I suppose I've been lucky--I live in the NYC metropolitan area so my roaming charges are nil. However, I still have to watch my minutes. I get 450 anytime minutes; and AT&T; allows me 5,000 off-peak minutes during weekday nights from 9:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday. It's important to note that weekday evenings factor into the 5,000 total off peak minutes time. They're not truly "free!"I use my phone mostly for the times when I travel and I cannot get to a public pay phone. My cell phone then comes in mighty handy; and it sure is cleaner than using any old public pay phone, too! My phone takes messages, allows me different ring tones, reveals the last few numbers dialed, the last several missed calls--and accessing my voicemail is a breeze. It's easy to add new contacts, too. This AT&T; plan also gives you a lengthy instruction booklet with easy to understand, real English directions; and you get your choice between an online bill and a regular bill. AT&T; also let you use your credit card for automatic monthly payments.One feature I like very much is the rollover minutes. If you use less than your allotted 450 minutes during the month, whatever is left over gets carried over to the next month so you don't lose your minutes. This policy remains in effect for the most recent twelve months, however--after that they cut off the thirteenth month and only add on the most recent twelfth month, and so on. Careful with that last point!Sure, roaming charges may remain an issue; so I am taking off one star to make this a four star review. Nevertheless, this plan from AT&T; remains an excellent choice for people like me who don't use their cell phones too often. You get the perk of a lower monthly charge in exchange for a plan that is geared toward persons who don't use their phones many times every day.I highly recommend this plan for people like me who need cell phones primarily for travel and emergencies. If you need a cell phone much more often, or if roaming charges are an issue for you in your area, then I would suggest you find another plan.