I tend to travel at least once a year, and mostly use a minutes card, but this time I would preffer a Prepaid cell phone so I can carry it everywhere. My cell phone does not include roaming and I get charged almost a $1 per minute so I think its best this way. What company and phone do you recommend, I was thinking Trac Phone, I saw it at Wal Mart at a resonable price, I will be calling from Washington DC to Puerto Rico, what do you think would be my best deal?

I've been told it's best to wait until you get to your destination and get one there. Prepaid cells very common in Europe and available most everywhere. Per Rick Steves...

European Phones
If your American phone doesn't work in Europe, consider buying an inexpensive European mobile phone instead. Although you can buy European phones from America, it's generally smarter and cheaper to shop for a phone in Europe at the ubiquitous corner phone marts or at mobile-phone counters in big department stores. No contracts are necessary — most phones come loaded with pre-paid calling time. The cheapest new phones run about $75. Ideally, buy a phone that's "unlocked," for maximum flexibility in switching out SIM cards.

Buying or renting a used phone is another option. These days, car-rental companies, mobile-phone companies, and even some hotels offer the option to rent a mobile phone with a European number. While renting may seem convenient, it can end up being quite expensive, with high per-minute charges and shipping costs.

Buying SIM Cards
If you have an unlocked phone — whether brought from the US or purchased in Europe — you'll buy a SIM card in Europe to make it work. Remember that a SIM card is a small, fingernail-size chip that stores your phone number and other information.

Each European country has various service providers, each of which sells its own SIM card. (Since these companies are very competitive, they're pretty much the same — just look for one that offers a good deal.) SIM cards cost anywhere from $5 to $40. They come with a European phone number and starter credit. You can buy additional prepaid credit as you go (at mobile-phone shops or newsstands). Making a domestic call usually costs 10–20 cents per minute, and incoming calls are free. International calls are around $1 per minute or more to other European countries and the US.

SIM cards work most affordably in the country where you bought them. If you roam with the SIM card in another country, call prices go way up ($1 per minute or more), and you also pay international rates to receive incoming calls. While this might be tolerable for a quick call or two, you should get a local SIM card if you want to use your phone a lot in the new country.

tracfone woul dbe good as long as your are staying in the US, because international calling is charged as a normal call and no roaming charges.