Intl Roaming Question: Please Don't Kill Thread :)
 

I know, I know, but many ask questions about travel-related issues! This can't be too out there! I have Verizon Wireless and I will have to rent a phone and then pay 1.50 a minute plus $750,000 in taxes and surcharges. Any suggestions as to economical alternatives, besides yodeling really loudly? I'm staying at STARWOOD HOTELS on POINTS, if this will keep the thread alive long enough to get assistance!!!!!! Thanks!

I'm sure this thread will be moved but I'm not a mod so I'll respond. Get yourself a cheap, used GSM (quad band) phone and then buy a prepaid SIM card in France. Sure, calling the USA will still be very expensive (maybe even $1.50 or so a minute) but incoming calls are free.

Alternatively, get a Skype account or a Vonage USB phone and pay for high speed at the hotels - free / cheap calls from your laptop.

Have you found the Travel Technology forum on FT? This is the kind of question that is bread and butter over there.

You can probably pick up a phone on eBay Germany or UK for $30. A prepaid PIN will be 10 Euro, and have 10 Euro value. Get this on eBay too.

In Europe, incoming calls are free, on almost all providers.

Another great service is www.jajah.com
They CONNECT the call via the internet, but then you dont need the internet anymore. Landline from Europe to any number in USA is about 3 cents per minute. Superb quality, much better than Skype.

Movil phone Europe to any number in USA is about 20 cents per minute, but still not nearly as bad as direct from movil to USA....

You can even have someone else connect the call for you, or set them up in advance, so that it automatically connect you to the person you want at a specific time...

Anyway, just a thought...

Thanks all, very helpful!

As previously mentioned, this doesn't really have anything to do with *wood so I'm going to move it to Travel Technology where you will receive many more answers. Thanks!

ldsant
*wood co-Moderator

Which countries are you planning to visit? Providing more details about your trip would help in determining what advice would be most applicable.

Bring a VOIP phone and call for free or cheaply via the internet, or use SKYPE.

Carry a cellphone but use it only as an emergency contact.

VOIP phone is the best bet if you're in a wireless area :) I use mine with my Vonage account, with 2 US (FL and CA) numbers and 1 UK (london) number, and I'm easy for everyone to reach :)