Mobile Phones

If you're traveling from overseas and haven't used your phone internationally before, call your provider before you leave home to determine whether your phone will work where you're going, whether you'll be able to send and receive text messages, and how much everything will cost.

Telephones

Some hotels include local calls in the room rate, but most impose astronomical surcharges on both local and long-distance calls.

To make calls within the United States and to Canada, dial 1 followed by the area code and the seven-digit number. For other international calls, dial 011 followed by the country code, city code, and the number you are calling. The country code for Australia is 61; for Ireland, 353; for New Zealand, 64; and for the U.K., 44. To place international calls to the United States, dial your country's international code plus the country code (1), the area code, and the local number.

For directory assistance ("information"), dial 411 for local and national numbers in the U.S. and Canada. For dedicated long-distance information, dial 1, the appropriate area code, and 555-1212.

Internet & Wi-Fi

Internet access is widely available in the Boston area, where a wireless connection can be easier to come by than a wired one, and Wi-Fi is often (but not always) free. Most hotels and many businesses offer Wi-Fi access. (Paradoxically, high-end hotels tend to charge guests a daily fee for access, while many cheaper lodgings include Wi-Fi in their room rates.) Many coffee shops and fast-food restaurants, some lines of the commuter rail, and numerous other businesses have free wireless access. A good way to find public Wi-Fi hotspots is by searching www.wififreespot.com.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.