Which is the best way to phone home from Italy? I do not have to conduct business- just a mom of adult children who wants to check in each day to make sure all is OK. We will be staying in apartments so I am not so sure of phone availability.

1) Buy an international calling card in Us? Which one?

2.) Buy an international calling card in Italy? Which one?

3.) Buy or rent a cell phone? Which one?

I would buy a duel band cell phone from here and then buy an international card when I am in Italy and use it to phone home (this is what I do). It would enable your children to call you too, you will have your own phone number.

I bought my phone from a web site that was recommended here on Fodors for around 100$.

I would buy an international phone card. It's called SCHEDA (or CARTA)TELEFONICA PREPAGATA INTERNAZIONALE. You dial a toll free number from ANY phone in Italy (even from your hotel) (it's written behind the card), then you dial your international card serial number and then the number in the US that you wish to call.

The italian Telecom has introduced an international calling card called TIME You pay 4 euro cents per minute for calls from Italy to the US. Cards cost 5/10 or 25 euros. If you are in Rome, Termini Station has got a Telecom point, where you can find these cards, but you can also aske at the newsagents and tobacconists. Here is an image of this kind of card:
http://www.187.it/cgi-bin/di_187/di/...peId=536888874

I absolutely agree with Batuffolina. They're very easy to find almost anywhere. This is by far the cheapest and always seems to work without problems.

Also in agreement with Batuffolina. The international cards are widely available in Italy and are by far the least expensive option. I bought the MCI card at Costco. Several people in the small group I was traveling with opted for buying the international cards in Italy; they got LOTS more minutes for LOTS less $$ than I, and the cards were easy to use.

boo hoo, no one agrees with me?!

She can use the same card with her own cell phone with my idea. Or maybe I just like the idea because that is what I do.

There, there, SU, please don't cry. We just want Millie to have all the possible options to explore

We just got back from Italy and Greece and purchased phone cards in those countries. You can buy them at post offices or lots of other places- and they're a much better deal than buying them in the US.

Also emailing from internet cafes would be a good way to keep in touch yet keep costs down. Not the same as a telephone call I realize, but maybe for some of the days? Open a Hotmail account for this, works great.