Calling home - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Delea · 01-18-2006, 05:23 PM

While I spend time in europe, my boyfriend and family are going to be here in canada, so I'm looking for a way to call home a few times. What would be the best, cheapest way to go about this? Calling cards? Calling collect? Adapting my cell phone for international use? Let me know! Thanks in advance.

**LostFarmboy** · 01-18-2006, 05:53 PM

Phone cards are probably the simplest way to go about it, they are easy to use and readily available. Some internet cafe's let you make phone calls over the internet. I would say no way to using your cell phone because it's expensive. Calling collect would be the cheapest way because you wouldn't have to pay for it at all

**benna2** · 01-18-2006, 06:43 PM

Yeah I would say calling cards as well. It is important to keep in touch with those back home, especially your parents. They do worry!!

Delea · 01-18-2006, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by benna2@Jan 18 2006, 06:43 PM
Yeah I would say calling cards as well. It is important to keep in touch with those back home, especially your parents. They do worry!!

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Haha thanks! Yeah my parents are nuts. Oh well, they'll survive. Thanks a bunch.

**omisan** · 01-19-2006, 10:25 AM

After my last couple of trips, I became a huge fan of ID Phone Cards. You can go online to buy a pin and credits and they have dial-in numbers from just about anywhere... super-cheap, too!

I used that in conjunction with my cell phone, which with GSM, I have international capability, though in Australia I just bought a local SIM card. Still, calling card calls are way cheaper than making international calls on the mobile.

Also, look into perks at various hostels. Some places (like the Costa Rican place Joker and I have stayed at) offer free calls home every day. Some internet cafes have free international calls via VoIP. When I bought my YHA/HI card, I also got a calling card with $5 worth of international calling... There are deals around every corner!

**LostFarmboy** · 01-19-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by omisan@Jan 19 2006, 10:25 AM
Also, look into perks at various hostels. Some places (like the Costa Rican place Joker and I have stayed at) offer free calls home every day.

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What the!?! That's pretty friggin awsome, i've never seen a place that does that