The Best Way to Call Home From Mexico

Telephone Booths

• The best way to make a phone call from Mexico to the United States is from a "caseta." Casetas are like private phone booths. They are easy to locate in a mall, a pharmacy or other place of business. Inform the attendant that you want to make a call to the United States. Look for dialing instructions on the wall of the phone booth. Simply dial 00+1+Area Code+Telephone Number. The call usually costs about 50 cents per minute. For a single phone call this is the least expensive and most convenient method to phone home.

Calling Cards

• If you need more flexibility to call from any location from a residential phone or from a cell phone, use a prepaid calling card. These are sold at pharmacies and other stores, for amounts roughly equivalent to $5, $10 and $20. In order to dial the United States from a phone in Mexico using a prepaid calling card, dial the access number, then enter your PIN. Next, enter the country exit code and phone number: 00+1+Area Code+Telephone Number. The major disadvantage of the calling card is the large amount of numbers you must dial in using it. Calling cards can be cumbersome to use and easy to lose.

Calling Plan

• The most expensive method is to contract an international long-distance plan through your phone service provider. Cricket wireless, for example, offers the Cricket Flex Bucket fund. Money is set into this account to pay the cost of international calls. It works like a prepaid long-distance plan apart from your regular plan. This avoids roaming charges and huge phone bills.

  Some companies, such as Verizon, allow for limited direct calling from Mexico to the United States. Expect to pay an additional monthly fee for the international calling feature. Roaming charges can surprise you with a huge bill. Make sure you keep up with the bills to avoid any loss of service.