International Phone Card?

[swom]

Can anyone here tell me where I can purchase an international phone card to be used from Costa Rica? My niece is going there in a couple of weeks and needs one. I know this isn't a cruise question, but everyone here is so helpful, I would really appreciate any help you can give me.
Thanks in advance!

[Host Mick]

You might have better luck with your question if you post it on our South America Port of call board:

South America (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=76)

[Capt_BJ]

There really is no such thing.

Yes the major phone companies, and others, will sell you something that they call this. But then you get someplace and discover that you can't actually call the 800 number that's used to access their network. Of course this varies from island to island - and the situation with cellular access changes every day. For example I had one phone I knew on the pier in Ocho Rios where my ATT card would allow me to dial direct. And on my last trips to the west coast of Mx, my cell phone worked in every major city; so too thru most of the Bahamas and USVI.

Based on extensive travel in the islands, and Central American countries I strongly recommend that the best course is to simply buy a phone card in the country you are in and make the call via their system. Outside of the US, that's how many systems work. Any payphone works by inserting a fee card. It tends to be the easiest and least expensive path. If you end up with some left over $ on the card, give it to your cabin person. They'll use it....

[smoof]

I just got back from France, and I bought an international phone card (AT&T) from Target before I left. It was also rechargable with a credit card. It may not have been the absolute cheapest card to get, but I felt it was a good value. If you get this one, be sure to get the toll free number from Costa Rica online before she goes.