Phone service
Photo: Jeffrey Russell, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
- For issues specific to mobile phones and smartphone usage other than calling through the public telephone network, see Mobile phones.
Telephones are a crucial part of modern living while at home, and the smartphone has become a crucial tool for most also when travelling. The phone can be an excellent tool for keeping in touch, planning or obtaining roadside assistance.
Call a numberThese are examples of a telephone numbers in Washington DC, US; in Turku, Finland; and in Singapore. +1 is used as "country code" for the US, Canada and many small island countries in the Caribbean Sea.
Mobile phonesYou may be able to bring your mobile phone and use it either with billing through your home carrier ("roaming") or by obtaining a SIM card from a local provider.
Voice mailIf you are going to be out of range of a telephone, but still want to receive voice messages, voice mail may be an option.
In-room phonesHotels which refuse to rent a room without a charge card most often bill a vast assortment of extra charges directly to the card.
Voice over internetWhere you have full access to the Internet at a reasonable speed, making phone calls over the Internet (VoIP) is the cheapest option.
Pay phonesWhile still around, pay phones are diminishing in number and most are able to place outbound calls only. Trunk or toll calls tend to be expensive, with high initial minimums.
In-flightSome flights (usually luxary or business) offer phone service via an in-seat phone. These typically cost around per minute for a voice call, or $2 per SMS. Ask your airline to get the relevant information.
Phone cardsIf you have access to a phone, but want to avoid paying the local rates of international calls (or have your host pay them), you may be able to get codes to use for placing calls via a local (possibly toll-free) number.
Stay safeRemember the local emergency number.A. or 999 as in the UK. No area codes are needed with these three numbers or local equivalents.
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Phone service" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Jeffrey Russell, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons