I don't call that often however since I started traveling more I bought an unlocked dual sim phone (Motorola EX115) and buy local sims if I'll be there more than a couple of days or really need to make phone calls. Texts I use my iPhone for since incoming are free and I cut way back on the number of texts I send out.

That said I don't buy data sims since I'm lucky enough to still have the unlimited international roaming so I take my iPhone with me and use that for data. Before that I'd buy international data packs. On the phone I turn call forwarding on so all incoming calls go directly to voicemail. Voicemail gets screwed up half the time I come back but a password reset fixes it.

I could set up a Skype in number and forward to the local sim, but I haven't bothered. I'm hoping that google voice will allow redirection to an international number at some point so I don't have to give out new numbers when I'm traveling.