Cheap Ways To Stay Connected While Traveling

Hey guys - I was wondering if you know of any 'cheap' or 'relatively' cheap methods of receiving phone calls or making phone calls while traveling. I was looking at the GSM phones and Satellite phones but are upwards of $1.99 per minute. I am traveling on pleasure but need to be connected for business. Any companies/sites/ideas you suggest?

I am going to St. Maarten and have a Verizon cell phone (which won't work there).

 

Some places have pre-paid GSM cards that you can purchase and then keep on refilling as needed. I know a few people who use that option and it seems to work.

 

Internet Cafe? You could hook up with some Nigerian government elite in one
I know in Canada, Fido (Microcell) has phones that supposedly work all around the world ... not sure what they have in the US ...

 

you can usually find a used 3 or 4 band GSM phone on ebay, i have seen them under $50. Prepaid Sim cards are available for different regions. I have never used any of these but have heard that they are popular.

With my GSM phone I have been told that I can buy a prepaid sim card for it when I go to europe and it will work in most areas over there.

If it were me I would probably ask most people to e-mail me. You should be able to check your e-mail. And give the important people the number where you are staying.