When Email Just Won't Do - Phoning Home From Abroad
By Andrew Regan
As world becomes ever more accessible and affordable, more and more people are taking time away from the daily grind to and explore the world. Email and the ever-increasing availability of internet access has made keeping in touch with loved ones at home easier than ever, but sometimes there is just no substitute for hearing a friendly voice. Even if you find the time to email every day, you are likely to use a telephone at least a few times on your journey, and there are many choices available to those needing to phone home, with each offering a varying degree of advantages and costs.
Reverse-charge calls, or collect calls are one of the most expensive ways to phone long distance. Although free for the caller, the receiver foots the bill and may not be altogether happy once the bill arrives. Calls from abroad can be extortionate and let's face it; if you are not calling from a foreign jail, you can find a better way to reach your loved ones.
Credit-card calls may seem like an easy and simple way to call home, but these can be riddled with hidden charges, especially if calling from a hotel. However, if swayed by the ease of use of credit-card calls, make sure that you check the rates including any additional charges before making a call. If you set out on your trip anticipating making credit-card calls when calling home, be warned that most pay phones abroad will only have instructions in one or two languages, and sometimes not at all on the phone itself, which might prove difficult when you need to make a call!
Phone centres are not as popular as they once were so don’t count on finding one if you are travelling somewhere you have not been before. They can also be quite noisy, so might not be the ideal place to make an important call. If privacy is not a concern, however, internet cafes are increasingly offering
cheap international calls from a number of providers including voice over internet protocol (VOiP) calls.
For those who cannot imagine being without their mobile phone, be warned: making calls while roaming internationally can be costly! A much better bet to avoid being charged high rates is to either get a local SIM card or mobile phone once you are in the country. Some countries sell phones with prepaid SIM cards relatively cheaply and you can usually add extra minutes on when you need them. Services such as SkypeToGo which allow you to call international numbers from mobiles at local rates, are especially useful for travellers. These options are not available in all countries however, and remember, people calling you from home will still need to pay international rates as well, unless they
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use a service such as SkypeIn - a number that other people from abroad can use to call you cheaply.
Phone-cards are still the cheapest option when travelling to most countries, but might not the most convenient. Instructions for using phone-cards are often confusing so if you purchase a phone-card, make sure it comes with a helpline if you encounter difficulties. Another issue with these cards is that you will need to find a phone to use them and in a world where mobile phones are the standard, pay phones are disappearing.
However, before you travel, be sure to explore all the options available for the respective countries you visit and see what is available. But once there, if you get stuck, ask the locals how they phone home - its bound to be a good bet.
Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.
