washer/dryer) for travelers or will I need to wash everything by hand?

Just a little nervous about these details. Thanks for your advice

You should probably read this post and thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2799671

Make sure you understand the cost of using your iPhone 5 overseas. Getting it set up to work overseas doesn't mean you won't incur some astronomical costs if you use it (phone or data).

 

[sayhello]

You should probably read this post and thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2799671

Make sure you understand the cost of using your iPhone 5 overseas. Getting it set up to work overseas doesn't mean you won't incur some astronomical costs if you use it (phone or data).

I'm new to this whole Smart Phone thing (Samsung Galaxy SII). Verizon offered me 100 MB at $25 for Greece. Is that a good deal? I really have no clue. I plan to use WiFi when I can, but want to have data for emergencies. I got the international voice plan for $3.99.

Sayhello

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I'm new to this whole Smart Phone thing (Samsung Galaxy SII). Verizon offered me 100 MB at $25 for Greece. Is that a good deal? I really have no clue. I plan to use WiFi when I can, but want to have data for emergencies. I got the international voice plan for $3.99.

Sayhello

They offered me the same data rates for Italy, but it sounds like an astronomical rate. Then again, I will be honest and tell you I don't know if that's a good or a bad rate.

On the international voice plan, is that the same thing as you pay this amount and then it's still X amount per minute on top of that initial plan charge?

 

[jcb]

They offered me the same data rates for Italy, but it sounds like an astronomical rate. Then again, I will be honest and tell you I don't know if that's a good or a bad rate.

On the international voice plan, is that the same thing as you pay this amount and then it's still X amount per minute on top of that initial plan charge?

I'm new to this whole Smart Phone thing (Samsung Galaxy SII). Verizon offered me 100 MB at $25 for Greece. Is that a good deal? I really have no clue. I plan to use WiFi when I can, but want to have data for emergencies. I got the international voice plan for $3.99.

100 meg won't be very much if you use internet. If you only send/receive a few emails it might suffice (it wouldn't for me). I used 5 gig in Italy but then I had an iPad and posted photos back to the board during the trip. I was also determined to use up all the data on my card.

I don't know Verizon but I suspect the international voice plan is the type where you pay an amount per month to get a lower amount per minute.

For Italy, I started a thread about using a sim card for my iPad and the wifi costs for the hotels. Some others on our trip added to it with their experiences. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2939735

Tobi, I have no idea what's available in Greece but I hope you a good time.

 

[sayhello]

They offered me the same data rates for Italy, but it sounds like an astronomical rate. Then again, I will be honest and tell you I don't know if that's a good or a bad rate.

On the international voice plan, is that the same thing as you pay this amount and then it's still X amount per minute on top of that initial plan charge?

Verizon's normal international rate to most of Europe is $1.99 a minute. The international rate is $1.49 per minute. I figure it's worth $3.99 for just in case.

100 meg won't be very much if you use internet. If you only send/receive a few emails it might suffice (it wouldn't for me). I used 5 gig in Italy but then I had an iPad and posted photos back to the board during the trip. I was also determined to use up all the data on my card.

I don't know Verizon but I suspect the international voice plan is the type where you pay an amount per month to get a lower amount per minute.

For Italy, I started a thread about using a sim card for my iPad and the wifi costs for the hotels. Some others on our trip added to it with their experiences. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2939735

Tobi, I have no idea what's available in Greece but I hope you a good time.

I was mostly thinking of using the data plan if I needed to look something up on the internet while I'm away from the hotel. I wasn't planning on dealing with email. And I'll probably post pics from the hotel in the evening. I think most of the hotels on the Greece ABD have free WiFi.

Do all iPads accept SIM cards? I have the original iPad, which is WiFi only.

So the $25 for 100meg, probably not the best idea?

Sayhello

 

[jcb]

Verizon's normal international rate to most of Europe is $1.99 a minute. The international rate is $1.49 per minute. I figure it's worth $3.99 for just in case.

I was mostly thinking of using the data plan if I needed to look something up on the internet while I'm away from the hotel. I wasn't planning on dealing with email. And I'll probably post pics from the hotel in the evening. I think most of the hotels on the Greece ABD have free WiFi.

Do all iPads accept SIM cards? I have the original iPad, which is WiFi only.

So the $25 for 100meg, probably not the best idea?

Sayhello

We did the international rate as well "just in case;" the only call we received was on our next to last day. It was our home security company (at 5 am Switzerland time) because one of our cats set off the alarm. Still, it was nice to have just in case.

Not all iPads take SIM cards. I'm pretty sure yours won't (mine original iPad didn't) as only the 3g/4g LTE iPads need sim cards. If your hotels include wifi you are probably smart to use it. I'll look forward to seeing your photos from the trip.

I wouldn't say the 100 meg was a mistake. If your plan is simply to have it just for sporadic use like you describe, it will probably be worth it. We have gotten very used to having instant Internet so going cold turkey can be difficult (especially for me, even in Rome, Florence and Venice).

Depending on how much email you typically receive, you may want to learn how to turn off your email or at least make sure it doesn't automatically download any attachments or images until you have a wifi connection. I have no idea how to do that on the Samsung Galaxy SII.

 

[sayhello]

We did the international rate as well "just in case;" the only call we received was on our next to last day. It was our home security company (at 5 am Switzerland time) because one of our cats set off the alarm. Still, it was nice to have just in case.

Not all iPads take SIM cards. I'm pretty sure yours won't (mine original iPad didn't) as only the 3g/4g LTE iPads need sim cards. If your hotels include wifi you are probably smart to use it. I'll look forward to seeing your photos from the trip.

I wouldn't say the 100 meg was a mistake. If your plan is simply to have it just for sporadic use like you describe, it will probably be worth it. We have gotten very used to having instant Internet so going cold turkey can be difficult (especially for me, even in Rome, Florence and Venice).

Depending on how much email you typically receive, you may want to learn how to turn off your email or at least make sure it doesn't automatically download any attachments or images until you have a wifi connection. I have no idea how to do that on the Samsung Galaxy SII.

Thanks, Jack. And I meant to say thanks for the good wishes, too! I'm REALLY looking forward to this trip! I hopefully should have some good pics!

I haven't signed up for the data plan yet, still debating. I haven't set up email on my Galaxy SIII yet, partly because I don't know how to turn it off yet, and I also already get a ton of spammy stuff on my email (stuff I set up, so it's not real spam, but I don't want to spend time & money downloading offers from Nordstrom or Macy's. Fortunately, the iPad is WiFi only, so I can retrieve my email from the iPad if I need. I'm going to have to figure out how to turn off app notifications, though.

Sayhello