Can I take my smartphone to Europe?

People want to know if they can take their cellphone to Europe. 1) yes, it is legal and 2) do your homework. If you are using your smartphone for WiFi that is good. If you brought it loaded with a translator or specific maps - Okay. However, if you do not check your data plan or with your provider you could be very surprised. Some phones do not work at all. Some need a new sim card with a pay-as-you-go plan. Some U.S. carriers will have a plan that will not cost a good deal. However, the picture above is a ship in Cobh Harbour, Ireland. One tourist was telling another that "last night when I called you (another tourist on the ship) about your plans for dinner, the call cost me $27.00. I checked on it today" It is rumored that you can run up several thousand dollars in roaming charges and data charges if you do this wrong. It pays to check before you go or to buy a "throw away" phone just for calls overseas when you get there. Lots more about this on TripAdvisor.com.