Just a brief note to warn other suckers that using the credit card phone Kiosk at Rome airport can be a ripoff. Two points. There is a 5 minute minumum at $5.99 per minute, and a $15 satellite charge. Second, when the first call does not go through, look out because they still charge you. $41.94 for 30 seonds!!

Thanks for the heads up, LG.

Which Rome airport - aren't there two?

Ouch, sorry to hear that you got taken so badly. Also beware of pay phones generally, and the long distance services whose ads are pasted on public phones.

The best deal in Italy is to buy a calling card (Europa is a good one) from a newsstand. Even with higher per-minute costs from a pay phone, you'd still have lots of time left over on a 5-E card.

This is true in almost every airport or payphone where they have those credit card offers. It really is a ripoff. Just remember that if you have given them a credit card number, you lose a great deal of control. With a calling card, you know you are only liable for a fixed amount.

Calling cards are cheapest, but you can also just use coins for long-distance calls, if you are stuck without a calling card. (I know not all European payphones accept coins, but some do.)