mjf_081007

This may seem like a naive question, but what is the most cost-effective way to make international calls from the US? The reason I ask is that my wife and I are going to Italy next month and the cheapest way to reserve tickets for the Uffizi/Academia museums is by phone. We are not able to dial long distance from our home phone because we do not pay for that service (we make all long distance calls from our cell phones because our plan includes free long distance within the US). Should I purchase a calling card to use to make international reservations? Thanks in advance for your help!

rkkwan

Yes, buy a "calling card". But you don't even need to leave your home to do it. One of the cheapest and largest "calling card" is Onesuite. You can sign on on their website, onesuite.com, with minimum purchase of $10.

rkkwan

Almost forgot. There's also free international long distance. You call some number in Iowa and then follow the instructions. Since you can call local LD for free on your cell phone, the call will only use your cellular minutes and nothing else.

There are several numbers I've seen, but here's one I wrote down: 712-858-8883. I have tried it, but took me several tries to complete a call to Hong Kong, and voice quality is mediocre at best. But if you want to save that $10, try this first.

hetismij

Have you considered Skype out? That enables you to phone any phone number using Skype.

ira

Hi M,

Dial 1016868 first. It will cost 10 cts/min, and will be charged to your phone bill.

dutyfree

I have used PINGO for many years and it is so easy to sign up for and use. I have used it to Korea,Italy, India(son just arrived there and its 7 cents a minute),France, Canada,Prague,etc. plus using it in the USA.
You sign up(listing as many phone numbers as you want to call from) and then all you have to do is call:1-888-967-4646 with the country access and number. It takes a minute and the clarity is wonderful!

jody

I use 10 10 987..it's 4 cents a minute to western europe, with a 53 cent connection fee. No need to sign up , no need to have long distance service on your land line.

greg

I email my hotel to make these reservations for me.

Toucan2

I also use 10 10 987. It just shows up on your phone bill, very easy and inexpensive.

repete

Vonage has free unlimited calling to much of Europe -- not worth it for your needs, but if you have a friend with it ...

Otherwise, a calling card is the best option. Skype isn't free to landlines or cellphones abroad ...

Beware some of those prefix numbers, there have been problems with some of them changing their rates without much notice and the costs soar dramatically.

Toucan2

I don't doubt that you have to watch the prefix numbers, but I can say that I've used 1010987 for over two years now for regular (nearly daily) calls to England, France, Spain and Australia with no problems. There is also a web site, so you can check what the rate is for where you want to call: www.1010987.com (I'm sure there are web sites for the others too, this is just the one I use).

I just checked Italy fees and it shows this: Rate
4¢ per minute
and 53¢ to connect