Need cell phone to call home to US during trip to N. Europe

I am sure that there is a simple solution for folks going across the pond from the USA to be able to call home (or receive emergency calls from the US)on a cell phone without paying some vastly inflated rate. We would also like to be able to call locally for bus/rail info, etc. We use Straight Talk here, which runs on Verizon lines, and apparently won't work in Europe. We would very much appreciate suggestions. Thanks!

You need an unlocked quad-band gsm phone.

MrLincoln said:   I am sure that there is a simple solution for folks going across the pond from the USA to be able to call home (or receive emergency calls from the US)on a cell phone without paying some vastly inflated rate. We would also like to be able to call locally for bus/rail info, etc. We use Straight Talk here, which runs on Verizon lines, and apparently won't work in Europe. We would very much appreciate suggestions. Thanks!

ST now has International for $60
US calls out
Maybe in also

http://www.straighttalk.com/unlimitedinternational

Otherwise, get a local SIM. Lebara and Lyca Mobile seem to have the best prepaid plans in most European countries.

Thanks, everyone. All advice cheerfully and gratefully accepted!

I bought a cheap quad-band GSM phone off eBay, and then ordered a SIM through Brightroam. Buying a local SIM on arrival would have been even cheaper, but for some destination countries, this can be troublesome (due to unavailability or local bureaucracy).