International Phone Calling Tips

Call from a public telephone unless you are positive that your hotel will not add a hefty surcharge.

Use a calling card as their rates are usually the most reasonable. European calling cards are the easiest to use, since they usually eliminate the need to dial a long prefix or toll-free number manually when inserted into the card slot of a public phone. Most countries sell calling cards sale at post offices, tobacco stores, newsstands, supermarkets and souvenir shops. (Some public phones also allow the use of credit cards.)

If you really want to use your hotel phone and plan to make frequent calls to the United States there are callback services that can save you money. A callback service works like it sounds. You call the service and hang up after the first ring. The service then calls you back with a U.S. dial tone allowing you to call using only the area code and local number as though you were still in the States.

There is also the option of renting or buying a cell phone that is compatible with the international GSM standard and uses plug-in SIM cards to make calls at European rates.