We've all been there before. You're on your way to the airport about to leave for an international trip, whether for business or pleasure. You made sure to pack everything you need to have a worry-free trip - or so you thought.

No matter how much planning we go through before leaving for an international journey, there is always that sinking feeling that you forgot something. If you forget your toothbrush or extra socks, it won't cost you much or be a hassle to replace. But if you forget to make arrangements for your international cell phone service, then you run the real risk of coming home to a $1,000 or larger phone bill courtesy of your U.S. or Canadian wireless carrier.

There's no need to be held hostage anymore by your domestic wireless carrier and pay $1-$5 per minute and exorbitant data rates when using your cell phone overseas. While one option is to wait until you arrive in your destination country and search for a local SIM card, this can be frustrating, expensive, and very inconvenient, especially if you are traveling to multiple countries.

A global SIM card for your international cell phone is the best answer. Prepaid international SIM cards for global roaming allow you to make cheap calls, especially while in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Look for service that is entirely prepaid, so there are no contracts or monthly service charges in order to use your global SIM card make international calls. With the best international SIM cards, outgoing calls are cheap and generally start at 45c/min, with free incoming calls in many countries, free incoming text messages everywhere, and GPRS data service. The best providers also make it easy to track your call records and add airtime from either your world phone or internet.

Since your global SIM card and new European phone number never expires with the most reputable providers, you can stash it at home and use it on all your trips for years to come. Never again will you get stuck in a foreign country without an inexpensive and convenient way to reach home, your hotel, a taxi service, or colleagues waiting to hear from you in the office.