Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Calling over the Internet
Some things that seem too good to be true...actually are true. If you're traveling with a
smartphone, tablet, or laptop, you can make free calls over the Internet to another wireless
device (or you can pay a few cents to make calls from your computer or smartphone to a
telephone). If both devices have cameras, you can even see each other while you chat. The
majorprovidersareSkype,GoogleTalk,and(onAppledevices)FaceTime.Youcangeton-
line at a Wi-Fi hotspot and use these apps to make calls without ringing up expensive roam-
ing charges (though call quality can be spotty on slow connections). You can make Inter-
net calls even if you're traveling without your own mobile device: Many European Internet
caféshaveSkype,aswellasmicrophonesandwebcams,ontheirterminals—justlogonand
chat away.
Landline Telephones
Just like Americans, these days most Europeans make the majority of their calls on mobile
phones. But you'll still encounter landlines in hotel rooms and at pay phones.
Hotel-Room Phones:
Calling from your hotel room can be great for local calls and
for international calls if you have an international phone card (described later). Otherwise,
hotel-room phones can be an almost criminal rip-off for long-distance or international calls.
Manyhotelschargeafeeforlocalandsometimeseven“toll-free” numbers—alwaysaskfor
the rates before you dial.
If you're sleeping in my recommended
sobe
(rooms in private homes) or apartments, be
aware that you're unlikely to have a telephone in your room.
Public Pay Phones:
Coin-opphonesarebecomingextinctinEurope.Tomakecallsfrom
public phones, you'll need a prepaid phone card, described next.
Telephone Cards
There are two types of phone cards: insertable (for pay phones) and international (cheap for
overseas calls and usable from any type of phone). A phone card works only in the country
where you bought it (your Slovenian phone card is worthless in Croatia), so if you have a
live card at the end of your trip, give it to another traveler to use—most cards expire three
to six months after the first use.
Insertable Phone Cards:
These cards are a convenient way to pay for calls from public
pay phones and can be purchased at newsstands and post offices. Simply insert the prepaid
card,waitforadialtone,andmakeyourcall.Thecostofyourcall,whetherlocalorinterna-
tional, is automatically deducted while you talk. Insertable phone cards are a good deal for
calling within Europe, but calling the US can be pricey (at least 50 cents/minute). Be aware
that with the prevalence of mobile phones, public phones are getting harder to find.
