Traveling and your phone(s)

suzanne4, RN · Jul 27, 2004

To any travel nurses out there. How do you handle your phone service. DO you get local phone service when you are on assignment or do you just use a cell. I ask one because me and the missus did away with the landline about a year ago. The cell companies typically make one renew the contract when a area code/ number change is made... ie extends it for 2 years from the time of change. I dont want to have to go to the unneeded expense ($40-50 a month) to have landline line anywhere else when the cell does me just fine.
Rj:rolleyes:

RJ,

Just kepp your same number. AS long as you have a good plan that allows you free long distance, don't worry about changing the number. My last year before I moved overseas, I had only two mobiles, no land line, and it was wonderful. No calls from telemarketers at all.

Now that I am back, I am going to stick to mobiles only again, except the company that I will be travelling with has phones already in the apts.

Good luck...........................

Trauma Columnist · Jul 27, 2004

I'm not a travel nurse but I travel quite a bit and use a cell phone. I'm not endorsing one company over the other but I have used Verizon for the past four years and have nationwide local calling and have had service as far away as St. Thomas (I live in Illinois) and have always had very good luck.

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2004

I also travel with a cell only. We have Cingular and it also has nationwide service. It never occured to me to change numbers or even notify the company of a new location. I have had the same plan and the same number for a numer of years and several locations without any problem. I do have a calling card in case you need it for other reasons. If I call from work, or if my battery is low, or if my minutes are low. Good luck, and happy travelling!

bagladyrn, RN · Jul 28, 2004

I generally still get a regular phone service when I go to each assignment. I usually only pay about $20/month for basic unlimited local calls, no long distance (Use a Sam's Club calling card for that). I use it for internet access, local calls, and so that I can be on the phone while on call and not worry. Sometimes I get lucky and phone service is provided with the housing as in my current contract.

My cell phone has the nationwide no roaming feature so I use that for any other calls and to give to people as a permanent contact number.

cathlabtraveler · Aug 11, 2004

Doesn't your company provide a land line while you are on assignment? All the ones i've been with provide it. But other than that, i also disconnected my phone at home and strictly use my cell.

mollie · Dec 5, 2004

Doesn't your company provide a land line while you are on assignment? All the ones i've been with provide it. But other than that, i also disconnected my phone at home and strictly use my cell.

What do you do for internet access without a land line?

thanks:balloons:

renerian, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2004

Cell phone with no long distance/roaming fees with free nights and weekends/cable internet.

renerian

kat29 · Dec 8, 2004

Depending on where you are, there are alot of restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, etc now that have free wireless internet. You just bring your laptop with a wireless card, buy a latte and use their internet through your computer. We used this route all summer when we were RVing.

Public libraries also usually have internet access.

akcarmean, LPN · Dec 8, 2004

We also did away with landline phone and only have our cell phones. We use cable internet also. Cheaper than paying for phone plus internet service provider.

Angie

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2004

I am looking into traveling and this is something I didn't think of. I'd better change to a free long distance/no roaming charges plan. Anyone care to recommend one, and a good, reliable phone?

I rarely ever use my cell, I just keep it with me for emergencies. I'm sure I'll be using one as a traveler, though.