As far as I know, there are two ways for non-mobile owners to use a mobile abroad.
Firstly, the country you are visiting will almost certainly have a mobile company willing to rent you a phone during your stay. Mobiles are so prolific these days you can even do it in Cuba. Cubacel (tel 00 53 7802222/555511, www.cubacel.com) charges US$10 a day for the phone, plus 90 cents a minute for calls.
Alternatively, a new company called Mint (0800 00 33 55, www.mint-tele.com) sells pre-pay SIM cards that fit into most mobiles, and can be used in just about any country.
Considering you can buy a mobile second-hand these days for next to nothing, this latter option is possibly the best.
SCO
Try Carphone Warehouse (0800 125000, cpw.hire@adamphones.com or www.carphonewarehouse.com). Hire is £1 per day or free if you spend enough on calls. They are a friendly, helpful independent company.
Barbara Cummins
Independent Phone Rentals (020-8878 6000, e-mail: enquiries@phone-rentals.co.uk) specialises in the short-term hire of mobile phones. GSM phones can be rented by the day (minimum rental period three days) for use in over 100 countries throughout the world. Nextel Digital mobile phones offering coverage in 9,000 towns and cities across the US are also available for rental.
For travel to more remote places, satellite phones the size of a laptop computer, can be rented by the week. A next-day delivery service is available throughout the UK, Monday to Friday.
David Tomley
Managing director
This week's question
I am a teacher and am therefore limited to "high season" times to travel. I can never avail myself of cheap fares or package holidays; I am always defeated by the small print: "Travel must be completed by December 15 ..." etc. Everything doubles in price during the Christmas, Easter and summer school holidays. And at half term.
Has any teacher any ideas on how to go on holiday without spending a non-existent fortune?
Hilary Matthews
• If you have questions or advice, please send it to: Ask a fellow traveller, The Guardian, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER. Or e-mail: ask.a.fellow.traveller@theguardian.com.
