calling from Canada

We will be spending about 2 weeks in Canada soon. I just found out that my WalMart calling card is gonna charge me 5 minutes for every minute I talk. Do any of U know of a cheaper way to call the states from there? I will need to call almost every nite. Also my cell phone is no good in Canada so I am told. I sure need a cheaper way to call.. I sure hope someone knows of a way. BTW I'll have to use a pay phone too.
TIA

Can you use E-mail? Most librarys have an online computer. You might have to wait to use it. If you can tell people ahead of time when you will be on-line? Frank

My advice is to get a Canadian calling card once you get there so you will not be charged the extra tariff. I get 99 min for 99 cents cards but i do not know if they are good in Canada. It is 5 cents a minute TO Canada. Oh I just read that it is a 1 cent surcharge.

FrogRus
Will I be able to call the states from Canada on that card? I'm sure I'll still have to pay a fee to use the payphone.

We use our cell phone when we go to Dad's and call the kids here in IA with it. They do charge more but it's not that bad for just a short time.

Another option is an 800 no. Before the cell phone era, we had an 800 no. and called on that line. It was more than calling from another state - I kinda think it was 35 cents a min. from Canada and 25 cents in the states. Since you're only going for 2 weeks, that might not be a good option.

I'd go with the Canadian calling card. :)

kooger..yes I think a Canadian calling card is about the only answer. There are 1010 numbers U can call to Canada with but the call is going the direction..U can't use them on a pay phone :(

I use my cell phone when I go, it's through Verizon and they charge me like I'm calling long distance state to state. It is the reason I use Verizon, Canada is included in their long distance, I'm going to Canada next week, enjoy.

Sandy we are out in the booneys in north Florida & can't get verizon. About all we can get is Alltel & Nexus. Nexus told me where we are we wouldn't be able to talk from home. I can't always get out with Alltel but can if I'm lucky... that's better than never *G*

Have you thought about something like a pre-paid cellphone? Virgin Wireless has them, as do TracFone and Alltel. I'm sure many others are out there. You just pre-pay for minutes online, then use them as you would any available minutes. No contracts, no hassle. The trick will be finding a service which will include Canada in the plan.

GW I have a alltel cell phone. It is no good in Canada. My WalMart card is but they take 5 minutes for every minute I talk in Canada. I have no idea what it will cost to connect with a calling card there. Here they take 19 minutes from my WM card at a payphone. I know for some of U I'm worrying too much but I have a son who is disabled & I check on him every day. Not many days ever go by that I don't talk to him.

Your Alltel phone - is it one of the pre-paid ones?

GW.. No it is under a contract. I have total freedom now & 350 minutes a month BUT not in Canada. When I am out of my calling area I don't have free nites & weekends. I have never used all my time. Alltel is about all I can get here in the boonies.

What I'm talking about is a cellphone you buy outright and get minutes to use for it pre-paid. Did you ask Alltel if they could temporarily switch you to (or add on) a plan which would let you call from Canada? Does Alltel even have towers/coverage in Canada?

Alltel puts U in roaming but it has no extra charge. I was roaming when we were in Clearwater FL earlier this month. Yes it covers Alaska.. I asked that before changing plans.
Most of the prepaid phones I looked at were very expensive.

Wish we still had our TracFones from when we used them - You could just take the phone for free and purchase minutes separately (they were always calling us wanting to offer us specials like double minutes). I can see if the folks we gave those phones to still have them and if they'd have coverage in Canada.

GW .. OK & in the mean time I'll look up TracFones on the net & see what they say. We just got up so better fix breakfast for 6 critters ..ooops 7 first.
Thanks