Skype

Skype is a must have while on exchange. Their rates are so much more affordable compared to cell phone providers - especially when it came to calling Canada. I purchased the 3 months unlimited subscription calling into Canada for about 8 euros.

Also many of my friends traveling to other countries had Skype so it was a good way to keep in touch with them too. I found that the regular students used Skype a lot more instead of MSN Messenger. Instead of asking for my MSN, they asked for Skype.

So download it! Purchase some credit - its the best thing ever.

Cell Phone

I ended up getting my cell phone unlocked at an electronics store in Richmond at a reasonable price. Because I was picked up by the ESN (Erasmus Student Network) at the train station, they gave me a SIM card from Ortel Mobile with 2 euros credit. I used it for a week and then I found that the rates were really high compared to other prepaid SIM cards.

In the end I chose Lyca Mobile because they had the lowest rates. 18 cents per minute calling within the Netherlands and 9 cent per text. Its 12 cents to call home and 9 cents as well to text to Canada. Its only when you leave the Netherlands it gets pretty expensive. When you first buy the card, you can register it to get additional free credits. I did that, but my credit never came (but I think I may have entered the address wrong so its probably my fault).

Another alternative with similar rates is Lebara Mobile. I also heard that T-Mobile had pretty good rates too.

Cell Phone Problems

I currently have a SE w810i from Rogers and I plan on taking it with me to Maastricht. Only I need to figure out how to unlock it so I can put another carrier's SIM card in. I don't want to pay Roger's stupid roaming fees! Talk about expensive!!!

I've been looking about what kind of phone companies are available in the Netherlands. I've found a listing online at Wikipedia. I took a look at Vodafone's rates. I guess they're not bad for prepaid, but I really have a limited understanding of all this. I also went over to T-Mobile's site as well, but they don't have an English version of the site (or maybe I'm just retarded and cannot find it!).

Only a couple weeks left! There are tons of things I still need to figure out and think about! Scary!! So much to do and plan!