Summer vacation time is rapidly approaching and if you need phone service while abroad (and who doesn’t anymore), this article lays out some of your options. Unless you don’t care what you spend, it’s important to plan ahead.
One option not mentioned in this article is purchasing a pay-as-you-go phone once you arrive overseas. You can use that phone for local calls. When you have WIFi service you can use your existing smartphone for texting, email and making FaceTime or Skype calls. It’s important to remember to turn cellular service off on your smartphone to prevent accidental usage.
I also suggest using a WiFi only texting app like WhatsApp. WhatsApp works on most platforms unlike iMessage. iMessage communicates with non-iPhone users by using cellular data. This is not an option you want to use when abroad.