Help using my iphone in Canada

[caddywompus]

I posted this over on the Travel Board already- but you gals are always so helpful here- I figured I would ask you, too!

We are heading to Canada soon (from US) and I have an iphone. I want to take my phone with me, but I've heard crazy stories of people racking up HUGE bills while they're out of the country, because of all the apps, emails, etc, running in the background and using up a bunch of data.
Question- if I just go to Settings and turn off the Cellular Data and Data Roaming buttons while that be OK? Will I still be able to connect to WIFI for free? Will I be able to make phone calls (in case of emergency)?

Thanks for any advice- I am so techno illiterate!!

[wambam]

I just returned from a trip to NS and NB. My H and I both have iPhones. We simply turned our phones to airplane mode except when we knew we would have wifi access.

[janiejones]

My friends & family just upgrade their package for the month they are travelling. I picked my friend up from Buffalo once and she called verizon while in my car and just added a "Canada roaming package just for the current calendar month".
That way she can still use maps/instagram/messaging while travelling.

I know my aunt adds everything, but for my teen cousins they are restricted so they can use texts but basically wait for wifi for everything else.

[y4m]

Turning off data roaming should prevent any charges and still allow you to use wifi and the phone. You can still get texts, which will cost something like $.05 to receive and $.50 to send.

Or depending on your carrier, you can temporarily add global data. I know with verizon it's $25 for 100mb which is plenty to grab a map or check email while traveling. And you can cancel that part of your plan when you get back.

[caddywompus]

Thanks everyone! I had heard about just using the airplane mode, too- but then I was afraid it would turn off everything, and not let me use WiFi.
Wish me luck!!