Handbook

International Calling Plans

In all likelihood, your current long distance provider has a calling plan that will give you access to discount rates for international calls. Often there is a monthly fee associated with these plans; however, most users have found that the savings on phone calls will more than make up for the fee. You will need to contact your long distance provider to make specific arrangements. For your convenience, we have listed the World Wide Web addresses and toll-free phone numbers for a few major long distance carriers; however, this list is by no means exhaustive. Information on calling plans offered by other long distance carriers is available on the Web.

• AT&T (1-800-523-WORLD)
• IDT (1-800-889-9126)
• MCI (1-800-444-3333)
• Sprint (1-800-877-4646)

If you sign up for an international calling plan, you can request that the company send you a calling card, which will allow the international traveler to call to the U.S. from abroad using a U.S. operator via a special access number. You will need to get the access number before you depart from the United States; a list of access numbers should be available from the long distance provider. By going through a U.S. operator, you will be billed the U.S. long distance rates, which are generally much cheaper than those offered in other countries. Please note that most US pre-paid calling cards will not work from abroad (IDT's Global Call Card is one exception, however). Make sure to check with the card company before you purchase a pre-paid card for use overseas.