Calling home...

[Twilight Terror]

What are people's opinions on the cheapest way to do this?

I have a contract mobile that's tri-band and will cost approx £1.25 per minute, which 10mins will be £12.50. Now, should I stick with that, or buy what we used to buy at the Virgin Meetings - 10min call card. However, I can't remember how much it cost or the per minute call rate. So is it better to use the mobile (which won't and can't run out of credit) or do I go for the calling card? Or perhaps there's another way I haven't thought of that someone could suggest?

 

[Goofyish]

We always use a phone card to call home. You can get them from supermarkets in the US, but we buy the Lunn Poly ones before we go. They cost £10 and one card usually lasts us for two weeks depending on how many times we ring home - certainly enough to check on loved ones and pets etc.

Using a mobile can be VERY expensive! Remember if someone calls you on your mobile whilst abroad yoy also get charged.

You could check with your phone network and see if they do any specials deals for called from the US.

 

[Deedee]

We also use a phone card. We were in Majorca last week so i used my mobile the one time my DM phoned me and it charged ME £2 as well as my mom i had to top up 3 times in a week i spent £50 in a week so no i won't be using my mobile in Florida!!!

 

[Queenie]

If you happen to be flying out with TCD, we have been given a free £5 phone card the last few times. Doesn't last very long but certainly long enough to check up on family. Ours came with the plane tickets etc.

 

[Twilight Terror]

We always use a phone card to call home. You can get them from supermarkets in the US, but we buy the Lunn Poly ones before we go. They cost £10 and one card usually lasts us for two weeks depending on how many times we ring home - certainly enough to check on loved ones and pets etc.

Using a mobile can be VERY expensive! Remember if someone calls you on your mobile whilst abroad yoy also get charged.

You could check with your phone network and see if they do any specials deals for called from the US.

Yes, I know about the receiving calls costs; they're not cheap either! We're arranging it that if anyone wants to contact us, or wants us to call them, that they text us first, and then we will be the ones to call them. So there will never be a UK to US call, only ever US to UK. At least with the text thing there's still a two-way connection, it's just a much cheaper option.

I guess really it's knowing how much the call cards are and how long they last really and then comparing it, and weighing up the fact that we might not always be near a payphone, but mobile we will always have. You see, we will be calling the UK at least once a day, prob twice, if not more. Calls will be short, but they will be very frequent, which is why I'm tempted by the mobile! Although perhaps we can use the cards and then only the mobile as a last resort/emergency/no payphones around.

Queenie: That's cool, but we're flying Virgin.

 

[Goofyish]

We found txt messages a bit hit and miss. We txts to a UK mobile and a US one and some txts took over a day to arrive!!

Some phone cards allow you to top them up with a credit card.

In the parks there are usualy pay phones close to the restrooms, so you are never far from a phone

Also, try not to use your hotel room phone, some don't like phone card calls.

 

[Twilight Terror]

I'd use my mobile over using the hotel phone. At least I know exactly what I'm getting charged, plus we only ever use the call cards via a payphone.

Are txts really that hit and miss? Hum, maybe we will have to rethink that one then. At least I know my mobile can be reached at any time in an emergency. *goes to put thinking cap back on*

 

[florida sun]

Def use a phone card, as Tim said we had 3 texts last year from my mum with some news and they arrived 3 days after she sent them, I buy a travel phone card from the post office for £10 and used that, we did run out but only towards the end of the holiday. I have bought phone cards over there from the machines located near the payphones in the hotels and they also have suited us well and they let you know how many minuets you have left at the beginning of each call.

 

[angelbaby29871]

also just a quick tip before leaving the UK turn off your voice mail so no-one can leave a message as it will cost a fortune to pick them up. i always do this and if anyone wants me they text to say call them and i just use a phone card, its cheaper. From mobile to mobile in the US it can get pricey as well if your party plan on splitting up, a prearranged meeting point and time might be better.

 

[Twilight Terror]

also just a quick tip before leaving the UK turn off your voice mail so no-one can leave a message as it will cost a fortune to pick them up. i always do this and if anyone wants me they text to say call them and i just use a phone card, its cheaper. From mobile to mobile in the US it can get pricey as well if your party plan on splitting up, a prearranged meeting point and time might be better.

oh good tip, I hadn't thought about that. Will have the read the instruction manual for that though! We won't be calling each other IN the US, only back home very regularly. Okay, well I think I'm going to get my phone unlocked to use abroad anyway, and then I've at least got a back up emergency in case of, well, an emergency! Meanwhile, I shall grab loads of phone cards!

 

[jen_uk]

I give my mum the hotel number and she calls me!! Its far cheaper for her to call me than vice versa so that makes more sense for us.

 

[jna]

I've still got one of those BT Chargecards. Used to use it on the continent before mobiles became the norm.

As you know, this works by kind of reverse charging your home number.

I wonder if it would work in the USA?

 

[Boo Boo Too]

You may want to look into a pre-paid calling card like AT&Ts (you should be able to buy them at supermarkets etc) - http://www.consumer.att.com/prepaidcard/

Am not sure about the rates, but they allow you to make phone calls from ANY phone (including hotel phones, villa phones and pay phones etc) by entering your card number and pin. This is more convenient that having to find a pay phone every time you want to call AND a LOT cheaper than hotel phone rates (which can be frightening).

We generally don't phone home, but use email instead (husband takes his laptop) and send mobile texts.

Boo

 

[michellejed]

We get ours at Family Dollar stores, international cards, they are $10 and it adds up to 6 cents per minute.
You can get them at other stores too like wal mart but make sure they say international, some clerks will tell you they all are and you just have to read the fine print.

 

[Merylj]

For the past few years we have used www.click4prepaid.com.
The first time we paid $35 and we had over 600mins calling time back to the UK - very useful as DD can spend up to an hour chatting to her BF!
We still have the same account I just add $10 or so when ever we plan to visit again.