We will be in Portugal Jan. 14-Feb12 and are wondering if there is an economical method to call our children in Canada

Hi R,

Buy an international calling card.

Also, if you give your hotel phone numbers to your children, they can phone you easily with a $5 calling card. My family always phones me from Canada while I am on European trips, for pennies a minute. I buy phone cards and call them from phone booths or from Internet cafes that also have phone rooms.

Personal computers running the Skype application. Unlimited connection via the Internet for 2.1¢ per minute. With a WiFi-enabled laptop or Pocket PC, you can talk from anywhere in the world.

Just returned from Italy. Brought the laptop with my Skype In/Out plan and our usb phone. Worked fantastic when there was internet connection.

People called us on our local (U.S.) Skype In number. If the laptop wasn't on, our Skype voicemail picked it up. We could call out. It became a great contact point, as the wife's mother became hospitalized in the States and we could stay in touch easily.

Dave

It might be helpful to clarify whether or not there are any upfront or ongoing maintenance fees if you use Skype.

Also, are there any disadvantages or drawbacks whatsoever?