Hi Solana - In the planning stages of your trip, try to use email as much as possible. Most reputable lodgings have email, and monitor it closely. I know that it may be scary to give your CC over the internet, but again, the good, reliable hosts will have a bit-encrypted payment site. The reason to use a CC, and not send a check, is that if you do not receive the services you have paid for, the CC co. will/may/should reimburse you. Use Tripadvisor.com to check out recent reviews of the the guesthouse/hotel. Actually, most travel agents do this now. In the old days, as a TA, I used to charge a base cost of about $5 for the overseas calls, each. Email makes it much better, and cheaper. Even better, if you need to be somewhere specific, and the hotel you wanted to stay at is sold out, they can usually recommend somewhere that they would send overflow. Remember the time differences, if calling. Talk to the front desk/res person before 12 noon, your time, to get intelligent answers, cause after that you're either talking to the bar keep, or the cleaner. What I use at home since I went from a Bell Land line to strictly Cell - http://www.cicicallingcard.com/ I know that the co. is based in Toronto, but I believe that they do plans out of the US. It has local phone numbers, or Toll-free numbers. While right now I am only calling within Ontario, it took forever to use up $10. In the old days, when I travelled lots, and had Ma Bell, I had a great plan that I could charge my calls from Europe onto my home phone bill, for the same cost as a call from my home, which was pretty cheap. Good Luck, Ana. Hope you have a great trip - where are you planning to travel?? Nancy.

Instead of the big companies like Verizon and T Mobile we were advised to look into the smaller companies who specialize in international cell phones. I looked into cell hire and Mobal (www.MobalRental.com) and my favourite was Mobal becuase you buy the phone for $49 and you just keep it for life. You only pay for what you use and there's no monthly charge so it's easy. Although call rates are a little high for some countries, I don't mind paying exstra for the convenience. Cheers, John H Here's the link to Mobal: Mobal International Cell Phones Link to Cell Hire: www.cellhir.com Here is a link that might be useful: International Cell Phone

Thank you so much for all your ideas and suggestions! After some research DH and I settled on an Eddie Bauer gift card. Eddie Bauer honors its cards both in the U.S. and Canada, regardless of where the card was purchased. The brand definitely fits the young couple's active, outdoorsy style. Eddie Bauer also sells luggage and outdoor gear which is a big plus. Need I add that my friend and her man chose to have an outdoor BBQ wedding in a nature park? Casual dress - T-shirts, shorts and sandals are fine. Besides, I liked the message on the gift card!

I pick up a SIM card and replace the one in my phone with the SIM, which is local to the country. I can't receive calls on my U.S. number, which doesn't bother me because I can be reached by email or Skype.