Phone Calls - Europe
Last Updated: 1st Mar 2013
More Tour and Travel Advice for Europe
Telephone call centres are reasonably common in major European cities and rates vary from country to country and city to city. You simply use the phones provided in telephone call centre and pay by the minute (usually very cheap).
Phone Cards
One of the best and cheapest ways to call home is by using international calling cards that can usually be purchased from corner stores and newspaper outlets. Most cards however are country specific (A card purchased in Italy cannot be used in Germany, for example).
Contiki offer the e-kit calling card that can be used in over 150 countries world wide.
Dialing Out
To make a call outside of the country you are in you need to dial ‘00’ followed by the country code. If the number you are dialing begins with a ‘0’ you need to drop the zero and dial the rest of the number (unless you are dialing an Italian number, in which care the ‘0’ remains).
Many people also get their friends and family to call them at the hotels on Time Out/Superior/Hotel Tours while you can usually use phone cards from the hotels
Most campsites used by Concept/Budget Tours
In-depth Regional Tours and Camping usually have public phones where it is possible to also use international phone cards.
Mobile Phones
If you are using your mobile (cell/handy) phone you should check to make sure you have international roaming on your phone before you leave home and it also pays to check the charges for this before you have it turned on. It can often be expensive to not only make calls but also receive calls while in Europe and rates vary from phone company to phone company.
You should also be sure to have your cell/mobile phone unlocked before you leave home so that it can accept other SIM cards.
It is possible to pick up local SIM cards in the countries you visit and as long as you are using the SIM card in its home country it doesn’t cost you to receive calls. It is usually standard for European SIM’s to allow international roaming and again roaming rates vary from country to country and company to company.
Add a Comment Comments (10)
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ketfgrilanley1975
posted on 2nd Jun 2012
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hi iam going on the london to athens plus Greek islands on the 3rd of may 2011 and i just wanted to no if texting cost is over there ? and if it i worth taking a phone at all ???
Rhiannon
posted on 10th Jan 2011
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Is there any advantage in taking an iPhone with me? Would the apps or internet come in handy or be too expensive? I’m planning on seeing a friend in London for 2 weeks in between tours and also meeting up with my parents a couple of times too. I just think it would be difficult to check emails at an internet cafe every day. it might be easier to get a pre paid phone for the two weeks, Any thoughts?
Tara89
posted on 25th May 2010
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Is there any advantage in taking an iPhone with me? Would the apps or internet come in handy or be too expensive? I’m planning on seeing a friend in London for 2 weeks in between tours and also meeting up with my parents a couple of times too. I just think it would be difficult to check emails at an internet cafe every day. it might be easier to get a pre paid phone for the two weeks, Any thoughts?
Tara89
posted on 25th May 2010
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I’m from the U.S. and I used brought my t-mobile SDA to travel around Europe. Too bad it didn’t work. I ended up grabbing a pre-paid phone (o2 carrier?)in London which worked most of the time in the country. I did have some difficulty using it when I crossed the border into France, Germany and Italy though. Be safe and just ask the sales person.
—Chris
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Christhebliss
posted on 13th May 2009
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i’m from australia and i want to take my unlocked phone over to europe and buy a sim card there. which carrier would be best as i will be starting my tour in london and doing the london to rome contiki and i’ll then be travelling to switzerland… which mobile carrier should i buy a sim from … i want to buy it in london…
Mel
posted on 10th Dec 2008
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“Using phone cards from your hotels or accommodation is the way to go” what if it is a budget tour…and you only have one night in a hotel. would these 2nd hand accomodations allow you to use their phone?
Beto
posted on 23rd Apr 2008
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can you use your moblie phone with international calling cards from the specific country? that shouldn’t be too high would it?
Beto
posted on 18th Apr 2008
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Be very careful when using your cell / mobile phone on international roaming – the call rates are shockingly exspensive. Only use in dire circumstances!!!
Mike Contiki
posted on 7th Apr 2008
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what’s the best brand/carrier for european prepaid cell phones?
Maximus
posted on 2nd Apr 2008
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Recent Tips
Some other suggestions, although not necessary - Travel pillow, chewing gum (especially for those who have ear problems during flight), book and/or ipod and one change of clothing (air lines do lose luggage occasionally)
Winter is an excellent time to go to Europe. There are next to no lines for the museums, you can experience the cities like the locals do and everything is cheaper! Plus, Christmas and New Year's Eve in Europe are very special.
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