Here’s another possibility, so-called “world phones” that roam on both CDMA and GSM. Since I too am a Verizon hostage…I mean, customer…this looks interesting. Check out this example:
http://reviews.cnet.com/Samsung_SCH-A790/4505-6454_7-31100993.html
This particular model has some shortcomings, as pointed out in the review, but the basic concept has promise for travelers, I think. Could be especially handy in China, since China is the world’s other big user of CDMA.