Of course it does not offer portability, but at 2 cents per minute, it beats anything else you can find. (actually there IS a new Skype WiFi phone, but I would not recommend their first model.)
At most subjects I am a newbie. This one is an area of personal expertise. I sell computers in the Lat.Amer mkt. I've gone from $300/week bills in Mexico, Columbia, Venezuela to $5-8/week for as much as I care to talk.
If you have a laptop take a serious look at
http://www.Skype.com ...
Work with it at home before you leave in a few different environments.
Test your system using Wireless with both 802.11B and G. B is slower.
Test your system with a landline.
At Hotel El Presidente Skype is "acceptable" on most floors except the 3rd. (Yes, I've stayed on all of them)... It even works in the jacouzi room on the top floor... (No, I wasn't working... but was playing music for my amiga from my laptop, when I received an inbound call)... However with a hotel wireless environment quality is not always "great:.
At any hotel that offers a landline the service should be Excellent.
I am in CR for 2 mo. studying spanish. I average 1-2 hrs/day for business calls to both US and Lat.Amer. and have spend about 30 dollars in 4 weeks.
Cell phones here are cheap, but take time to acquire and set up... I got my amiga to get one for me... No Charge for inbound calls. I think my monthly charge is about $15/month... I specifically got one that does NOT allow outbound out-of country calls so I can give it to her when I am out of country.
Best of luck... CaptainCruise.
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One more day. two more beers.. three more times...