Big Five offers free global travel phone to clients

July 14, 2011 - PRLog -- "Last month, I called my wife and son in Stuart, FL, from Kenya when a lioness wandered close by our private safari camp at night.  I was sitting close to my walk-in tent and held the phone up so my three-year-old son could hear a wild lion roar.  It was a magical moment - there I was in the spectacular wilderness of Africa having this amazing experience of listening to a lion roar and sharing that moment with my wife and son back home," said Ashish Sanghrajka, president of Big Five Tours & Expeditions.  "It was an incredibly clear connection and I was the only person in our group able to get a signal."

Earlier this year, Big Five Tours & Expeditions and a wireless phone provider teamed up to offer Big Five’s guests a global phone package that is extremely affordable, and can be used in some 200 countries at greatly reduced savings; up to 80% in some cases.  

Now Big Five has taken this a step further by providing global travel phones to the clients of each of its top-producing travel agency partners – for free.  Each eligible travel agency’s guests can now receive these phones – more than a $144 value, (one per booking) complimentary, as part of how we like to do business.  The guest keeps his or her phone, which comes with two phone numbers – a US number and a UK number, making international calling convenient and cost effective.  Calls can easily be forwarded to the US and UK numbers, making it easier than ever for family members or business contacts to keep in touch when they travel - even while on safari in Africa!  The phone comes with $15 airtime included and an international charger.  It also comes with a single global SIM card, which means that travelers no longer have to collect a new card in every country or pay exorbitant phone fees to use their smart phones.

The global phones allow people to stay in touch without any contracts, hidden fees or monthly fees.  Incoming calls and text messages are completed at little or no cost in 60 countries while usage charges from other countries cost a fraction of normal roaming rates.  

"My clients were extremely pleased with the phone, the ease of activation and getting their account activity," says Big Five travel agency partner, Sharon Cooper, of Vision 2000 Travel Group.  "Since they have aging parents and kids located around the world, the fact that their phone numbers are permanent is very helpful."

Founded in 1973, Big Five Tours & Expeditions is an award-winning, premium soft adventure tour operator offering luxury guided travel to Africa, Asia and South Pacific, Orient, South and Central America, Arctic and Antarctica.  

For more information, contact Big Five (800) 244 3483, http://www.bigfive.com