What is the cheapest way to call US from Thailand? I dont want to call from hotel, since Hotels generally rip you off. Did anyone rent rent cell phones in Thailand? What is the cost (approximately) to call US? Any suggestions? What about pre-paid calling cards? Do they make sense?

I use Skype for all my calls to the US. It's the cheapest way to do it.

Yahoo voice also works. We used it to call US from Lao.

Unfortunately, neither option will work..not planning on logging a laptop..and I dont have a skype phone. Gotta be another way

V,

1/. Get a local phone card.
2/. Use an alternative IDD access number like 005 or 007 for the cheapest rate.
3/. Click on link for some sample rate.

http://203.113.93.5/intercall/Englis...uct008_eng.htm

Hope this help.

H

Hanuman..thanks for the link..but I am confused, since I never used this type of service before...so here are some stupid questions: 1. Where can I buy the card? 2. Can I just call from my hotel phone by dialing whatever squence is required or I need to use a specially designated phone booth? It says you can use TOT fixed line phones, but I am not sure how one can tell which one is a TOT phone?... says only 5baht per minute...is this cheap?

international phonecards are sold at every 7/11 in Thailand and many other shops. Most phone booths in Thailand are operated by TOT and normally TOT is written outside. And there is 1 at virtually every corner.
But the cards are not much cheaper as dialling the 007 (or 005) and you have to scratch off and dial an endless row of numbers first.
IMO you cant use the cards or dial the cheaper numbers from your room at your hotel. But most hotels have public phones downstairs.
And 5 baht per minute is ok. To most European countries it is 7.5 baht per minute.

Wolf..let me get it straight, when I dial 008, etc using a TOT public booth phone, who gets billed? Is it a collect call like service..I was on the TOT website (really poorly done for English) and instructions are
"Press 008 + country code + city code / mobile phone code + destination number phone for this service" Who gets billed? I thought you still need the card for it.