Gettin’ Carried Away

Which carrier offers the best deal for American travelers? As I said in my previous post, I will explore a different carrier, and I’ve decided to do it in alphabetical order to eliminate bias. First up was Altell. Next? AT&T

THE LOGISTICS

National Plan

AT&T has come a long way since its former days of being Cingular Wireless. Now, every plan available is considered “national” with zero roaming charges in all 50 states. The cheapest plan costs $39.99. This gives you 450 daytime minutes, 5,000 nights/weekend minutes, rollover and unlimited mobile-to-mobile. However, text messaging is not included.

AT&T also offers a combo Nation with Canada Plan. The lowest rate for Nation with Canada is $59.99 per month, giving you 450 daytime minutes and rollover. Unlimited mobile-to-mobile applies in the U.S. only. All Nation with Canada plans give you 1000 nights/weekends minutes.

International Roaming Add-Ons

If you frequent other countries, you may consider purchasing any or all International Roaming add-ons:

• World Traveler: For $5.99 per month, you’ll have access to lower rates compared to AT&T’s standard rates. For example, calling anyone while in the UK would cost $1.29 per minute without the World Traveler add-on, and $.099 per minute with it. However, AT&T posts a disclaimer stating that you may not be able to dial other international destinations other than lines in the UK and the U.S. while you are in the United Kingdom.
• World Connect: For $3.99 per month, you can call to over 220 countries no matter where you are located. Again, using the UK as an example, it would cost $0.08 to reach a land line and $0.28 to call a mobile phone (whether you are calling to the US from the UK or vice versa). There are no travel restrictions, so you would be able to phone any country at the rates listed on their website.
• Canada: For $4.99 per month, you will be charged $0.59 per min while roaming in Canada and $0.09 per min while roaming in U.S.
• Mexico: For $4.99 per month, you will be charged $0.59 per minute while roaming in Mexico, $0.09 per minute when calling from the U.S. to a Mexican landline, and $0.25 per minute when calling from the U.S. to a Mexican wireless device.

MY ANALYSIS

National Plans

I can remember the days when you had to buy a separate National Plan, so the fact that all plans include zero roaming charges throughout the United States is awesome to me. However, the Nation with Canada Plan kind of irritates me. What about Mexico? Also, why offer a Nation with Canada Plan and a Canada add-on? I suppose if you frequently call Canada, the Nation with Canada Plan makes more sense. The only benefit I see is that you are not charged for roaming in Canada (or the U.S.)… just an additional $0.45 per minute should you go over the minutes in your plan.

Now what if you’re just taking a trip to Canada? Depending on the amount of time you’re spending there, it might not make sense to get the Canada add-on, seeing that you’ll have to pay $4.99 for the a month of service (even if you’re only going for a few days). However, an AT&T sales rep might just try to push the this service on you when you call to tell them you’ll be out of the country for a bit. The service can easily be canceled after a month, but how much are you really saving?

The standard rate is $0.79 per minute, but with the Canada add-on, you’ll pay $0.59 per minute. Say you’re in Canada for a week, and you call home each night for 10 minutes. Without the plan, you’ll pay around $55. With the Canada add-on, you’ll save $9 on the calls. While I realize, these days, that every penny counts, what if you don’t call home every night? And if you do, what if you only talk for a minute to let someone know you’re ok? Evaluate your cell phone habits before you decide to spend the $4.99 for the monthly add-on. And don’t forget to cancel the service for the next month!

Now, on to the rest of the International Roaming Add-Ons:

• World Traveler: With the example I picked (the UK), you save $0.30 on rates. However, AT&T posts a disclaimer stating that you may not be able to dial other international destinations other than lines in the UK and the U.S. while you are in the United Kingdom. This isn’t always the case, though, as I know plenty of travelers with AT&T phones who have called other countries (besides the U.S.) while in the UK. This is your best option if you’re traveling the globe.
• World Connect: Again, using the UK as an example, you’ll save $1.21 when calling a land line and $1.01 when calling a mobile phone, whether you are calling to the US from the UK or vice versa. There are no travel restrictions, so you would be able to phone any country at the rates listed on their website. This is your best option if you’re frequently calling a friend, relative, coworker, etc in the UK.
• Canada: I forgot to mention that you will save $0.70 on calls to Canada from the U.S. This option might be good for a parent whose child is traveling in Canada. I went to Canada twice in high school, so this option might have been ideal for my mom if she wanted to contact me on a daily basis. However, if you’re calling Canada a lot, the Nation with Canada PLAN is a better deal.
• Mexico: The standard rate to Mexico is $0.99 per minute, so you’re saving $0.49 per minute while in Mexico, $0.40 per minute when calling a Mexican landline, and $0.24 per minute when calling a Mexican wireless device.

** All prices are projected for your average, run-of-the-mill mobile phone, and none of them include text/picture messaging. Blackberry phones, iPhones, PDAs and other Smartphones require additional data plans ranging from $30-60 per month no matter what plan you select.

When iPhone users travel abroad, AT&T encourages them to turn roaming off to block email, browsing and downloads. Data plans for text messaging (and web browsing, email checking, etc) are available, but the lowest rate is $24.99 for 20 MB of data/usage in just 90 countries. That’s great for text messaging, but it won’t help you for usage. Remember, each time you check your email or look at a web page, you’re using a lot of data. 20 MB will go fast if your phone is your lifeline while you’re traveling. If you want more MB, the most expensive data plan is $199.99 per month for 200 MB. You might just want to use net cafes for net activities.

I started traveling around the same time that my friends and I got cell phones. I can still remember that one word that made our parents shudder at the thought of shelling out big bucks for a phone bill. And that word was… roaming. Now that I am a frequent traveler, and I’ve been paying my mobile bill for quite some time now, I’m a little more concerned with the extra costs. Which carrier offers the best deal for American travelers?

I have decided to start a new series of posts and explore a different carrier in each article. I’m doing it in alphabetical order to eliminate bias. First up? Alltel.

THE LOGISTICS

National Freedom Plan

This is the main national plan offered by Alltell Wireless. You are covered all across the nation. Alltell calls it the Freedom Plan, since you also have access to My Circle and Anytime Plan Changes.

The most affordable plan costs $39.99 per month

• 1 My Circle Number
• 500 minutes
• $0.40 per additional minute

The most expensive plan costs $199.99 per month:

• 20 My Circle Numbers
• 6000 minutes
• $0.25 per additional minute

International Dialing

International dialing is free. You must add it onto your existing plan, and you may only call the following countries:

• Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Bonaire, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten and U.S. Virgin Islands for $1.29 per minute.
• Mexico for $0.79 per minute.

To call other countries not included in the above list, you’ll have to purchase an international add-on for $3.99 per month for discounted rates. For example, the standard rate for the UK is $0.65 per minute; with the add-on, the price is $0.20 per minute.

The North American Freedom Plan offers toll-free calling from the U.S. to specific areas in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as back to the U.S. The cheapest plan starts at $59.99 and includes 10 My Circle Numbers, 450 daytime minutes. All North American Freedom Plans come with 1000 nights/weekends anywhere covered in the countries listed above, in addition to unlimited mobile-to-mobile in the U.S. only.

The last international feature is Cruise Ship Roaming. The standard rate on a cruise ship could be as much as $2.49 per minute, in addition to a $0.50 toll. With this feature, you’ll pay up to $0.13 per minute if you’re on one of these ships.

MY ANALYSIS

National Plans

You can change your plan at any time without extending your contract, which is unheard of with most other carriers.

With the cheapest plan, you only get unlimited to calls to one number and just 500 minutes to any other number. However, all National Freedom Plans $49.99 and higher include:

• a certain number of daytime minutes
• 5, 10 or 20 My Circle Numbers (which you can change at any time)
• Unlimited mobile-to-mobile
• Unlimited nights/weekends
• Free nationwide long distance

That $199.99 per month plan is the most expensive and comes with the 20 My Circle Numbers. However, did you know that Alltell offers a $99 per month Unlimited Calling Plan? The website says that the plan offers unlimited to calling to unlimited numbers 24/7, in addition to free nationwide long distance. So why would you choose the $199.99 per month plan?

International Dialing

It’s pretty cool that you don’t have to pay extra to call certain areas in Canada, Mexico, etc. However, if you do purchase the international add-on, calling Canada only costs $0.10 per minute. In the long run, if you’re an avid traveler, getting the add-on should save you more money than purchasing both the North American Freedom Plan and the monthly international add-on. I’ve also never heard of Cruise Ship Roaming being offered on a network. Seems like a lot of unique options here to me.

** All prices are projected for your average, run-of-the-mill mobile phone, and none of them include text/picture messaging, web browsing or emailing.

Also, Alltel recently merged with Verizon Wireless in January 2009. Alltel users will continue with their existing plans; however, once the contracts are up, Alltel users will most likely convert to Verizon plans. Verizon is currently unsure if they will continue the My Circle Plan once all Alltel contracts have ended.

Awhile ago, I wrote a post about leaving tips in other countries, specifically the UK. I’ve had different experiences everywhere I’ve traveled… some awkward, some completely normal. So that you won’t feel awkward about the whole tipping situation, I’m going to continue to give you some helpful tips on… tipping… this time in Western Europe.

• Some countries add a service charge, but the servers expect at least a 10% tip, as well. This happened to me in both Venice, Italy and Paris, France. I noticed this practice is followed in more upscale cities/regions.
• In Barcelona, Spain, we left our server a 10% tip. She literally chased us down to give the money back. I decided to speak to some locals to get the low down on España. I learned that the servers at most of the restaurants are salaried and receive social benefits. They told us that, if we felt compelled to leave a little extra, 3 to 5% is a-ok.
• DO NOT add the tip to the bill if you pay with a credit card. As a general rule, you should give it directly to the server
• DO NOT leave money on the table. It is considered impolite. Plus, you never know who’s lurking around, waiting to snatch it.
• If a bellhop handles your baggage, especially all the way to your room, a one-euro tip per bag is considered polite.
• In a restroom, there may be a small dish for the attendant. If he/she is actually attentive to you (towel in hand and all), 50 cents to 1 euro is sufficient.
• If you are totally unsatisfied with any service, feel free to leave no tip.

Honestly, I always felt weird leaving a small tip (or even no tip at all). And you might, as well. Just keep in mind that you’re in a different place. You’re not going to get a mean look, and no one is going to spit in your food if you don’t give an “adequate tip” to their liking. I tend to follow one rule… if the service is good, I leave a small tip. If I haven’t seen the server for an hour, if the cabbie takes the longest route, if the hostel staff is unfriendly… they don’t deserve anything extra.