International Calling Help

[kanga1]

I leave for Costa Rica on Monday. I have Verizon but don't have an international plan. There will be wifi at the resort. What are my options for calling home? I just hope to make a few short calls back to DD.

[sunshinedaydreams]

If you have WiFi available, I'd try to use Face Time or Skype instead of making an international call.

[Deleted]

I use viber, but for the call to be free the person you're calling has to have it too.

[kanga1]

@mx sunshinedaydreams Can you explain using skype to make calls? I have used skype to video chat on my computer but nothing more

[Deleted]

Jan 17, 2015 10:56:51 GMT -5 kanga1 said:

@mx sunshinedaydreams Can you explain using skype to make calls? I have used skype to video chat on my computer but nothing more

Log in to your account and buy credit. If you're calling a US number it's really inexpensive, a few cents per minute. You use that credit to make calls to any phone numbers you would like. 

Another option is Viber and both people have to have the app, but it's completely free.

For sending free text messages you can use Whatsapp.

[kanga1]

Thanks @wandering!

[marytini]

Ditto Viber, if you're just concerned about calling a few select people and have them download it too.

[fab75]

If you already know you have wi fi on your destination just use popular voip apps to call!
There are tons like Viber, Skype or Facetime if you have an iphone.

Don't waste money on international calls!

[origami]

You can make free voice calls with Facebook, if the other person as a FB account, from the messenger app. Kakaotalk is another app with free calls and texts but both users have to have the app. WhatsApp does free texts but not free calls (it has a call feature but that uses your phone's cell plan). Plus the video chat apps the pp's mentioned. I use MagicJack but that's not free. I don't think there's any reason to pay for voice calls when you're only gone a short time.

[emilyinchile]

WhatsApp lets you send voice messages for free too. I don't know if that would be enough for you to feel like you're really talking to your child (you send the message, the other person can listen and respond whenever, so it's not the same as a normal phone conversation), but it's a great option in general.