V-Flyer

I arrived in London last night and used the phone in my room without thinking to call a number in the UK.

The call was very short, less than a minute, the charge was 7 (seven) pounds!

Now I know that the prices are posted but that really is offensive.

You think that's bad? I'm still reeling about the time four years ago when, in the US, I went down to the lobby to discuss with friends our plans for the day and returned to find Aer John on the phone to his pal in Ireland. The cost of the call? $200!!!

We did the same in Vegas a couple of years ago. I'd proposed to the misses the previous day at the Grand Canyon, so as neither of our mobiles could get a single we used the room phone (TheHotel at Mandalay Bay) to all home. No more than 20 minutes and it came to $110!!! Furious wasn't the word so after having a moan at the front desk they took the charge off non-questions asked. Phew!

The phone charges from hotel rooms has now gotten to a crazy point.

I guess they figure they have to make as much money as they can from the few people left using the hotel system as most people now use their cell phones.

There are a few places that do not charge for local calls...but their names escape me right now

Of course, with mobile phones you then get stuck with roaming charges [V] I now get a phone card almost as soon as I land and use that when text messages don't really cut it

There's always VoIP if you have a laptop with you.

or IDT

I got myself a pay as you go US phone, which means texts to the UK are only about 5 cents, and calls are pretty cheap as well - really easy to get one in somewhere like Radio Shack or Cingular......just have to remember to take it with me.

Not all hotels are bad. The Lanesborough in London offers free phone calls to the US whilst Hoxton Hotels charges a mere 5p a min for the same.

I work right by the Lanesborough. Judging by the cars normally parked outside I doubt that many of the guests even notice!!!

Originally posted by gingerflyer
I got myself a pay as you go US phone, which means texts to the UK are only about 5 cents, and calls are pretty cheap as well - really easy to get one in somewhere like Radio Shack or Cingular......just have to remember to take it with me.

Me too, I now have my trusty Virgin Mobile Cell phone for use across the pond

buns

Originally posted by oxmatt
I work right by the Lanesborough. Judging by the cars normally parked outside I doubt that many of the guests even notice!!!

Me too, a few doors down on Knightsbridge. Whereabouts are you?