Greetings All,

Here having an excellent stay at a Starwood Hotel in Sydney
I was interested in the throughts of the SPG community of Starwood hotels
that are charging 4.35 per minute for local mobile calls.
Oddly local calls seem very fair at 1 dollar for a flat rate
I had a single 4 or 5 minute local mobile call for a total of 18 dollars and decided that it was to excessive for my comfort level
Felt that one to two dollars per minute would be what I would be willing to pay.
I now have business calls and personal callers text or email me or call the hotel and ask for me

Is this a fair charge for mobile calls?
What have others done to manage their budget more effectively when using mobile numbers here or elsewhere abroad.
Considering renting a mobile phone or buying a unlocked phone while in other countries and paying a monthly/or prepaid rate if that is possible.My calling card seems to have difficulty reaching some mobile numbers and then there is still a fee to call out of approx 2 dollars from the hotel.I am happy to support the hotels when the cost is maybe double what I perecive something to be worth.

Example if a dress shirt is 5 dollars to press at home and ten or slightly more in a hotel
I accept paying that premium but not if that pressed shirt is 4x the cost or 20 dollars to press a shirt
Thanks for any feedback
Cheers