| As world travel becomes ever more accessible | | | | might not be the ideal place to make an |
| and affordable, more and more people are | | | | important call. If privacy is not a concern, |
| taking time away from the daily grind to | | | | however, internet cafes are increasingly |
| travel and explore the world. Email and the | | | | offering cheap international calls from a |
| ever-increasing availability of internet | | | | number of providers including voice over |
| access has made keeping in touch with loved | | | | internet protocol (VOiP) calls. |
| ones at home easier than ever, but sometimes | | | | |
| there is just no substitute for hearing a | | | | For those who cannot imagine being without |
| friendly voice. Even if you find the time to | | | | their mobile phone, be warned: making calls |
| email every day, you are likely to use a | | | | while roaming internationally can be costly! |
| telephone at least a few times on your | | | | A much better bet to avoid being charged |
| journey, and there are many choices available | | | | high rates is to either get a local SIM card |
| to those needing to phone home, with each | | | | or mobile phone once you are in the country. |
| offering a varying degree of advantages and | | | | Some countries sell phones with prepaid SIM |
| costs. | | | | cards relatively cheaply and you can usually |
| | | | add extra minutes on when you need them. |
| Reverse-charge calls, or collect calls are | | | | Services such as SkypeToGo which allow you to |
| one of the most expensive ways to phone long | | | | call international numbers from mobiles at |
| distance. Although free for the caller, the | | | | local rates, are especially useful for |
| receiver foots the bill and may not be | | | | travellers. These options are not available |
| altogether happy once the bill arrives. | | | | in all countries however, and remember, |
| Calls from abroad can be extortionate and | | | | people calling you from home will still need |
| let's face it; if you are not calling from a | | | | to pay international rates as well, unless |
| foreign jail, you can find a better way to | | | | they use a service such as SkypeIn - a number |
| reach your loved ones. | | | | that other people from abroad can use to call |
| | | | you cheaply. |
| Credit-card calls may seem like an easy and | | | | |
| simple way to call home, but these can be | | | | Phone-cards are still the cheapest option |
| riddled with hidden charges, especially if | | | | when travelling to most countries, but might |
| calling from a hotel. However, if swayed by | | | | not the most convenient. Instructions for |
| the ease of use of credit-card calls, make | | | | using phone-cards are often confusing so if |
| sure that you check the rates including any | | | | you purchase a phone-card, make sure it comes |
| additional charges before making a call. If | | | | with a helpline if you encounter |
| you set out on your trip anticipating making | | | | difficulties. Another issue with these cards |
| credit-card calls when calling home, be | | | | is that you will need to find a phone to use |
| warned that most pay phones abroad will only | | | | them and in a world where mobile phones are |
| have instructions in one or two languages, | | | | the standard, pay phones are disappearing. |
| and sometimes not at all on the phone itself, | | | | |
| which might prove difficult when you need to | | | | However, before you travel, be sure to |
| make a call! | | | | explore all the options available for the |
| | | | respective countries you visit and see what |
| Phone centres are not as popular as they once | | | | is available. But once there, if you get |
| were so don't count on finding one if you are | | | | stuck, ask the locals how they phone home - |
| travelling somewhere you have not been | | | | its bound to be a good bet. |
| before. They can also be quite noisy, so | | | | |