Are you starting to get home sick?? Nothing better than a long conversation with family and friends at home when this happens. 

When I started traveling, there weren’t many options besides paying stratospheric values for a calling card or making a collect call via an operator. Unfortunately, monopoly leads to poor service and high prices. Nowadays, there are still these two options but also a few others brought by the blessed internet. I will mention here the one option I consider the cheapest and most suitable for backpackers and budget travelers to call back home. If you want to keep using your cellphone’s 3G network while abroad, the loss will be completely yours!! 

• Using Skype Credit

 

In my opinion, this is the best option to talk to anyone anywhere you are in the world. Therefore, this is the one I use most often. 

The only downside is that both speakers need have access to a computer with internet and Skype installed. You can also use a smartphone which accepts Skype. Once all this is done, just open a free profile on Skype and both people should add each other as contacts (you can search by username or email). Once everything is ready you can start talking as much as you want about you trips, gossips and so on, including being able to use video conferencing. Best of all…. it’s all for free!!

The program Skype can be downloaded for free here: https://www.skype.com 

Besides using Skype to call family or friends who also have Skype, I use this program to call landlines and cell phones anywhere in the world. The rates are very reasonable and it’s easy to use.

Once you have the program installed on your computer, use the function ACCOUNT and you can put money on the account with a credit card. Quite often, when I’m planning a trip I have to call some hostels and tours around the world to ask specific questions or request more information and I always end up using Skype for this process. It is extremely practical and you can use your account on any computer that has Skype installed just by logging in. It is also useful if you have to call your bank, doctor, etc. or anything while abroad. 

How much does it cost to make international calls using Skype?? 

How much you are going to pay using Skype will depend on which country you are calling to and if it is a landline or mobile. To see the rates you can check the link: https://www.skype.com/en/rates/

You can also subscribe to the country you call the most by paying a monthly fee so you can call landlines and mobile at lower prices or even unlimited , depending on your plan.

To check how much a subscription would be,  just use the link above and select the country you wish to call. 

For example, by paying US$ 6.99 per month you can make unlimited calls to any landline or mobile phone in the United States using your computer or smartphone with Skype on it. You can even cancel the plan at any time without penalties. 

Since my girlfriend lives in the United States and she is not always at home to use a computer with Skype, I subscribed for the United States unlimited plan so I could call her cell phone at any time.

It even works if you are not traveling and just want to save money on domestic calls. You can also think the other way around. If you’re traveling the world and want to constantly talk to family and friends at home, you can make the same plan. Or, you can even call unlimited to the whole world (US, UK, China and 60 other countries) for only US$13.99 per month!! 

That’s it, now there are no more excuses to not calling your Mom!! Stop letting everyone worry about you while you’re traveling!! 

What about you?? Do you have a better or cheaper idea to make calls while traveling?? Please write me if you still have any questions not clarified in the text so I can try to help you the best as I can.

 Happy travels!!

 

Planning your next trip?

Then don’t forget travel insurance! You don’t want to get stuck paying a ton of money and ruining your trip if you get sick or have an accident without travel insurance. Our page with The 3 Best and Cheapest Travel Insurance on the Market can help you choose the right plan and will give you some discount coupons for the biggest insurance companies!

 

 Already reserved your hotel or hostel? If not, our article with The 6 Best and Cheapest Websites to Find & Reserve Accommodation can help you out. You’ll also find some promotions and discount codes.

 

 Still haven’t booked your plane ticket and want to save big? Take a look at our page with 16 Tips to Save on Flights where you’ll also find the 4 best websites to buy your plane tickets. 

 

And finally, will you need to rent a car during your trip? Then surely our page with The 5 Best and Cheapest Websites to Compare and Rent Cars Around the World will help you choose the best rental car and find a good deal.