Reagrding outrageous charges for long distance phone calls --

I worked at a hotel in the 1970s. When someone make a LD call through the hotel, they were charged person-to-person rates(the most expensive), plus a surcharge that varied from 50% to 100%, depending on how we felt about the guest (not cool, I know, but that's the way it was).

Maybe things have changed and charges are more standardized, and the rates are generally cheapter now than then -- but the fact is that it is a money-maker for the hotel. I have seen a few hotels advertise that they add a 50% surcharge, so I imagine the other hotels do the same. The bottom line, NEVER place a call through the hotel. As mentioned before, get a phone card or even use your own home LD company (3rd party call) and you will still come out ahead.