Pre-paid phone cards for calling USA from Italy

It’s really not necessary to purchase them prior to your trip, because they are sold everywhere in places such as hostels and tabacchi shops. Should you prefer to buy before you go, check out something like www.callingcards.com. Calling with a card is very inexpensive…2.5 cents per minute. Another option is to use your laptop and WiFi connection to call for free using Skype (voice over IP). Details are on the web.

Thank you!

If you're flying into FCO airport in Rome they have several international phone card kiosks there.
I would suggest getting one because I didn't and regret it... I sent text messages from my cell to keep contact with people in the US and I am scared to see the bill!
As well, the hotels we stayed in in Italy charged for the local phone use eventhough the calls I made were to my creditcard.

Michael, when we were in Rome last month, we happened to walk pass an internet office. Not a cafe, but a little room that probably had 6 to 8 computers where for 0.50 euros you can spend 15 minutes on internet. There you can purchase calling cards. For 5 Euros it gave us something like 245 minutes. They are everywhere, no need to purchase in US. You could also ask your hotel. In London, we could only find 20 pound cards, but our hotel had 5 euro cards.