How to Use a Cell Phone in Spain

Traveling to Spain is a chance to forget your worries and explore new territory. Although you may want an escape from home, it' comforting to know that your loved ones are just a dial tone away. While you're admiring the Pyrenee mountain range and watching a Spanish horse race, you'll want to make sure that you are able to use your cell phone in the case of an emergency. Using a cell phone in Spain is easy if you follow the correct procedures.

Things You'll Need

• Plug adaptor
• List of important phone numbers
• Transformer

Instructions

1. Purchase the correct plug adaptors from an electronics store before you leave home so that you can charge your cell phone while in Spain. Spain uses plug types "C" and "F."

2. Use a transformer that can handle 230 volts, which is the voltage used in Spain, when charging your cell phone. Your cell phone will likely fry if you do not use the correct transformer.

3. Call your cell phone provider to make sure that they offer phone coverage in Spain. Ask to be upgraded to international roaming.

4. Consider renting a cell phone or SIM card to use with your personal cell phone if your cellular company does not offer coverage in Spain.

5. Know how to dial locally within Spain. If you are dialing a place in Spain with the same area code as which you are calling, just dial the number. If the number has a different area code, dial the area code plus the phone number.

6. Know how to call the United States from Spain. First dial "00" (this is the international prefix to dial outside of Spain). Then dial "1" (this is the international code used to dial to the U.S.). Follow that by the area code and phone number.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to charge your cell phone each night using the correct plug adaptor and transformer.