Can anyone tell me what to look for in a phone card that can be used to phone home as well as other Europe countries to confirm arrival times? Our Costco in Canada doesn't sell a phone card as someone suggested. Rick suggests buying there. Can you confirm that is the cheapest?
Posted by
New Harmony, Utah, USA
53 posts
I purchased an inexpensive phone card from Costco before I left home and used it all over Europe and in England. The instructions and numbers were on the card. It was amazingly cheap! We found phone booths in every major city and even in some of the smaller ones. BTW, I'm an idiot about most things so if I could figure it out, anyone can!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19284 posts
When calling to another area code, obviously, you must use the code. And to tell the system that it is an area code you are dialing, not just a number, you must start with a zero.
If you are calling from outside the system, i.e. from another country, the system understands that you are not in any area code, therefore the number you are dialing starts with an area code, the zero is not necessary.
The last part, I am not absolutely sure of, since I have never made a call within an area code over there, but I'm pretty sure that calls within the area code do not need to use the area code.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12315 posts
I've had good luck with PIN Cards purchased at tobacco shops. The ones that only work in one country seem to give me the best combination of connection charge and per minute charge (I'll have to look into the Costco card).
Another option is internet cafes, although I'm not sure they all provide the service. I've had calls home that were about half of the PIN cards. I once called home from Salzburg and left a message on the answering machine for a total cost of about 30 cents. Ask what they charge before you dial.
I now have a cell phone that works in Europe. I keep avoiding using it because I don't want to come home to an outrageous phone bill. If I had some confidence it would be reasonable, I'd probably use it instead. When I try to find out the rates, customer service seems less informed than I am.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
519 posts
We have one of the Costco phone cards and will probably bring that. My wife and I are debating though on the cell phone issue in case we get separated, or decide to split up for a while. It would make it much more convenient to just call each other. Brad-we have T-Mobile and in reviewing their site, it's free for us to activate world calling (I'm pretty sure our phone is set up for the European network), but it's .99 per minute to call. I couldn't find any T-Mobile international plans, since I thought we'd just switch our plan over for the month. I just started looking though. I don't feel that great to pay our $70 bill for the month we're gone, AND not be able to use any of those minutes, but then pay .99/minute for calls. I guess we'll still pay the $70 for the plan regardless.
Some have talked about buying a SIM card there, but we'll be in 5 different countries so it would be cheaper for us to just pay .99/min instead of buying SIMs in each country. I need to explore more.
Posted by
Portland, OR, USA
805 posts
Cheapest is most certainly Skype but you'd need to bring a computer and be able to be in a private place to use it.
Other than that, calling cards are quite inexpensive. One tip, when purchasing a calling card, check to see what the "billing cycle" is for the card. Some cheap cards bill in 3-5 minute increments, making them often not great deals after all.
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
Melanie, We now live in Rome and use SIM cards in phones we purchased on eBay; Cheapest way to go if you live here!
Yet prior to that, when we traveled to Europe 3-4 times a year, we used the Costco or SAM club calling cards. Most were AT&T or a similar substitute. Know that if you purchase a card with 500 minutes on it, in Europe it may only be worth 100 minutes.
The "dialing" instructions for each country are usually included but DO KNOW before you leave how they work. Call their information center and be sure you know how to dial from your country of origin.
Regarding using country area codes to dial while in that country - In Italy we do not dial 39, the country code, when dialing another #; yet my phone is a world phone so I have all the country codes programmed and it takes the # that way also! Every city in Italy does have a city code you have to dial. In Rome, it's 06 in front of all #'s. Cell phones in Italy always start with a "3" - Hope that helps!
Ciao,
Ron