International Calling

[flyingcat2003]

My 16 year old son will be travelling to Italy next year with his school. I want to be able to talk to him at least once a day. What do you recommend, upgrading our wirelss service (verizon) for international calling for a month, prepaid phone with sim card, or what? I am really confused. TIA

 

[dex08]

Will he have a computer and internet connectivity? If so, then sign up for Skype!

 

[dfchelbay]

My 16 year old son will be travelling to Italy next year with his school. I want to be able to talk to him at least once a day. What do you recommend, upgrading our wirelss service (verizon) for international calling for a month, prepaid phone with sim card, or what? I am really confused. TIA

We don't have Verizon phones, but I can tell you that not all phones are international capable. Just because it can make an international call while on USA soil, does not mean it can make or receive calls while in another country. So, check that aspect first. Don't forget that you can always use skype for free to contact one another. All you need is a computer and internet on both ends of the conversation. I would probably click on the verizon website and read everything about travel abroad with cell phone coverage. That will give you a little more information. Also, call and speak with verizon to make sure that your child's phone is capable. You may need to switch phones with each other if yours is better and able for international trave, or get a new/capable phone for him.

We had to do this for 2 years when our DS was at University in Europe, and it can get expensive. Good luck.

 

[eliza61]

My 16 year old son will be travelling to Italy next year with his school. I want to be able to talk to him at least once a day. What do you recommend, upgrading our wirelss service (verizon) for international calling for a month, prepaid phone with sim card, or what? I am really confused. TIA

The problem with that is, and I've been investigating for a trip to France next month is that Verizon will make you sign up for a package complete with a 1 year contract. So basically you can't just upgrade for the month and then your stuck paying for some thing your not using.

You can rent a phone through verizon for international calls. Here's the link from Rick steves explaining.

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/mobilephones.htm

 

[mrspopeye]

We just got back from Italy. I think prepaid cards are the way to go. I will tell you what NOT to do. Never put a credit or debit card in an overseas payphone. I was so easy-slip the card in, get English instructions and the call goes right through, except each 5-10 min call was $40-80 each! Learn from my mistakes!! About every other pay phone in Italy works. I had the best luck with the prepaid cards getting the person and the hotel desk to dial the toll free number for me and then I put in the access number on the card and then dialed the number, rather than pay phones.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

What do you recommend, upgrading our wirelss service (verizon) for international calling for a month, prepaid phone with sim card, or what? I am really confused. TIA

Most Verizon phones owned by US users won't work in Europe. See the Rick Steven's link in the previous post.

Why not contact him using Skype (if he brings a laptop) or via email? Are you really sure he will want Mom and Dad calling him every day?

 

[Hannathy]

Are you really sure he will want Mom and Dad calling him every day?

That is what I was thinking!

When my DD went to Italy with her orchestra what we did was looked at her itinerary and picked a hotel/stop that looked like they would be back at the room one late evening and called the hotel and asked for her room. We almost didn't call but she hadn't used her money card at all and I was worried she had lost it or there was a problem. the kids really didn't want the parents calling and it was good for them to be on their own.

 

[dakcp2001]

Do you have a home phone? Call your phone company and add an international calling plan BEFORE you call. They can tell you how much per minute to call him and you only need to keep the plan on your phone while you need it.

I currently pay $4.00 a month on my home phone for international plan and every country has a different per minute rate. I pay .08 a minute to call the UK.

I have no knowledge of what the cell costs, I didnt want to worry about spotty reception so I prefer landline to landline. Is their a hotel phone you can call him on?

 

[starry_solo]

Prepaid phone card. I usually use the one from AT&T (and it doesn't have to say that it's for international use) that I get at Target, which usually has them on sale once a month. You can get a $30 card for $15-20.

Then go here:
http://www.consumer.att.com/prepaidcard/fy/htw.html

http://www.usa.att.com/traveler/index.jsp

http://www.usa.att.com/traveler/acc...Index_Page.x=19&&lid=Go_Button_Index_Page.y=7

Detailed Dialing Instructions for Italy
Your access number for calling from Italy:

800-172-444

Tips for making calls in Italy

* Pay phones may require coin or card deposit.
* Includes Vatican City

Just follow these easy steps when placing a call from Italy:

If you are paying with an AT&T PREPAID PHONE CARD (not a billed calling card):

1. Dial the AT&T access number provided above.
2. An English-language voice prompt will ask you for the telephone number you are calling.

* Dial the toll-free number on the back of your AT&T PrePaid Phone Card.
* When prompted, dial the AT&T PrePaid Phone Card PIN or Account Number.

3. For calls to the U.S., Canada or the Caribbean, press 1 and follow the prompts.

* Dial the U.S. area code and 7-digit number you are calling. For calls to other countries, press 2 and follow the prompts.

* Dial the country code, city code, and local number you are calling;

Note: drop any leading zeros from country or city codes: e.g., if the code is 012, only enter 12.
4. To place another call, do not hang up, press # and follow the prompts.


VERY easy! I've used AT&T phone cards several times when traveling overseas.

 

[lpereira]

Vonage has a flat rate for fourteen a, month. Your son can email you the name of his hotel or hostel. Also tmobile has a flat international rate for $25 a month.

 

[DisneyBill]

What's wrong with Magijack on both ends as long as there is a high speed internet connection both ways? Or just from home if you're always going to call.

 

[windycitymom]

Skype is FREE and easy to use as long as you both have computers with cameras built in (or you can add-on a small camera especially made for computers). This way you can not only hear him, but SEE him!!

 

[lpereira]

It's only a month so a magic jack would be outrageous in price. Laptop would get stolen in a skint minute. The vonage would be the cheapest at 14 a month.
But then i was thinking why do you want to talk to him every day. Id probably just leave him be. He can email you during that month. Get him some calling cards and let him decide if he wants to talk to you.

 

[sjaakie]

My 16 year old son will be travelling to Italy next year with his school. I want to be able to talk to him at least once a day. What do you recommend, upgrading our wirelss service (verizon) for international calling for a month, prepaid phone with sim card, or what? I am really confused. TIA

I would just use his own phone. Try to buy a DUAL band phone. That is the frequency you need for Europe.
We use our phones in the US to call Europe every day for almost a month. Calling my son,mother and sister and the cost is around 300 Dollar and I really talk long.
Skype could work but remember you will not be able to use it when you like because you will have to wain until he is in his room and even than it will be mostly in the middle of the night in Europe.

For I month I would not bother whit plans and pre pay cards. Just buy a cheap and unlocked Dual band phone.

Maybe this link will help you.http://thetravelinsider.info/roadwarriorcontent/quadbandphones.htm

 

[flyingcat2003]

Thanks for the suggestions. Since he will only be 16, I will want him to check in with us once a day. Also, the school will not allow him to bring his laptop and I don't think a computer will be readily accessible. We do not have a home phone and I like the idea of him having a phone on his person at all times. Why does it have to be so complicated?

 

[JB2K]

We don't have Verizon phones, but I can tell you that not all phones are international capable. Just because it can make an international call while on USA soil, does not mean it can make or receive calls while in another country. So, check that aspect first.

Verizon (and Sprint) phones are very, very limited in where they can be used outside of the U.S./Canada -- South Korea comes to mind.

Best advice is to have the youngster purchase a local (in Italy) prepaid phone that is capable of making international calls -- much cheaper on both wallets!