[WoofDog123]

“Maybe it’s just me but, why didn’t you just ask somebody if you could borrow their phone or find a public phone?”

I was traveling in the US (I am usually overseas), but my (young) son lives overseas. It would be hard for his mother to call me on either of the above. I have not traveled in the US for years and had never had a need for a US cell phone before.

How would you have handled this?

[Hatteras]

If you are just traveling on vacation? Send her a postcard. Why does everybody feel that they need to be just a push of the button away at any moment of any given day? If you're traveling then you are staying in hotels, correct? Hotels have phones and at the very least you can call and leave the hotel info with them if they need to reach you.

The original point was that you don't buy phones at flea markets or any seedy establishments. Especially a place where they won't look you in the eye.

Also, if they sell multi-colored cell phone cases with embossed skulls and dragons alongside the ninja swords and wizard shaped candles? Keep your wallet closed and go find a pay phone instead.