How to Use a Cell Phone in Bulgaria

Many people travel to Bulgaria each year to escape their realities and enjoy new experiences. Escaping reality is always fun, but it's also reassuring to know that family members can be reached. While you're folk dancing and admiring the Black Sea, you want to make sure that you are able to use your cell phone in the case of an emergency. Using a cell phone in Bulgaria is easy if you follow the correct procedures.

Things You'll Need

• Plug adaptor
• List of important phone numbers
• Transformer

Instructions

1. Take the correct plug adaptors to Bulgaria so that you can charge your cell phone while on vacation. You do not want to spend time tracking these down while abroad. Bulgaria uses plug types "C" and "F."

2. Pack a transformer that can handle 230 volts, which is the voltage used in Bulgaria, to use 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 Bulgaria. 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 Bulgaria.

5. Familiarize yourself with how to dial locally within Bulgaria. If you are dialing a place in Bulgaria with the same city code as which you are calling, just dial the number. If the number has a different city code, dial "0," plus the city code, plus the phone number.

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

Tips & Warnings

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