what is the cheapest and easiest way people have found to call back to the US. I dont want to ask people to download an app if i can avoid it.

Thanks!

To best answer that question we would need to know what carrier youare using.
The local answer would be Sharon at Queen of SXM.
I am with verizon and depending on how many calls you expect to make they have added 2 plans. One gives you a certain amount of data, text and calls for $40 but they also have a plan that for $10 per day your phone acts as if you are still in the states.
David

Downloading an app *is* the cheapest and easiest way to call back, IMHO. Skype FTW.

That $10.00 plan is a 24 hour cycle. Text and call all you want that cycle and it's a flat $10. If you skip a few days or longer as soon as you make a call or text the cycle starts again for $10.
We plan on using it if we need to make a lot of important calls if face-time and Skype aren't an option at the time.

Our carrier is t mobile. We were able to make calls with no charge to the United States if we were using wifi calling
We have used Sharon for phones and her service is great
Also if you have wifi and a computer you can use Skype. My mother is 89 and does not have a computer. Before we were able to call on t mobile we signed up for a month of Skype that let us call from our computer to any land line in the states. If my memory is correct it was $2.99 for the month and easy to cancel. We could call as often and as long as we wanted.
This was the year before last so you would have to see if that service is still available.

I think I have made three international trips in the last three years and was always able to call home and friends (as long as there was wifi) for less than $20 combined. Love it and the fact that you use your normal smartphone and can program your caller ID so that it shows up as you calling and the people on the other end have no idea that you aren't using your normal calling plan. (note you can't receive calls without paying for a skype calling plan)

We used an app on our Ipad called Pinger. You choose a local number and you can text free. For $1.99 for 100 minutes you can make calls just as if you were using a phone. People at home can call you at that number using their phone. You can probably do the same thing with an Iphone but we have an old flip phone so I'm not tech savvy. .

If you have wifi download an app called Talkatone. That app allows you to call ANY phone at all back to the U.S. and Canada. Just follow the directions that help you set up the app. You get 10 minutes a month free and if you need more time you can buy 60 minutes for 0.99. Each month you get 10 free minutes and unused paid time carries over to the next month. This is different from the other wifi apps because the other person does not need this app. And they can call you free as well as long as you have wifi. Just make sure you're connected to wifi when making the calls.

I will second (or third) the Skype method...YOU need to download the app..the party receiving the calls does not need anything as it goes to their regular phone at 2.9 cents/min

..airplane mode
..wifi on
..Skype app
..dial
..talk

No monthly limits or subscriptions needed. Talk for an hour for less than 2 bucks

Used it in many countries with great results (assuming the wifi connection is decent)

We use Viber, it is totally free, for texting and phone calls.

The OP specified that they didn't want to make the receiver download an app...Viber works well but both parties need the app installed.

Just discovered calling on Facebook messenger, didn't know about that! I can now call my buddy in Australia for free! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> (Carol, I know you'll say not everyone uses Facebook lol!) Used Viber and Skype last year, very successfully.

do you need wifi for Viber?

Thank you Whammy, was wanting to stay in contact with family back home when we are in SXM in 2 weeks. Just tried calling through wifi on facebook and it worked great.

Maybe... Maybe just a data plan

From Viber's website:

* Calls and messages may use your data plan

Yes, you need WiFi...

As I already posted, with Talkatone the other party doesn't need to download any app at all. I use it all the time as long as you have a decent wifi signal. I have called from China, A ship on the open seas, Spain, Turkey, Italy and other countries back to the U.S. The first 10 minutes every month is free.

that is lots of choices folks! Thanks. With this many choices i need to do some research.
I guess the big thing for me is to be able to receive calls as well without the caller having to pay big bucks.

oh and dkuper. I have sprint. some international calls are free with WIFI but unfortunately not st. maarten or st. martin

If you don't want your caller to have to download an app/service, and you want them to be able to call you with no charges, your best option is to use your current cell phone and just get an international plan. There are options like Talkatone and getting a local number with Skype, etc. but these will only work with a wifi connection unless you get a data plan, and if you pay for an data plan, you will have voice included as well...

Really? You just did research and twice I posted that Talkatone fits your specs perfectly.

i read up on talkatone. That one doesnt require any others to download an app. I think i may go that route. They give 10 minutes free and 2.9 cents a minute after that. My international cell plan is $15 a month and around 12 cents a minute. this is by far a better deal.

It is a better deal, but you mentioned wanting people to be able to call you. If you go that route, people won't be able to call you unless you are connected to wifi. May not be an issue for you, but it would for some.

I agree dustin but just about everywhere we go has the ability for a wifi connection so most of the time it wont be a problem. I dont want to be connected all the time anyway, i am trying to get away from these people!

My cell service here in the States is Republic wireless. It is a hybird connection. It is supposed to be connected via wifi most of the times for calls. When you are not using wifi the phone kicks over to Sprint. I have used it several times out of the US. If I am at a wifi hot spot and someone calls my US number the phone will ring where ever I am at. This cell service is a flat rate of $22 per month, no other charges. Same for calling to the US. I just dial the US number ( with area code if needed) . Also since this is a smart phone I can call So. America or other places using Viber, Whats App etc with no additional charges.

SXM??? Wendell

i just installed the talkatone app and tried a call. worked fine. granted i am in the US but it is still voip so its a start.

i created a separate thread about this, but AT&T now offers wi-fi calling outside the US...but this only benefits those on AT&T, with an iPhone 6 or newer

AT&T Now Offers WiFi Calling Outside US