2 Week Vacation in UK

[Motel75]

Late model Motos can all be charged up via USB, though you will probably have to install the driver on your computer to do it this way. Their chargers are alwys universal voltage, only a plug adapter is needed (and some Moto chargers include a UK three-pin plug and a Europlug as standard).

Incoming text is always free in Europe, no matter who the operator is. It's bizarre indeed that it costs something in the US, but I suppose the thinking was that if people were used for paying for incoming calls, they wouldn't fuss about incoming text either.

Don't let me stop you from ordering a V197/RAZR/whatever and SIM via eBay, etc., but it really is no trouble at all to locate a Vodafone shop or equivalent mobile phone store in Britain and you can have the phone paid for and working in 10 minutes. (It might be easier to do it this way if you don't feel like setting up your mobile browser, or if the browser settings on your phone are locked, because it will come preconfigured - UK networks have cheap data too, and at the festival you might find this an easy way to check the news, your e-mail, etc. - however, you can usually have the provider text the browser/MMS settings sent to you - if it doesn't do this automatically, just look at the website.)

[MATHA531]

Originally Posted by Motel75

Late model Motos can all be charged up via USB, though you will probably have to install the driver on your computer to do it this way. Their chargers are alwys universal voltage, only a plug adapter is needed (and some Moto chargers include a UK three-pin plug and a Europlug as standard).

Incoming text is always free in Europe, no matter who the operator is. It's bizarre indeed that it costs something in the US, but I suppose the thinking was that if people were used for paying for incoming calls, they wouldn't fuss about incoming text either.

Don't let me stop you from ordering a V197/RAZR/whatever and SIM via eBay, etc., but it really is no trouble at all to locate a Vodafone shop or equivalent mobile phone store in Britain and you can have the phone paid for and working in 10 minutes. (It might be easier to do it this way if you don't feel like setting up your mobile browser, or if the browser settings on your phone are locked, because it will come preconfigured - UK networks have cheap data too, and at the festival you might find this an easy way to check the news, your e-mail, etc. - however, you can usually have the provider text the browser/MMS settings sent to you - if it doesn't do this automatically, just look at the website.)

Agreed with one small exception noted. If you buy the phone from a vodafone store, chances are it will be locked. And yes, of course, phone can be unlocked yada yada yada. And I think we can agree, the difference in money is negligible so it comes down to what the OP feels is most convenient.