I just got my May issue of Consumer Reports. On page 11, they have a short comparison of calling home using different plans (prepaid calling card, regular calling card, Cell phone, E-mail). Lists Pros and Cons and recaps much of what has been said here. Good resource.<BR><BR>Only comment I would make on their article is they say cost of call from France on pre-paid AT&T card is 99 cents/minute. That must be the regular cards -- the Sam's Club AT&T card gives 66 minutes from France to US on the $21 card so that's less than a third the cost quoted by CR.

Thanks Diana. By any chance did it give an approximate per unit cost of one of those prepaid cards that are sold in France? I have used them, they work really well. I was just wondering how to figure how long I would be able to talk on one.

Did it mention Nextel? Thanks.

One thing that no one ever seems to mention is the idea of simply picking up your hotel phone and dialing direct. I know that if you are staying in a big "American" type hotel in Europe like a Marriot or Hilton, you will probably get racked.<BR>But at many small hotels they have a special rate for international calling themselves and simply charge you what it costs them. I don't call home often, but on the few occassions I have, I have resorted to this, and usually am pleased to see only a dollar or two charge when I check out for the phone call. The international calling cards and the direct dial systems invariably have cost me more.

Sorry, the article in Consumer Reports did not go into complete comparison of all the different companies and their rates. They used one or two as examples within each category. Also, they did not talk about the pre-paid cards purchased overseas except to list them as a source. This was a general overview article which took only a half page.

Thanks again, Diana

Thakns Diana. I want to note, as Patrick said, that I was very surprised by the low cost of the direct dial calls made from my room last year in Nice. I had a calling card (bought in France) but my roomate did not. She called home several times from Beaulieu where we were staying. We decided to settle the cost when we checked out. Well, it was so little, <BR>You are correct Patrick, I bet those calls actually cost less than the calling card I had purchased.<BR>But in ITaly, we have an apartment with no phone, so we will have to resort to some kind of card.