Most cost effective way of calling home from Europe?

[mamba20]

What are some of the ways you guys do it? My current cell company dosent offer international service and its expensive to get out of my contract. Just call from the hotel? Calling cards? etc, etc, etc.

 

[CA1900]

If you'll have access to high-speed internet, Skype and a Bluetooth headset make a great combination for me on the road.

 

[TheBaron]

I second that. Skype from anywhere except Dubai.

 

[chickenpilot]

Skype?

What is wrong with skype in Dubai

 

[skypine69]

do the dubai people not allow skype??

 

[mushroom]

I usually have been using Skype from all over the world, but I recently also just got a Bizon phone card online (you don't need the physical "card" in your hands) because the internet occasionally sucks in the places I go to. The rates to other places in the world from the U.S. are incredibly cheap, like 3 cents a minute to Russia for instance. I just got the card a few days ago and haven't had a chance to try it calling back to the U.S. from overseas, but I am leaving for Europe and Asia in a few days and I am going to try it out then.

You can find the card at http://www.bizon.us/ The site also has links to a ton of other cheap (I assume) cards which may be helpful for you.

--m

 

[dash8driver]

i have been using www.callingcards.com for a few years and i am pretty happy. you can do searches to find the cheapest cards for your situation, recharge them online, etc. really low rates like 2 or 3 cents a minute to just about every corner of the world.

 

[Kharma Police]

T-Mobile

 

[Thedude]

I second that. Skype from anywhere except Dubai.

Macs with skype work from DBX

 

[V-STALL]

Skype

 

[bigboeings]

Skype is blocked in Kuwait, but Yahoo messenger works fine.

 

[C-150ETOPS]

One option,

Buy GSM dual/tri/quad band phone off Ebay, the type that takes SIM cards.

Go to www.telestial.com or anywhere else to buy prepaid SIM card. Put into phone and call.

No contracts or fees, fill up card at leisure. 40 cents/minute call US. Incoming calls free, but have to call my Estonia number (go figure). I'll look into calling card above. I could have wifey call me back for 3 cents/min I guess.

First choice as mentioned is Skype. Other options are little internet cafes with phone booths. Dirt cheap, cost me a couple of coins.

Bluetooth phones with free Wifi spots sound like another great way.