Making a decision about what type of cell phone service to use when traveling abroad depends largely on what type of service and phone you use at home, and where that service extends. For many, the costs of using their home cell service while traveling internationally are simply too high, so deciding how to stay in touch while you are traveling can be tricky.

First, you must evaluate two things: which service provider and service plan do you currently use and is your cell phone tri- or quad-band? In order to determine this, you may need to contact your service provider to find out about your plan (does it cover you internationally and, if so, for how much?) and consult the manual for your phone to find out its specifications. Once you know the answers to these two questions, you can proceed with determining what type of cell service to use overseas. If you do not have a tri- or quad-band cell phone, you will need to upgrade to a more modern phone to use it abroad.

If you have a very expensive phone service plan, it might already include international service for free, but unless you are a traveling businessman or someone that moves back and forth often, it probably isn’t included. In that case, you need to determine whether you would prefer to pay the costs of international roaming (which are usually very high), or simply get a phone number after you arrive at your destination.

The second option is usually easiest. Most countries offer pay-as-you-go mobile phone plans that are simple and easy for travelers to obtain. No background check, credit check or contract are required for these plans, and usually you can just walk into any mobile phone store and buy a sim card (which includes a new phone number) and add minutes (“top up”) no problem.

To do this, though, your current cell phone will need to be unlocked. Most cell phone companies operating on contracts will electronically lock their phones so that they cannot be used with other services or sim cards. Unlocking your cell phone for international travel is fairly easy and can be done by lots of small, non-corporate cell phone shops or even by a reputable company over the internet. Be sure to get your phone unlocked well in advance of your trip to avoid any hassles.

Upon arrival, there are several ways of finding a service provider, but the easiest way is to simply walk the streets of any city center and look for a mobile phone provider. Alternately, consult this list of worldwide mobile network operators to find a cell phone company in the country where you’re traveling. Simply walk in and ask for a new sim card/phone number, pay your desired amount to put minutes onto your phone and enjoy!

Most companies offer several ways to refill your minutes. One way is to buy a minute refill card from any small shop, convenience store, or brand store of your mobile provider, which will give you a toll-free number to call and a code to refill your minutes. Alternately, you might also be provided a hotline that you can call to auto refill your minutes over the phone with a credit card.

One thing to remember is that, if you choose to get a pay-as-you-go phone locally, you probably won’t be able to use that phone to call home, either. If you need to call home often, consider paying the costs for internationally roaming with your current cell phone plan, or alternately, use Skype or another VoIP calling service via your computer.