Verizon Wireless has an International Calling Plan intended for use when in the US needing to call internationally. It's $5/month and the rate is $0.05/minute. I am currently on the no cost plan that gets you a rate of ~$2/minute. When I am taking a trip, I just switch over to the $5/month plan. Reasonable cost, easy to do and doesn't require a change in behavior. If I think about something I need to check up on, doesn't matter if I'm at work, home, in the car or at the airport, I can call right then and there while I am thinking about it. Other carriers have similar plans, I am sure. Haven't had a land line at home for years, don't even use my desk phone at work for the most part.