What's a good cellphone for Europe?

Cellphone for overseas Q This summer, our 17-year-old daughter will be traveling to Italy for two weeks and to Paraguay for a month. Can you please recommend a cellphone? International plans for our current cellphone carrier, Verizon, require a smartphone (which our daughter doesn't have). A Verizon salesperson suggested that she buy a phone at the airports when she arrives in those destinations, but I want a definite plan before she leaves.

On a separate issue, what is the wireless situation for computers in both of these destinations? If she took her laptop, would she be able to go to a cafe to communicate on Facebook?

A I'm almost tempted to tell you to ditch the phone. Because both countries have WiFi spots and Internet cafes that offer computers with cameras and headphones, you could talk face-to-face regularly with your daughter via Skype. But that won't quite suffice, will it? You want your daughter to be able to call you at a moment's notice -- and vice versa.

Check again with Verizon. Because your daughter is already a customer, the company can likely upgrade her to a global-capable smartphone or sell her what they call a "like-new device." Verizon contract customers traveling for fewer than 21 days can take advantage of Verizon's "travel program for the occasional traveler," which lends a global-capable device that adapts to the user's phone number. This likely won't work for your daughter's extended trip, but other readers who may be interested can get details by calling 1-800-711-8300.

Another option: Check out TravelCell, a 12-year-old company devoted to getting travelers the devices they need to stay in touch when overseas (www.travelcell.com).

The New Jersey-based rental company will send a phone that will work in the countries to be visited, along with a charger, to the home of the traveler before departure. An Italy- and Paraguay-compatible phone is currently going for $2 a day. In some cases, incoming calls to TravelCell phones are free.

In either situation, be sure you understand the costs involved in sending and receiving calls. Both can be quite pricey. And be sure to turn off data roaming before the plane takes off. This will stop the phone from conducting automatic searches for updates -- and save you from shocking international roaming charges.

Answers to travel questions appear in Travel and at startribune.com/escapeartists; send your question by e-mail to travel@startribune.com

Grandma's seeks volunteers Have you always wanted to participate in Grandma's Marathon, but are daunted by running 26.2 miles? To get involved without breaking a sweat (or getting blisters), you can volunteer to help at the June 18 footrace along Scenic Hwy. 61 from Two Harbors to Duluth. "We still need about 500 volunteers," said Bob Gustafson, public relations director for the race. "We mainly need people for the finish-line area and the water stations along the route." Each year, the race relies on 5,000 volunteers; 17,000 runners are currently set to participate in the 5K, half-marathon and full marathon races. Gustafson said that 8,000 people are signed up for the full marathon, and that number will rise before registration ends June 1 (registration for the other two races is already closed). To volunteer, go to www.grandmasmarathon.com and click on the "volunteer" link on the left side of the home page, or call 1-218-727-0947.

KERRI WESTENBERG

Volcanic ash delays flights Airlines canceled about 500 European flights Tuesday as the ash cloud from the Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland drifted into northern Britain and Ireland, but a senior European official predicted that the disruption would not reach the scale of a year ago, when millions of travelers were inconvenienced by ash from a different Icelandic volcano. Airlines urged travelers, particularly those headed to Scotland or Iceland, to verify the status of their flights online before leaving for airports.

NEW YORK TIMES