Phoning Home from Europe

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• Call from a public telephone unless you're certain that your hotel won't add a surcharge.

• Use a calling card (a.k.a. "phone card") and dial direct. European calling cards are easiest to use, since they're usually "smart cards" that eliminate the need to dial a long prefix or toll-free number manually when inserted into the card slot of a public phone. In most countries, you'll find calling cards for sale at post offices, tobacconists, newsstands, supermarkets, and souvenir shops.  (Some phones also allow the use of credit cards.)

• If you call often, or if you insist on using the phone in your hotel, a callback service can save you money. For more information, see page 2.

How to place an international call

To dial a number outside the country you're in, you need to know three things:

IDD. The international direct-dial (IDD) prefix, which connects you to an overseas line. In Europe, the IDD prefix is usually 00, although the situation is more complicated in a few countries such as France and Finland.

Country code. This number tells the phone company which country you're trying to reach--e.g., 1 for the United States and Canada or 44 for the United Kingdom.

Area code and phone number, such as (555) 555-5555 in the U.S. or Canada.

Here's how you'd dial the above number from most European countries, after inserting your calling card in a public phone:

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