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When traveling it is easy to get off budget when it comes to entertainment, meals and souvenirs. What is usually not expected is to pay a fortune to make telephone calls. If you have looked at the rates posted in hotel rooms for use of the telephone, you were probably dismayed by what hotels are charging you to make long distance calls from your room. The per minute fees and the service charges are enough to have you in shock. A traveler should be prepared for this and carry their own cell phone or bring along a prepaid calling card. Prepaid calling cards allow you to make a call from any phone - using the codes on the actual card. Your call will be charged against monies put on the card when you purchased it. It allows you to carry only the card when traveling - this is useful when you don’t want to bring your cell phone, want to have a backup to your own phone or are traveling to an area outside your calling plan (roaming charges on your cell phone, another scary spot for unexpected charges).

Prepaid calling cards are easy to find - even local drug stores are now carrying them. Just do your homework and check out the cards before you purchase them. You are looking for a card that can be used at any phone - and check the rates they are charging per minute and get the best deal. Look for cards that don’t expire within a short period of time and ones that can be replaced if lost (it is a good idea to copy down the codes from the card and keep in a safe place). If you are traveling internationally be sure you card will work in the country you are traveling to.

Prepaid calling cards are great for travelers on a budget - they will help keep your call costs down and stay away from the excessive fees charged by your hotel.