Does anyone know of a service that travelers in Ireland could pay for that would provide a voicemail box? We'll be on the move, and we'd like to give a number to friends and family back home where they could leave a message for us?

Also, which is the best phone card to get while in Ireland? What are the rates to call back to the USA? Thanks.

You could just buy an international phone card and use it to call and check your home vmail. I have a Sprint card that I can use in most contries. If you do this, buy the card at Sam's Club or Costco because you'll get a much better rate. You can also continue to buy more minutes as you use them up.

I would think you would want to set up a voicemail box with a US number. Otherwise, your friends and family will have to call international long distance to leave you a message. I believe AT&T and other US service providers will let you set up a voice mail box, I think you can do even set it up on your own home phone.

Also, if you don't have an e-mail address, get a free one on hotmail (go to msn.com and hit hotmail, it is very easy to do) and give it out to your friends. You can then check in via e-mail (go to cybercafe.com for a list of cybercafes in Ireland), much cheaper than calling back to the US. Some hotels in Ireland may offer free internet access.

Question about using Sam's phone card Ireland----can you use it to make local calls in Ireland (we have Sam's AT&T ) card? This would be cheaper than buying a phone card when we get there.

The last time I tried to call my work and home voice mail from Ireland, I couldn't get my password to work because the phone wasn't touchtone, so I gave up. It was a pushbutton phone, but couldn't give out enough of a tone to register on the voice mail system.

Lonely Planet promotes a phone card that allows people to send you free voice mail messages from the US to Europe. Read all about it at www.ekno.com. Note: I haven't used this card myself so I can't comment on how well it works.

Calling work while on vacation? Ugh!

Patf - I've never tried my card in Ireland. Here's the Sprint customer service # 1-888-203-2821. If you call and get any helpful info, please post it here.

You could always consider renting a Cell phone. Most come with free voicemail.
Try www.rentaphone-ireland.com

Many cybercafes also have phones for making international calls. They charge a very reasonable per minute amount just as they do for internet use. Many public libraries there offer internet access also.

By any chance, will you be renting a car on the trip?

If you rent from Avis, they provide a free message service. You call a toll free number in Europe and your family calls an 800 number in the US.

Avis will also assist with problems you might have unrelated to the rental (medical, hotel, etc) and provides people that can do translations in a pinch.

Keith