Cheap International Calling Cards for all Calls From OUTSIDE the USA
Are you or your family members traveling overseas or even planning a long-term stay? If you do so, you should consider the costs of "keeping in touch" as part of your overall budget. Before you spend way too much money on expensive collect-calls, overpriced hotel phone services, unreliable local phone cards or relying solely on AT&T's or MCI's international calling cards and internet cafes for communication, we have two great cheap calling card alternatives for you along with some recommendations.
Tips Before You Travel
Some calls don't
cost you anything! For instance, airline, credit card or insurance
companies or even travelers
checks issuers often operate local toll-free service numbers in several
countries around the world or at least
offer a cheaper way to route your call back home. Prepare a checklist
containing the companies you may need to contact and check for local
numbers before departure. If you need internet access overseas and want
to bring your laptop, you may also want a
reasonably
priced global internet service provider.
What to Look for in a Cheap International Calling Card:
Multiple access numbers worldwide - You must have a reliable travel companion that works from several locations around the globe with simple, easy-to-understand direct-dialing procedures and voice prompts.
Low International Rates - This should be the primary focus of any budget calling solution.
No or Low Monthly Fees, Setup Fees, Maintenance Costs or Expiration Dates - Your ideal travel card will charge only for the calls you make and then "sleep" in your drawer until your next vacation without incurring costs, penalties, hidden fees for dormant accounts or risking expiration.
Quick Setup and Delivery - You want a card that is flexible and set up as quickly as possible.
Fraud Protection, Customer Service and Webbased Account Management - You need to be able to set up and change credit limits, order additional cards in real-time and have the possibility to speak to a customer service if necessary. You should also be able to track your usage on-the-go and see how much you've already spent before your bill arrives.