Best ways to call from the US?

[matt1902]

Hey all

We are on vodafone and passport doesn't work in the US so it's an extortionate £1.50pm to call and £1pm to receive a call! We don't plan to do much calling from the US so can anyone recommend any tips?

Thanks

 

[wayneg]

We always have laptops with us so we can IM, email or video call but a couple of years ago someone sent me a phone card to use up as it was close to expiry and no trips planned. It had already been used but we still got about 1 hour of calls from it, it was $10 to buy. Really easy to use, just called the number on the card and then added UK number after it. Hopefull someone will post best place to buy them.

 

[Muse]

Hey all

We are on vodafone and passport doesn't work in the US so it's an extortionate £1.50pm to call and £1pm to receive a call! We don't plan to do much calling from the US so can anyone recommend any tips?

Thanks

I'm also on Vodafone - what a rip off. We are planning on buying a couple of PAYG phones from Walmart. Have seen ones for $10 on their website that are available in store.

 

[Hilary]

... a phone card to use up as it was close to expiry and no trips planned. It had already been used but we still got about 1 hour of calls from it, it was $10 to buy. Really easy to use, just called the number on the card and then added UK number after it. Hopefull someone will post best place to buy them.

We use these all the time when in the US. We buy the AT&T International Pre-Paid card, usually from Publix, (Walmart, Walgreen and the fuel station shops also have either these or similar versions) that costs $10 and gives something like 200 minutes calltime to the UK - brilliant value!

A couple of things to watch with these:

• some hotels will still charge a connection fee for the calls made from the phone in your room, even though you dial a free-phone number
• using the card from a call box deducts a set charge from the card before making the call (something like $1.50?)
• if you use an international card to call a US number it uses a lot more of your credit than calling the UK!

 

[DISWolves]

We use these all the time when in the US. We buy the AT&T International Pre-Paid card, usually from Publix, (Walmart, Walgreen and the fuel station shops also have either these or similar versions) that costs $10 and gives something like 200 minutes calltime to the UK - brilliant value!

A couple of things to watch with these:

• some hotels will still charge a connection fee for the calls made from the phone in your room, even though you dial a free-phone number
• using the card from a call box deducts a set charge from the card before making the call (something like $1.50?)
• if you use an international card to call a US number it uses a lot more of your credit than calling the UK!

Where do you make your calls from (to avoid call box $1.50 connection)
What is the cost for using your mobile to call the card number ?

 

[scottishgirl87]

Where do you make your calls from (to avoid call box $1.50 connection)
What is the cost for using your mobile to call the card number ?

Not 100% but I think you'd still be charged an international call rate from your mobile meaning it'd be just as expensive as phoning the number outright I've always just used from a payphone.

I also use the international cards and have done for a few years! As Wayne (I think) said you get about an hour of calls for about $10 so it's really good value for money! Just make sure you listen to the instructions carefully! I've used them a few times but the last time I didn't do it right (either you were to exclude the 0 or add it) and I didn't and wasted about half the cards on silence!

 

[mollies_mum]

When we stayed at a disney resort I bought an international phone card from the resort shop, not sure if this is the most economical way of doing things but it worked well for us, I was actually quite impressed with how long it lasted. I will be doing the same thing next October, we toyed with the idea of taking a laptop but Disney charge $9.95 for 24 hours usage which seems a lot more expensive that a phonecard. If you get free wifi where you are staying then that may be best

 

[rpbert1]

This year i bought a H2o universal sim, and used it in my own phone,cheap call to UK, was excellent, and used it for booking restaurants etc,and i have lent it to a few people who have topped it up,and keeps it active for a bit longer, so hopefully can keep it topped up for going next year, and will be able to keep the phone number, otherwise i need to re register it, and that means a new mobile number

 

[casinocolin]

You can purchase a phone card from this site www.zaptel.com before you go to florida they email you a number you have to phone and a pin number you use. For $10 you get 358 mins to a landline or 73 mins to a mobile. There is no connection fee or hidden extras we used this when we went in September so easy and cheap to use.