Least costly way to call the US from Italy?

[MrsBlovesDisney]

Moderators....sorry if this is in the wrong area....wasn't sure where to put it....


In 2 weeks we will be staying at the BLT!! At the same time, DD16 will be traveling to both Italy and Greece!! Oh how we will miss her ...but what an opportunity of a lifetime for her!!

We are trying to figure out the least expensive way to communicate while she is abroad and we are in WDW. Not sure if we should use cell phones (we have Verizon). Or would it be cheaper to use a calling card and use land lines?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

Will she have a laptop or use of a computer while there? Skype is an excellent way to keep in contact through the computer with no fees. If you both have webcams you'll be able to chat and see each other online

We just moved to Australia for DH's job and we have been using Skype to call back to the US. It really works great.

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

I second Skyping... even if she is the only one with a computer, as long as she has a microphone in it and internet access .. she can call your cell phone or land line for about .02 minute. You deposit money into her skype account and the charges are deducted as she uses them. That's what I used when I went to China... works perfectly!!!

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

I actually Skype with neighbors and friends! LOL!! We will be taking our laptop to WDW so we can follow her trip online. We had discussed Skyping, but I don't think she should be taking her laptop abroad (just another thing for her to worry about). But maybe we should rethink that idea. Is it possible to Skype from a cell phone? She will have her Iphone with her. Verizon mentioned something about renting a global cell phone just for her trip. Anyone ever heard of that?? I think I'll ask if anyone else on the trip is planning on bringing their laptop!
Thanks everyone!!

 

[defendthehill]

Don't know the details of your daughter's trip...but if she is going computerless and can't Skype you then I would suggest buying an international calling card when she gets to Italy. I have been to Europe 12 times and the cheapest way to call home without Skype is still the old fashioned calling card. They are readily available in shops.....and they are simple to use. Just ask the clerk for a card that can call the USA.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

She can use Skype on her Iphone if she has a WiFi connection. That is how I use mine sometimes.

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

Thanks all!!

 

[dis-happy]

My friend's dd is doing study abroad in Italy right now and they Skype every day. GL!!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

DD is actually en route to Paris right now on a school trip. She doesn't have a laptop with her, and her phone is not capable of Skype so we just called our carrier (ATT) and went with their World Traveler plan which is a flat fee of $5.99/mo and .99 a minute for calls. I know it's not the greatest deal ever, but we wanted her to have a working phone to use in an emergency. I told her to give me a quick call to let me know she's arrived safely and then we probably won't talk again until she's at the half-way point.

I'm also going to try and use Skype on my laptop to call the hotel and have it transferred to her room as I feel that will be much cheaper for me to call her at a designated time than to have her initiate the call with her cell phone.

Best of luck finding what works best for your family -- hope she has an awesome time!!!

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

DD is actually en route to Paris right now on a school trip. She doesn't have a laptop with her, and her phone is not capable of Skype so we just called our carrier (ATT) and went with their World Traveler plan which is a flat fee of $5.99/mo and .99 a minute for calls. I know it's not the greatest deal ever, but we wanted her to have a working phone to use in an emergency. I told her to give me a quick call to let me know she's arrived safely and then we probably won't talk again until she's at the half-way point.

I'm also going to try and use Skype on my laptop to call the hotel and have it transferred to her room as I feel that will be much cheaper for me to call her at a designated time than to have her initiate the call with her cell phone.

Best of luck finding what works best for your family -- hope she has an awesome time!!!

Thanks for the info!! That's probably what we'll end up doing.....(but using Verizon's plan)! Hoping she will have such a great time that she won't have any time to call!! Hope ur doing well while ur DD is so far away!!

 

[starry_solo]

Thanks for the info!! That's probably what we'll end up doing.....(but using Verizon's plan)! Hoping she will have such a great time that she won't have any time to call!! Hope ur doing well while ur DD is so far away!!

Have you made sure with Verizon that you can do that? Europe has different bandwiths and Verizon phones (even the iPhone) cannot be used in Europe.

I read this on the net: "Verizon uses CDMA technology instead of GSM. CDMA phones won't work in all parts of Europe or Asia, which are predominantly served by GSM."

But, if you meant "using Verizon's plan" which was to rent an international phone, that's a good idea.

 

[vsimeone]

Have you made sure with Verizon that you can do that? Europe has different bandwiths and Verizon phones (even the iPhone) cannot be used in Europe.

I read this on the net: "Verizon uses CDMA technology instead of GSM. CDMA phones won't work in all parts of Europe or Asia, which are predominantly served by GSM."

But, if you meant "using Verizon's plan" which was to rent an international phone, that's a good idea.

It depends on the Verizon phone. I have a Droid Global with Verizon that has a dual GSM/CDMA sim. I'm not sure what the iPhone uses (I know it's GSM on ATT but I don't know if it's dual on Verizon).

I hope she has a wonderful trip!

 

[dis-happy]

Thanks for the info!! That's probably what we'll end up doing.....(but using Verizon's plan)! Hoping she will have such a great time that she won't have any time to call!! Hope ur doing well while ur DD is so far away!!

Talk to your Verizon agent. When my dd went to Ecquador last summer I looked into cell coverage for her. Verizon has some sort of deal where they send you/rent you a phone that will work internationally and it was all pretty reasonable (pay up front for the phone rental but the price per minute was less) . In the end we didn't go that route...she just gave us updates a couple of times via internet cafe.

 

[Mrsdennison]

Be careful with the renting of a Verizon phone. My mother in law did that with Verizon. She bought the phone that was suppose to work world wide including Africa were she was going. Needless to say it did not work all the time. She managed to email verizon and their response was to bring the phone into the nearest store. UMM... hard to do from a remote African village.

Mrsdennison

 

[simonsmom]

when my teenage son was in Italy he used skype on his ipod to call us. you can't see each other but you can talk. he downloaded an app about 2-3 weeks ahead,signed up for skyoe, and they actually gave us 30 days of free international calls. worked out perfect!

 

[rock_doctor]

Just tell her to get a couple calling cards as soon as she gets there and tell her to call your cell phone number when you are in WDW. Internet connections are few and far between outside the US unless you want to pay for it...and even then you specifically have to seek them out. And if she is on a trip the leaders may not want to take the time to do so. I travel a lot and calling cards are the cheapest way to go. In an emergency i can call home with my Sprint phone but it would cost a couple dollars per minute. If she needs to be able to call locally then she should get a SIM card there in Italy and use it in her ATT phone but it is for local calls only. She must get a SIM that is the same provisions as she has now. For example, if she has data and calling now then the temp must also have those or they will charge her extra and she will not realize it until it is too late. Good luck, she will love Italy. Have been many times and just loved it.