(This article is a culmination of a few blogs and is archived in the travel tips section)

Staying in touch on the road is important to many travelers. And staying in touch on the road cheaply is just as important. While e-mail and social sites like Facebook and MySpace allow us to stay connected more easily than ever before, sometimes you just need to hear someone’s voice or see someone’s face. For that, you need a phone and/or  webcam. There are three major options a traveler can choose from: Skype, calling cards, and cell phones.

But which is the best? Which is the easiest? And, more importantly, which is the cheapest? Let’s examine all three.

Skype

Skype is an Internet-based phone service that lets you call users around the world for free. It was invented in 2003 by two Swedish guys and, in 2005, was bought by eBay. It allowed users to create a profile and talk to other users using VOIP (essentially it was an Internet phone). Additionally, if you had a webcam, you could see the person you were talking to. It was hailed as a new way to communicate – a way that would make old phones obsolete. The only problem was that you needed a computer and a reasonably fast Internet connection. Over time, they expanded the service to allow calls to land lines or mobiles for a small fee (2-20 cents a minute).

While you still need a computer for a majority of its services, Skype now offers a variety of other services, including:

* Voicemail
* Your own Skype phone number (this service is called SkypeIn)
* Use of Skype on a wireless phone
* Conference calling (a great business feature)
* Text messaging
* File transfers

The problem with Skype is that not many people know about. In my travels, I encountered a number of people who had it, but, compared to the amount of people who had a cell phone, or even a chat service like MSN, the amount was minuscule.

There were a few travelers who used the site to call home, like I did. But I’d say about 95% of the people I knew back in the US had not even heard of the service. While I think Skype is a decent option for travelers, especially as a simple way to communicate with people back home, I would not rely on it as my main form of communication on the road.

Calling Cards

When I first traveled overseas, I used calling cards almost exclusively. I figured they were more convenient than scouting out a cell phone, especially since I was in each country for only a few weeks at a time. I only needed to occasionally call my parents, but still wanted to remain disconnected from the world at large. Having a cell phone made it seem like I wasn’t really getting off the grid. It was bad enough I was at an Internet cafe all the time! Isn’t the point of travel to get away from the trappings of modern life? So I used a calling card.

Calling cards offer a few benefits:

* Pay-as-you-go: you can buy as needed
* No need to buy a new number all the time
* They don’t make you a prime target for theft like cell phones do
* It’s not a big deal if you lose them, since they aren’t a hassle to replace.

The problem can be that, once you leave the country they are for, calling cards are useless. I ended up with two extra calling cards for Italy when I left.

Cell Phones

While on extended stay in Thailand, I bought a cheap phone and a SIM card, and I was off. When I ran out of money, I’d reload. I eventually moved on to Australia and took my phone with me. I met up with a number of Aussie friends, and it just worked out easier having a phone to contact them.

Bottom line: when you live somewhere, you just need a cell phone.

Well, it turns out, most backpackers now are carrying cell phones since SIM cards are affordable and having a phone makes arranging meetings with other travelers quite convenient.

The benefits of a cell phone:

* Can change numbers easily
* Always have access to your friends and family
* Phones can work all over the world
* Numbers can work in a variety of countries (sometimes)
* Can sometimes be a cheaper option

For Americans, there is the technical hurdle of having a different cell network and limited access to “unlocked” phones (i.e. meaning you can easily swap SIM cards). This makes it harder to take your phone overseas. You may have to buy a new phone when you go abroad.

For others, it’s much easier. Non-American model phones can have their SIM cards removed. Phones in Europe can connect to any country. And in Asia, SIMs and phones are so cheap, it’s not a problem if you lose them. (In Thailand, a phone is about $20 dollars and the SIM card $10 dollars)

Weighing the benefits of each, calling cards are definitely the least desirable option. With the advent of cheap cell phones and Internet phones, calling cards are just not the best or most economical choice. I don’t think you have to pick between a phone or Skype, though. The wise traveler uses both.

Cell phones are best for keeping in touch with travelers, while Skype is great for video chatting with your friends and family back home. As vagabonds, many of us would love to break free from the trappings of modern life. We want to go out and explore the world, but having grown up in the age of instant communication, it’s hard to just cut the cord.

I want to be separate from the world I left back home, but sometimes it’s nice to be able to hear a familiar voice on a bad day or to actually see my family. We can still be unplugged while being plugged in. Convince your friends and family to get Skype, and you’ll never have to pay for a call home again.

Get a cell phone for emergencies and to help better organize meet-ups. You don’t want to be standing by the side of the road all day wondering if your buddy from Germany ever received your e-mail.