Ireland-International Calling Card
 

Have read the posts regarding cell phones in Ireland. We are in Ireland for two weeks in September and have no future plans for European vacations. Just need something basic to call States occasionally and B&Bs. Would you suggest the calling card to be a good option? Are there public pay phones available in most locations in southwest Ireland? Or are we going to have a hard time locating one?

Calling card is a great, convenient, cheap way to call home. Go to any supermarket. Tabac store and buy $5/$10/$15 worth. There are automatic machines that will get you a ticket ("card") with instructions. Plenty of phones where this ticket works. We were never without sight of one when in a Southwest town/city.

Yes - a calling card is all you need.

And yes, there are pay phones all over. But w/ a calling card you are not limited to only using pay phones. You can us the access number and make your call from just about any phone - in your hotel, B&B or wherever.

I don't think you can use calling cards in just any phone....at least I could not use my calling card (Eireann (sp?) in any B&B's phones....?

I've used them on LOTS of non-pay phones in the UK and Ireland. A few times every trip.

They won't work w/ some phones but do work on most. It is a matter of dialing in all the access numbers instead of swiping the card. But it may depend on the type of card

I've used both the 'dial an access' number calling card and the Eircom card with the I/C chip embedded on the card (usable on Eircom phones). I prefer the latter!

They are available in several denominations (7-or-14 Euro) and you may find Eircom kiosks (i.e., pay phones) at Petrol stations and in towns & cities. Making a direct dialed call back to the US is very inexpensive; I believe local calls start at 20 Euro-cents.

You can buy either type at convenience stores

janis-- often there is no card to sweep (?)just a piece of thin paper that comes out the phone "card" machine. That is why I call it a ticket more than a card. The ticket has all the access numbers you need and can only be used on EirCom(sp?) phones (green logo; all over the place). This ticket was incredibly cheap; I bought $10 worth and lasted me a week calling a few minutes/day to check things back in the USA. The only drawback is that I could not use it in any other phone. Definitely the cheapest, most convenient way to call back home.