Are you talking about calling TO Europe from HOME now? Or, calling HOME when you are IN Europe? Either way. Skype if you have a PC while traveling.

When DS1 lived in London, he used Skype through the PC and Internet. When DS2's girlfriend lived in Spain, she also used Skype (on a MAC) and he used it when he visited her.

Skype is free if both parties are using it through a PC or MAC and the Internet. They also have a pay-as-you-go option if calling land lines or cell phones.

When my DH and I travel, we have a cell phone that handles international calls.

Cameron

Here is a link that might be useful: Skype link

I'm talking about calls FROM the US to Italy, Switzerland, UK and Netherlands.

Thanks for Skype suggestion Cameron; I'd heard mixed reviews. Follow-up on that: which headset/microphone? Wonder how well it would work here over dial-up connection, and the phone line so bad that caller ID doesn't work. (I did mention I live in the sticks ;-) ? I'll check it out.

Still looking for the quick fix, other ideas?

Ana

I'm not sure whether this is what you want to use the phone for, but if you are wanting it to plan your trip to Europe you can most probably do it entirely over the Internet using mail. Most places to stay have websites (including many B&Bs in the UK), so you can basically inquire about accomodation availability and other stuff over mail. Of course, airlines and car hire companies all have online reservations, etc. I have planned many trips within Europe without ever picking up the phone at all - a lot cheaper that way.

If you still need the phone, a cell phone that can handle international calls is a handy tool, since you can take it with you as well when you actually travel. I'm not sure about the European vs American protocols being compatible, though, so be sure to clarify that very well before buying the equipment.

Hope this helps and BTW, if you wish to include Portugal in your Grand Tour, feel free ;-)

Eduarda

I wouldn't go with a calling card. They are just so much of a hassle. If your going out of the country, sign up with an international cell phone plan. I'm not talking about adding it to your regular cell phone bill and paying an arm and a leg.
Look into Rangeroamer. It's small cell phone company that specializes in international calls and texting. you can rent a phone from them and everything. and they have reasonalable prices. Heres the link if you wanna check it out.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rangeroamer

Hi Solana - In the planning stages of your trip, try to use email as much as possible. Most reputable lodgings have email, and monitor it closely. I know that it may be scary to give your CC over the internet, but again, the good, reliable hosts will have a bit-encrypted payment site. The reason to use a CC, and not send a check, is that if you do not receive the services you have paid for, the CC co. will/may/should reimburse you. Use Tripadvisor.com to check out recent reviews of the the guesthouse/hotel. Actually, most travel agents do this now. In the old days, as a TA, I used to charge a base cost of about $5 for the overseas calls, each. Email makes it much better, and cheaper. Even better, if you need to be somewhere specific, and the hotel you wanted to stay at is sold out, they can usually recommend somewhere that they would send overflow. Remember the time differences, if calling. Talk to the front desk/res person before 12 noon, your time, to get intelligent answers, cause after that you're either talking to the bar keep, or the cleaner.
What I use at home since I went from a Bell Land line to strictly Cell - http://www.cicicallingcard.com/ I know that the co. is based in Toronto, but I believe that they do plans out of the US. It has local phone numbers, or Toll-free numbers. While right now I am only calling within Ontario, it took forever to use up $10. In the old days, when I travelled lots, and had Ma Bell, I had a great plan that I could charge my calls from Europe onto my home phone bill, for the same cost as a call from my home, which was pretty cheap.

Good Luck, Ana. Hope you have a great trip - where are you planning to travel??

Nancy.

All good tips duckie92 & Nancy. I went to Switzerland and Italy with a stopover in Amsterdam in summer of 2008. No plans to travel soon any further than the computer store. Mine, sigh, died last month so I'm saving my pennies. (writing this from our town library)

Ana

Take care Ana - I hope that it was not a catastrophic change....

Nancy.