The original do-it-yourself travel guide to Europe SM


Telephoning to, from, and within Europe

City codes, 10-10, telephone cards, cell phones, PTT

Using telephones in Europe is easy.
Country codes, city codes, costs, discount services, telephone cards, mobiles.



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BlackBerry Bold 9000 Unlocked Phone with 2 MP Camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with Warranty (Black)
BlackBerry Bold 9000 Unlocked Phone with 2 MP Camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with Warranty (Black)



BlackBerry 8100c
850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE
Red Pearl Phone AT&T


If you are moving to Europe bring a combo fax, printer, scanner, copier. I have this one. It works great. Dual voltage 100 to 240 and 50 to 60 Hz.
HP Officejet J6480 All-in-One Printer
HP Officejet J6480 All-in-One Printer
Copier, Scanner, Fax
by Hewlett-Packard


For email and Skype phone this netbook computer will serve you well.
HP Officejet J6480 All-in-One Printer
ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-PU27-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook (Up to 14 Hours of Battery Life)

The links in this green field take you directly to a page at Amazon.com. That page details the item, and in some cases includes candid and critical comments from others who have bought the item.

Amazon.com pays my site a small commission when you click and order an item, if you put it in your shopping cart within 24 hours based on the cookie they set on your computer. If you don't want to make a quick decision just put it in your shopping cart, think it over, and come back later. You benefit when buying here because Amazon.com has a 20% to 30% discount on many items plus a free shipping deal. The third bonus is that there is no sales tax on internet purchases in most states. Delivery is fast even when it is free, and returns are easy if you are not happy with the product.

You win we win. Thanks for your support!!
Have a good trip in life,
John Bermont

Note: Italicized notations by the author.

Rolling luggage sure beats lugging a pack on your back.
Delsey Helium Breeze 2.0 Carry-On Upright, 21
Delsey Helium Breeze 2.0 Carry-On Upright, 21"


Day luggage for your walkabout.
Delsey Helium Fusion Personal Bag
Delsey Helium Fusion
Personal Bag


A rugged travel combo.
McKleinUSA Buckingham 58464 P Series Tech-Lite 1680D Ballistic Nylon Executive Travel Combo (Brown)
McKleinUSA Buckingham Tech-Lite Ballistic Nylon Executive Travel Combo


Wear a money belt under your shirt to protect your passport and valuables, especially if you are staying in hostels or dorms.
Victorinox Deluxe Concealed Security Belt
Victorinox Deluxe Concealed Security Belt


This portable combo door stopper and alarm will give you additional security in your hotel room.
GE 50246 Smart Home Door Stop Alarm
GE 50246 Smart Home
Door Stop Alarm


This is my everyday footwear, except in a storm.

Birkenstock
Arizona Two Strap
Sandal


Just as comfortable as tennies and they look sharp.

Men's Riva
Comfortech Slip-on
by Florsheim


' ' ' ' ' '
It rains. Be prepared.

Totes Titanium Auto-Open/Close Umbrella


Weather protection is essential. This is a great lightweight water repellent windbreaker.

The Stormbreaker
by Turfer Sport


Womens's Light Weight Endurance Jacket
Womens's Light Weight Endurance Jacket


Look sharp and be comfortable.
Women's Long Sleeve Cotton Turtleneck by Lands' End
Women's Long Sleeve Cotton Turtleneck
by Lands' End


Jessica Simpson Women's Satin Trench Rainwear
Jessica Simpson Women's Satin Trench Rainwear


I wore one similar to this on my early spring trip to London and Dublin.
Lamb Leather Bomber Jacket - Brown
Lamb Leather Bomber Jacket - Brown


This is my "standard" shirt for most of the year in Europe.
Men's Combed Cotton Euro Design Ski Turtleneck
Men's Combed Cotton Euro Design Ski Turtleneck


My favorite T-shirt/undershirt has a pocket for securely carrying passport, cash, and credit cards.
Hanes 6.1oz. Tagless Pocket T-Shirt
Hanes Tagless Pocket T-Shirt


To relax and sleep on the plane. This is a natural herb, not a drug.

Organic Valerian Root 515mg - 100 - Capsule
Organic Valerian Root 515mg - 100 - Capsule


You will need one or more of these plug adapters for your appliances and chargers.
Electrical Plug Adapter USA to Continental Europe
Electrical Plug Adapter
USA to Continental Europe


SIMRAN PLUG ADAPTER - CONVERTS GROUNDED USA PLUGS TO EUROPE PLUG-GERMAN SHUCKO PLUG (VP 11W)
SIMRAN PLUG ADAPTER
Adapts grounded USA plugs to European plug


This is a universal plug adapter for the UK and Ireland.
Samsonite Grounded Adaptor Plug - United Kingdom, Ireland
Samsonite Grounded Adaptor Plug - United Kingdom, Ireland



Grounded Adapter
Europe to Switzerland


For charging the batteries of more than one gizmo at a time use this 250 volt universal power strip. It comes with a grounded Continental plug so it does not need an adapter plug for Europe. See the next item if you are going to the British Isles.
Universal Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip for AC 220V/240V Countries. Max Load 13A 250V 50/60HZ - 450 Joules. CE Certified
Surge Protector
Power Strip
6 Universal Outlets
220/240 Volt 50/60Hz


To use the surge strip in Britain and Ireland you will need one of these plug adapters.
Grounded Adapter - Europe to England UK Britain
Grounded Adapter
Europe to
Britain and Ireland


Only use this if your appliance is not marked 110-240 v and uses less than 50 watts.
Grounded Transformer
USA to Continental Europe
50 Watts
220v to 110v


This is a stronger transformer rated for 200 watts.
Transformer - 200 Watt Non Grounded Heavy Duty


Absolutely the best battery for digital cameras which use AA batteries.
Energizer - AA Lithium Batteries - 4 Pack
Energizer
AA Lithium Batteries
4 Pack


Rechargeable batteries will save you money in the long run.
Sony BCG-34HRMF4 Battery Charger with LCD Display and 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
Sony BCG-34HRMF4 Battery Charger with LCD Display and 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries


Stay trimmed and neat.


Royce Leather Ladies
Travel Kit with Shaver


Make sure that your electrical appliances are dual voltage so they will work in Europe.
Conair's Dual-Voltage Ionic Hair Dryer
Vagabond Compact Styler
Conair's Dual-Voltage Ionic Hair Dryer


Conair Flat Iron 2
Conair Flat Iron 2" Ceramic Straightener
Dual Voltage


Remington H-1015 All That Quick Curl Travel Hair Setter
Travel Hair Setter
Dual Voltage
Remington H-1015


SteamFast SF-717 Home-and-Away Mini Steam Iron (dual voltage)
SteamFast SF-717 Home-and-Away Mini Steam Iron (dual voltage)



Braun Series 1 1-150 Men's Shaver
Braun Series 1 150 Men's Shaver with Automatic Worldwide Voltage Adjustment


For light sleepers here is an international "white noise" machine.
Lewis N. Clark Immersion Heater 120/240V
Marsona TSCi-330 White Noise Travel Sound Conditioner For both USA and International Use


My book will get you going.
How To Europe The Complete Travelers Handbook by John Bermont
How To Europe
The Complete
Travelers Handbook
by John Bermont


The best travel guide to all of Europe.
Europe on a Shoestring Lonely Planet
Europe on a Shoestring
Lonely Planet


A comprehensive guide to 3,000 hotels and restaurants in 44 major cities throughout Europe.
Michelin Guide 2010 Main Cities of Europe
Main Cities of Europe 2010
Michelin Guide

NEW! — Stephanie's Paris Blog
O hey Europe

Chapter 19, Part 1. (without photos) of
HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook
Internet edition.
A page from enjoy-europe.com with John Bermont



This internet edition of chapter 19, "Communicating as You Travel Europe," is in 4 parts due to its large size. Subjects covered in the respective sections are:
This is Part 1

calling europe from the USA, country codes, city codes, local numbers, 10-10 services, how to place a call to Europe, list of telephone country codes, local telephone service in Europe, totally metered, telephone booths, coins and slugs, European telephone cards, American telephone cards, discount telephone cards, cellular phones, directory assistance, international telephone service in Europe, from telephone booths, from your hotel, from the PTT, telephone charge cards, costs, potpourri.
Part 2

sending mail to Europe, US Postal Service, mail forwarding, form of address, receiving mail in Europe, poste restante, American Express client mail service, PTT, stamps, express parcel services, FedEx, DHL, Airborne Express, European customs duties.
Part 3

internet cafes, libraries, keyboards, your password, your laptop, connecting hardware, your ISP, hotel lines
Part 4

telegram, wire funds, final notes, homeland security, meeting point


Pick up the phone. Go ahead, pick it up.

TALKING AROUND THE PLANET

What was an expensive poor quality system in Europe 30 years ago is now simply amazing. You can pick up your phone and cheaply call billions of people around the world with clear connections.

CALLING EUROPE FROM THE USA

Traditional international telephone services from the United States are handled by every phone company. These companies are in fierce advertising wars claiming better quality and lower costs and I couldn't begin to figure it out. I don't understand my phone bill.

The Standard System

All American telephone numbers have 10 digits, three for the area code and seven for the local number. Over there it is a different story. European numbers can have any assortment of digits and arrangements.

Country Code

Every country in the world has a country code. For North America, including Canada, the USA, Mexico, and The Caribbean, the country code is 1. The UK code is 44. Holland is 31. You'll usually see the country code written with a plus sign in front of it, for example +353 for Ireland.

City Code

Instead of area codes, all European countries use city codes. Each city code begins with zero. For example, 023 is the city code of Haarlem, The Netherlands. Within Holland you would dial 023 plus the local number. But from outside Holland you only dial 23. However, Italy has changed their system and now requires you to dial the zero on incoming international calls also. City codes can vary from two as in Brussels, 02, to five as in Salzburg, 06222.

Local Numbers

Local numbers in Europe can vary in length from four up to nine numbers. In a small village they don't need many numbers, but in Berlin you've got a couple of million phones.

Rates to Europe for calls from the United States mainland do not vary from state to state. A call from San Francisco to Paris costs the same as a call from New York to Paris. The rate period is determined by the time at the telephone where the charge will be paid.

10-10 Services

The "10-10" services are decidedly a great deal. My calls to Holland cost 4 cents per minute after a connection fee of 53 cents. Tariffs vary between different services. You might get a lower connection fee in exchange for a higher per minute fee, something you would want if you make short calls. Shop around. Some plans have varying rates during the day for domestic calls. International rates for different countries can be significantly different.

The low cost 10-10 services have made life so much easier. You can call Europe for less than the cost of a call to someone only 30 miles away in the USA. I have used several of the 10-10 services and change whenever I find a better deal. You do not need to subscribe and can stop using one and start using another whenever you wish.

Not all 10-10 numbers are available in all parts of the USA. Some are restricted to a few states. It depends on your local phone company. My costs are included on my regular phone bill.

HOW TO PLACE A CALL TO EUROPE

From Areas Equipped With International Dialing

Dial the USA international access code: 011
Then, dial the country code.
Then, the city code, without the zero in front (do dial the zero for Italy).
Then, the local number.

As an example, to call the Munich Tourist Office in Germany:
dial the international access code, 011,
then the country code for Germany, 49,
then the city code for Munich, 89,
then the local number, 233-96-555.

Dialed calls from the USA are charged for an initial one minute, not three minutes as with operator assisted calls. You might want to confirm this with your long distance carrier since they are changing things all the time.

To make a person-to-person, collect, calling card, third number billing, or any international call requiring the assistance of an operator, call your long distance phone company.

From Areas Without International Dialing

If your area does not have international dialing, call your operator to place all international calls. Tell the operator you wish to make an overseas call and give her the country code, city code, and local number. If your call does not require special operator assistance (collect, charge card, person, etc.), the lower dial rate should apply but I don't guarantee it.

10-10 Number International Dialing

You probably have an instruction sheet describing the procedure for making international calls with your 10-10 number. I simply dial my 10-10 number and then
Dial the USA international access code: 011
Then, dial the country code.
Then, the city code, without the zero in front (do dial the zero for Italy).
Then, the local number.

The beauty of this is that your area does not need to have international dialing enabled. But you do need to find a 10-10 number for your area.

How To Profit From This Telephone Intelligence

How do you apply this information to your advantage? Well, after your travel agent tells you that the lowest cost room in Paris is $200 per day, go home and open your Michelin Red Guide - France and find a three star hotel for $70 in the arrondissement (section of the city) you want to stay in. Wake up early the next morning and call the hotel to make your reservation. The Michelin Red Guides show city codes. It's the number next to the symbol that looks like a telephone dial, or a daisy if you will. This appears on the first or second line for each city heading. If there is no city code listed here, then the phone number listed for each hotel includes the city code. Hotels in all price categories are listed.

Many hotels are on the internet and many of them have on line booking, either directly with the hotel or through an agency. I am skeptical of using these web sites so I might send an email or get the phone number and call them up. In my experience hotels are slow to respond to emails. Making the call gives you instant results.

Don't be bashful about calling. You will get a connection within a minute at most times. It is best to call during the week, but not during their lunch time, noon to 13:00 or noon to 16:00 depending on the country. Speak up, right away, slowly and clearly. Here is your script:
"Hello! Mr./Mrs./Miss - your last name —
calling from the United States of America.
Do you speak English please?"

Odds are excellent that an English speaking person will be available within a minute or so. If not try another hotel. For about a dollar worth of telephoning, you should be able to make a reservation and find out what amount of advance deposit is required. If they do not accept credit cards you can propose sending a check which they can hold until you get there. It will be too expensive for them to cash it.

If you have a friend who speaks the language of the country you are calling, you might ask them to make the call for you. This could be especially helpful if you are looking for a room in a small town where there might be only one or two hotels, and where desk clerks are less likely to be fluent in English.

Why can't your travel agent make the phone call and reservation for you, you ask? Because the $200 hotel pays the agent a 12% commission and probably has a toll free (800) telephone number. The $70 hotel pays no commission and it will cost to make the telephone call. I'm not throwing disparagement on travel agents. They provide a valuable service for many people. But you can't expect travel agents to be altruists. They are trying to make a living like everybody else and their business is not a piece of cognac-filled chocolate. You have to make the call yourself if you want to be frugal and stay in a European tourist class hotel. See chapter 14, "Hotel, Hostel, B&B, or Private Home," for a description of what to expect in a tourist class hotel.

TELEPHONE COUNTRY CODES

Here are listed the telephone codes for the countries of Europe, and the city codes for a metropolis or two in each country. If you need more, consult your long distance telephone provider.

Codes for dialing TO:

Albania 335. Tirana 4
Andorra 376. All points 628
Austria 43. Graz 316; Innsbruck 5122; Salzburg 662; Vienna 1
Belarus 375. Minsk 17
Belgium 32. Antwerp 3; Brussels 2; Ghent 9; Liege 4
Bosnia & Herzegovina 387.
Bulgaria 359. Sofia 2
Croatia 385. Zagreb 1
Cyprus 357. Nicosia 2
Czech Republic 420. Prague 2
Denmark 45.
Estonia 372.
Finland 358. Helsinki 9; Tampere 3; Turku 2
France 33. Bordeaux 56; Marseille 91; Nice 93; Paris 1
Germany 49. Berlin 30; Frankfurt 69; Leipzig 341; Munich 89
Greece 30. Athens 01; Patras 061; Thessaloniki 031
Hungary 36. Budapest 1; Gyor 96
Iceland 354.
Ireland 353. Cork 21; Dublin 1; Limerick 61
Italy 39. Genoa 010; Florence 055; Milan 02; Rome 06; Venice 041
Latvia 371.
Liechtenstein 423.
Lithuania 370. Vilnius 2
Luxembourg 352
Macedonia 389. Skopje 31
Malta 356.
Moldova 373.
Monaco 33. All points 93
The Netherlands 31. Amsterdam 20; Haarlem 23; The Hague 70; Rotterdam 10
Norway 47.
Poland 48. Gdansk 58; Warsaw 22.
Portugal 351. Lisbon 1; Porto 2
Romania 40. Bucharest 1
Russia 7. Moscow 95; St. Petersburg 812
San Marino 378
Serbia and Montenegro 381. Belgrade 11
Slovakia 421. Bratislava 7
Slovenia 386. Ljubljana 61
Spain 34. Barcelona 93; Madrid 91; Seville 95; Valencia 96
Sweden 46. Göteborg 31; Malmö 40; Stockholm 8
Switzerland 41. Basel 61; Bern 31; Geneva 22; Zurich 1
Turkey 90. Ankara 312; Istanbul 212
Ukraine 380. Kyiv 44
The United Kingdom 44. Birmingham 121; Glasgow 141; London 20
Vatican City 39; all points 06

The country code for the USA, Canada, and the Caribbean is 1.


LOCAL TELEPHONE SERVICE IN EUROPE

Telephone service in Europe is generally excellent, with possible exceptions in some of the eastern countries. In all countries telephone service has improved dramatically in the past 20 years. Some of their systems are better than American systems, though they are all more expensive than ours.

Dial slowly, especially where the system is pulse rather than tone. Speak slowly and clearly in all countries.

On the Meter

In America we are used to having a local toll free calling area. Within a 10 to 15 mile radius around our home we can talk all day and not be charged a penny above our basic service cost. In Europe, it is completely different. Every call, no matter where, is charged by the minute. This will certainly put a cramp in your internet browsing enjoyment if you are on a dial up modem.

Telephone Booths

Calls within a country can be made from any phone booth. Just insert some coins, dial the city code and then the local number. When dialing a city code from within that country, you must dial a zero first. In Finland dial a 9 first. For example, to place a call to the Munich Tourist Office from any city in Germany, dial the city code, 089, and then the local number, 233-96-555. They usually speak English at the tourist office.

Telephone booths are not as plentiful as they should be, and unfortunately many in train stations have been sabotaged with slugs or have had the handset cut off. What can you do with one of those? If you see someone having trouble with a phone, wait in line at a booth where the person seems to be enjoying a conversation. That way you'll make sure that you get one that operates.

Instructions are usually given in three or more languages or in easily understood diagrams, known as pictograms. The method of operation varies from country to country. Normally, you lift the receiver, insert some coins, get a dial tone, and then dial. The sound of the dial tone varies from country to country. Sometimes it even sounds like the American busy signal. Sometimes the sound of the other phone ringing sounds like the American busy signal. The busy signal in Europe is usually a very short repeating buzt buzt buzt.

Coins and Slugs

In France, the mode d`emploi (operating procedure) of the older phones makes it easy to lose connections and money. Some require French coins, but there are some in cafes and other places that require a jeton (slug). Buy the slug from the barkeeper. Do not put any money in the French phone until you get an answer. Have the coin or slug ready and drop it in immediately when the person answers. The other party can be heard over a loud static, but they can't hear you until the coins fall in the box. Then the static will stop and you can begin the conversation, si vous parlez la française (if you speak French).

Some phones in Italy require a slug also. It's called a gettone over there. Pronto?

European Telephone Cards

A new system was started by the French in the mid-1980s and has taken hold in most of the countries of Europe. The French name is Telecarte, and goes by local names in other countries, e.g. Carta Telefonica in Italy, Telefonkarte in Germany, Telefonnich Jednotek in Czechia, Telefonkártya in Hungary, etc. These plastic cards are the size of credit cards and contain an electronic chip or magnetic strip which indicate the amount of credit you have.

Cards are available for about $5 and $20. You buy the card at any telephone office or post office. They might also be available at tourist offices, news stands, tobacco shops, money exchange offices, and some other stores. Some cards carry advertising.

To use the card, find one of the telephones which use them. Nowadays that is most phones. It's hard to find a coin phone anymore. Put your card in the slot. A display shows your available credit as you talk. You can use these phones to dial around the world. A big advantage of using telephone cards is that these phones are generally in excellent working order and are usually available while the coin/slug phones are tied up by a local teenager or are busted.

American Telephone Cards

You can also use some American telephone cards in Europe. AT+T and others offer international service in Europe. You usually must dial a local toll free number to use these cards. Each country has a unique toll free system. You won't find 1-800 very often.

Credit Cards

You can use your Visa, MasterCard, or American Express card to place a call from some public phones. A one minute call to the USA from Italy on your credit card will probably cost you about $50. That's not a misprint — fifty bucks! This is a scam, of course, from a crooked telephone service provider and your credit card company will not help you. This situation may be forced on you if the telephone you are using will not accept the regular Italian phone card. Find another phone. In Britain many phones have large advertisements for credit card cals. These cost about $5.00 per minute!

Discount Telephone Cards

International telephone service is a fiercely competitive business. Every phone company is trying to get your attention with cheap rates, while at the same time sticking it to local customers with higher rates for calls within their country whenever they can get away with it. For example, the Dutch phone company changed their evening discount calling period some years back. It used to start at 18:00 (6pm) and now starts at 20:00 (8pm). There is a way to fight back. Use a discount service, either with a card or by subscription.

In Switzerland, instead of buying the Swiss Telecom calling card I bought a "Phone Pass" at a newsstand. From any phone I could call the USA and saved up to 75% over the cost of using the official Swiss telephone system.

In talking with a fellow in Amsterdam, he claimed that he could call a friend in another part of Holland cheaper if he dialed it through a discount phone company via the USA. Back and forth across the Atlantic for less than a call within the Netherlands? I can believe it.

When I lived in the Netherlands I subscribed to a service which called itself "One Tel." Rates to the United States averaged about 5.5 cents per minute compared to 6.6 cents per minute for the official Dutch phone company KPN. These rates are only about twice as much as what it costs to phone your next door neighbor in Holland. Go figure. Phone rates make about as much sense as airline fares.

Cellular Phones

Maybe you call them mobile phones or cell phones or annoying devices. Nevertheless you see people with one of these to their ear everywhere you go. In and out of stores and offices, on buses and trains, riding their bicycle or on roller skates, the yumpies of Europe are speaking immediately important stuff, no doubt. It is a distraction when they ring in public, but I am getting used to it. Cell phone prohibitions are posted at the entrance to many buildings, so I guess that some people are not getting used to it.

As much as I scoff at these little things, I used one in Europe and it saved a big problem with meeting someone at a train station. I had made a last minute boarding of an InterCityExpress in Düsseldorf bound for Frankfurt and didn't have time to phone my friend in Frankfurt before getting on the train. As I sat down I noticed that the fellow sitting opposite me was chatting on his mobil, as they are referred to over there. When he was done with his call I asked if I could use it. He obliged and I was able to make my call and let Connie know when and where I would arrive.

American cell phones may or may not work in Europe. I don't need or want one but I have read of some of the issues. As I understand it the main issue is one of frequency. You'll need a "quad" phone to be able to use it in the USA and in Europe. Each phone company has its own service conditions. Before you sign up for cell phone service make sure it will work in Europe, if you plan to bring it over there. While you're on the phone with them ask what the cost is for making and for receiving calls while you are in Europe.

If you need a cell phone in Europe, your best bet might be to rent one after you get there. Tele-communications shops, springing up all over, lease cell phones. Alternatively you can buy a phone with a prepaid chip in many countries.

If you are outside the country of registration and you want to call another country, you pay for two international calls. E.g., say you have a Swiss cellular phone and are in France making a call to Belgium, your call is routed via Switzerland and your bill is a barrel of wampum.

Caller Beware

Cell phone charges are handled differently in Europe. It is the one placing the call who pays in most countries. Be careful about calling 06 numbers in Holland, for example. 06 are the first two digits for cell phone numbers and all calls cost approximately 10 times the cost of a regular call. There goes a telephone card to vapor in short order. If you need to call one of these numbers, make it short and ask for a callback.

Directory Assistance

Directory assistance ("Information") is available in Europe.

In Holland, before getting through to a real operator you will hear a recorded voice which tells you in crisp Dutch how many calls are waiting in front of you. Be patient for a couple of minutes. When the operator comes on, there will be a change in the sounds. You ask "Do you speak English, please?" The answer will be "A little bit, yes," understating her/his ability by a wide margin. The average Dutch operator has a better command of English than most Americans, though all have the typical Dutch accent.

Operators in most other countries are probably capable of speaking English, but the first one you get may not wish to try it. Ask for an English speaking operator if you are in need of help.

Long distance and international directory assistance is also available. These operators do speak English. You can get the number of anyone in the United States for no charge. That's funny — AT&T charges me about 75¢ for these at home.

INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE SERVICE IN EUROPE

From Telephone Booths

International calls within Europe can usually be made from public pay telephones. Look for a notice in the operating instructions on the phone booth to the effect that it is an international telephone. The notice will give you the international access code (IAC) for the country you are in. Each country has its own IAC. Many, though not all, use 00 as the IAC. Note that the IAC for the country you are calling from is different from the country code for the country you are calling to. These codes are shown in the listing above in the section "TELEPHONE COUNTRY CODES."

From Your Hotel Room

Most hotels charge an obscenely outrageous fee for any call made from your room, especially for long distance calls. I heard a hotel desk clerk in London advise a guest to use the pay phone in the hotel lobby rather than make the call from her room. My travel notes show that calls from Paris to Amsterdam cost 2½ times as much from my hotel compared to the PTT. My hotel in Portugal quoted me over three times as much as I paid at the CTT for a call to the USA.

During my house hunting trip, six weeks before our move to Germany, my phone bill was more than the room bill by a wide margin thanks to many calls home discussing the features of the potential new diggs with Elizabeth who was still in California. If you must use the phone in your hotel room, try your best to find out what it will cost before picking it up. Also ask for an itemization (it may be called "specification") of calls. Phone bills in Europe normally do not include anything other than a grand total. Don't be surprised if the hotel keeper just shrugs his shoulders at both requests and says he doesn't know. He does know or can find out but he wants your money and is not interested in scaring you off.

If you're there on business and must call your office in the USA, make a quick call and ask for a call-back. You can enjoy some nice meals with the money you will save, and avoid a showdown with your company's major-domo of expense reports.

From the PTT

Telephone service at big city PTT offices is often open until late at night. To use this service you do not need five pounds of coins or a telephone card. You would want to use the PTT if you only wanted to make one quick phone call without spending $5 for a telephone card.

At the PTT, look for the sign "Telephone," or some similar word. If there is none, ask a clerk where you can make an international telephone call. There may be a separate entrance for the phone bureau, or it may be in a separate building a few blocks away. At the phone window or desk, write down the city, state, area code, and local number you want dialed. Sometimes the clerk will dial the number for you and tell you which booth to go to for the call. Alternatively, they may write down the international access code and country code for you and direct you to a booth to dial it yourself. After completing the call, go back to the desk and pay up. If you are having dialing troubles, go immediately to the clerk and let him/her know. The clerk has a meter for each phone line and will charge you for the connection whether the line is dead or alive.

Telephone Charge Card

Telephone charge cards are available, free of charge, from your local telephone company business office. Call up whoever you have as a long distance carrier and ask for yours. They will be happy to send it out, but it may take a few weeks. I have one of these but only use it when I absolutely must. The convenience is great but the cost is equivalent to grand larceny.

Your telephone company charge card can be used to call back home. Most are honored in most European countries. In small towns in Italy and Greece, clerks had never heard of the card and would not accept it. It was accepted in Rome but I was told that I would have to wait an hour for a connection. In Athens I was not allowed to use it on weekends. When overseas, these cards normally cannot be used for calls between foreign countries.

The charge card is very handy for making calls from your hotel room. I've done this in several countries and never had to pay the hotel surcharge. Sometimes the hotel will make the call for you, and sometimes they will connect you to an international operator. If your hotel does the dialing it is best to go to the front desk and write down the numbers for them so there will be no mistake (at your expense).

When we lived in Germany we dialed a special toll free number which connected us to an AT+T operator. We would give her the USA number we were calling and our AT+T charge card number. Our monthly statement included a list of all calls, and we paid in dollars. AT+T now offers toll free connection numbers in many countries of Europe. AT+T is not cheap, but it will allow you to dial 800 numbers which seem to be the norm for American businesses these days. European telecoms and discount phone passes often will not allow connection to a USA 800 number. If you are calling an 880 or 888 instead of an 800 you can make a connection, sometimes, maybe.

Cost

When you compare the telephone to all the other means of communication it is a real bargain in cost and efficiency. It is much cheaper than the telegraph and far quicker than the mail, and you know you have someone on the other end listening. Perhaps you can send an email cheaper but emails can sit in e-purgatory for days before being opened. International telephone rates are one thing seemingly immune to inflation. In fact they have been going down, not up. It costs more to call from Europe to the United States than from the United States to Europe, though European rates have been falling quite substantially over the past few years.

There are three basic ways to pay for your call from Europe: pay direct, reverse the charges, or use a phone company charge card. Within pay direct I include European telephone cards and charges to a normal credit card like VISA, Mastercharge, or American Express. Many public phones in Europe allow the use of these credit cards at a very high charge.

For a very short phone call, it is probably cheaper to pay direct. There is no three minute minimum as there is for the collect and charge card calls.

When placing a collect call to the United States, there is a charge for the initial three minutes which is usually the same every day every hour. After the first three minutes, the per minute charge depends on the time at the place you are calling to. Check with your long distance phone service. Business hours are the most expensive. Evening hours are lower. The middle of the night and weekends are the lowest.

Charge card calls are billed in the United States at the "operator assisted" rates. This means a minimum charge for three minutes and is usually billed at the "station to station" rate. Each additional minute is billed at the same rate as if it were a collect call.

But a warning is in order. Telephone service has become an incredibly competitive industry. Companies are trying to suck you in with seemingly attractive deals. The bills you receive may astonish you with extras for stuff that you would expect to be in the basic rate. It would be like buying a car only to discover later that you had to provide the wheels, windows, and seats. So get the whole story, if you can, when signing up for a long distance service which you plan to use from Europe.

Telephone Potpourri

An old sea captain I met someplace in my travels told me that when he needs to make a long distance call in a strange town, he goes into a bar, orders a brandy, and asks to use the phone. They usually have toll counters on bar phones to register the clicks for dialed calls. I did this often in one of my favorite bars in Holland. It's more convenient than going out to a post office or looking for a phone booth, but there may be a lot of background noise in the bar so ask if there is a back room where you can talk in peace and quiet. There will probably be a higher cost when calling from a bar rather than the PTT, so you might want to make it quick and ask for a call back. In fact I still use bar phones when I travel in Holland due to a scaracity of public phones. It's still the quickest way to make a call in that country. If the bar doesn't have a toll counter dial the international operator from the bar to use your charge card or reverse the charges.

Though you must always dial an international access number to make an international call, there is at least one city where there is an exception. In Geneva, Switzerland you can dial 059 to reach friends across the French border in Savoie. Normally you would need to dial 00 for international access and then 33 for France.

A few ferries and some trains, for example the German InterCity (ICE) trains, have public telephones on board. I used one of these to call Stephanie's aunt in Italy to let her know that we were on our way from Frankfurt. Later in the day when I tried to call again it wasn't possible to make a connection because the train had passed into Switzerland. The German train phone was inoperable outside Germany. Maybe they will get this glitch fixed before long. The train phone accepted phone cards, not coins.



NOTE TO READERS

I welcome questions and comments. If you have any concerns about your trip to Europe that have not been covered well enough in this chapter do not hesitate to write and ask. My email address is johnbermont@enjoy-europe.com.

When you write please include as much detail as possible. There are about 50 countries in Europe. It will help me answer if you mention the countries and/or cities you plan to visit. I will reply in a day or two.

Don't forget to scroll through the Table of Contents below. The other 29 chapters of HOW TO EUROPE are also available, free to read on line. In addition, the Google search box below can locate specific subjects in any chapter or page on site.

For a check-off punchlist of everything go to The Finale, Packing List and Last Call: What You Need to Travel in Europe, All in One Place.

If you know of someone else who would appreciate reading this web page please send the URL link to him or her. To easily do that, click your "File" tab in the tool bar and scroll down to "Send" or "Send Link." Your friend will thank you, and I thank you.


Who wrote this?

Home and general index.
Table of Contents
HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook

All of the text, updated to May 2010, is available on line, FREE. Updated photographs with captions are available on line for those chapters as noted "with illustrations."
The entire book, copyright 2003, can be purchased by clicking Amazon.com.
Chapter 1, with illustrations.
What's It All About?
In Europe, Travel Like a Native


Chapter 2
On Budget in Europe
Travel Costs


Chapter 3
Passport and Visas for Europe
Identity and Travel Documents


Chapter 4
Flying to Europe
Travel Starts at the Airport


Chapter 5
What to Wear in Europe
Travel Clothes for all Occasions


Chapter 6
Your Packing List for Europe
A Short List of Travel Accessories


Chapter 7
Luggage for Europe
Travel Light, Travel Light, Travel Light


Chapter 8
Cash, ATMs, Credit Cards, Personal Checks
Travel with Each in Europe


Chapter 9
Your Travel Diary of Europe
Notes Supplement Your Photos


Chapter 10
Guide Books, Maps, Dictionaries
Travel in Europe with a Good Guide Book


Chapter 11
Electricity in Europe
Travel Voltage Fundamentals


Chapter 12, with illustrations.
Photography in Europe
Travel with Your Camera


Chapter 13
Bring a Smile
Travel Europe in Good Attitude


Chapter 14
European Hotels, Hostels, B&Bs, Private Homes
Sleep Options for Travel in Europe


Chapter 15
Eating Your Way through Europe
Travel on Your Belly


Chapter 16
Getting Around Town in Europe
Travel by Bus, Streetcar, Subway, Taxi, Bike, and Shoe


Chapter 17, part 1,
with illustrations.
Trains in Europe
Travel Europe by Train, Bus, and Ferry


Chapter 17, part 2,
with illustrations.
Trains in Europe
European rail details


Chapter 17, part 3,
with illustrations.
Night Trains in Europe
Travel Europe by Train, Bus, and Ferry


Chapter 17, part 4,
with illustrations.
European Bus and Ship Services
Travel Europe by Train, Bus, and Ferry


Chapter 18
Driving in Europe
Travel by Car, Van, or Motorcycle


Chapter 19, part 1
Telephoning to, from, and within Europe
Codes, 10-10, telephone cards, cellular phones, PTT


Chapter 19, part 2
Sending Mail to & from Europe
Air Mail, Priority, PTT, Poste Restante, Amex


Chapter 19, part 3
Internet and Email in Europe
Cyber Cafes, Keyboards, Password, Your Laptop


Chapter 19, part 4
Telegrams
Wiring Cash and Keeping in Touch


Chapter 20
Health and Safety in Europe
Travel in Confidence but with Caution


Chapter 21
Working in Europe
Travel for Free


Chapter 22, part 1
Moving to Europe
Travel to the Max as an Expatriate


Chapter 22, part 2
Living in Europe
Travel to the Max as an Expatriate


Chapter 23, with illustrations.
Shopping in Europe
Buy Your Souvenirs, Gifts, and Necessities


Chapter 24
Shipping Your Treasures Home from Europe
Travelers Have a Number of Options


Chapter 25
Passing Customs in Europe
Know the Rules When Crossing Borders


Chapter 26
Languages, Numbers, Alphabets
Encounter The Tower of Babel in Europe


Chapter 27
The Metric System in Europe
Traveling with Grams, Meters, Liters, and Celsius


Chapter 28
Time and Dates in Europe
Travel in a Different Time Zone


Chapter 29
The Weather in Europe
Travel with Your Umbrella


Chapter 30
Melding with Europe
Travel Is Interesting and Entertaining




The Finale
Packing List and Last Call
What You Need to Travel in Europe,
All in One Place
Learn the basic infrastructure:

Prime Travel Data
Elementary Travel Information for Europe
Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland

France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

Utilize John Bermont's exclusive:

TRAVELERS YELLOW PAGES
A Directory of Links to Products, Services, and Information
Airlines to Europe
National Tourist Offices
City Tourist Offices
City Information and Tours
Country Information and Tours
Luggage and Backpacks
Discount Air Travel
Villas and Homes for Rent
Hostels in Europe
Hotels in Europe
Auto Rental in Europe
Rail Services of Europe
Eclectic Travel Sites
Internet Search Engines
Photography
Guide Books for Europe
Educational Programs
Newsletters from Europe
Personal Travel Pages
Personal Trip Planning

Get open hours, costs, locations, and more:

Travelers Portfolio
Essential Visitors Information for the Top Sights of Europe
       Amsterdam       
Anne Frank Huis
Rijksmuseum
Van Gogh Museum
       London       
British Museum
Buckingham Palace
National Gallery
Natural History Museum
Palace of Westminster
St. Paul's Cathedral
Tower of London
Westminster Abbey
       Paris coming soon       
Arc de Triomphe
Tour Eiffel
Hôtel des Invalides
Musée de l'Armée
Opera
Montmarte
Cathédrale Notre Dame
Musée d'Orsay
Musée du Louvre

Exchange rates, weather, maps:

Up-To-The-Minute
Be informed before you go.
       Money Exchange
Currency exchange rates, including the euro, British pound, Swiss Frank.
       Weather in Europe
Current European weather conditions and forecasts. Good luck.
    Maps and Time Zones
Free online maps of Europe. Guide to setting your watch ahead.

Captioned photos from Europe

PhotoLog
Pictures of what we do in Europe.
       Queen's Day
Holland hosts a great one-day party, annually on April 30. Here is the action in Haarlem and Amsterdam.
       Keukenhof
A beautiful huge tulip garden blooms during middle spring. We made a leisurely bike ride from Haarlem.
       Bull Flight
My daughter Stephanie enters the ring and encounters a baby bull in Spain, then flies for her life!

Didn't find what you need yet?
Google It !!
 

Copyright
Internet edition
© 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001 James J. Broad
© 1987, 1986, 1984, 1982 Murphy & Broad Publishing Co.
All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés.
This is copyrighted material. Do not reproduce, copy, plagiarize, store, modify, extract,
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You may link the URL http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap19/phone.htm freely. Please do. When you link please send the URL for your linking page and a crosslink will be installed in one of the categories of the TRAVELERS YELLOW PAGES to your site if it has significant content for travelers in Europe.

Travelers:
You may print one copy of this chapter for your personal use. To order the complete book with all of the captioned photographs see the next section below.

Permissions:
If you want to copy any of this material to your web site, book, article, or term paper please ask first. Note that plagiarism includes paraphrasing text and even copying ideas. Everything on this page is original. Students, professors, journalists, and writers are outed almost every day, caught stealing the works of others and presenting it as their own work. Then they make excuses when caught. Then they are thrown out of school or fired, or they run for Vice President when they get away with it. At least one other travel writer has plagiarized heavily from my work, claiming and getting credit for writing a few dozen books every year. Some of his books have included my work for years on end, without credit. For honorable people, permissions are freely granted so you don't need to steal and lie. Just say where you found the information and ideas. For permissions contact: publisher@enjoy-europe.com.

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To see everything on this site in one compact listing go to Site Map


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The original
do-it-yourself
travel guide to
Europe.
SM


470 pages
7" x 10" softcover
345 b/w photos
Last Call checklists
and detailed index
© 2003
ISBN 0-940792-69-9
$28.50


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HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook
2010 — Our 28th Anniversary!


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