International phone cards have made life easier for travellers who like to stay in touch with family and friends while overseas. Before the phone card appeared on the scene, travellers had to endure high calling costs in fact, the cost of phone calls in many instances had to be factored into the overall holiday budget.

Now, not only is it dirt cheap to phone from anywhere in the world but international phone cards have also made it possible to talk for extended periods of time "for cents in the dollar!" You, the traveller, have never had it so easy when it comes to long distance communication.

However, purchasing a prepaid phone card isn't simply a matter of forking out $5, $10 or $20 and getting a card in return. There are some things you should know and the following checklist will give you a better understanding of what to look for when purchasing a card, particularly if you are new to the experience. As a seasoned phone card user, I have a list of things I want before I buy.

International Phone Card Checklist

1. First and foremost, make sure the rates are affordable. After all, isn't the reason you want a phone card to cut down on calling costs. I know this sounds pretty straightforward but believe me, all phone card companies aren't created equal. Compare the different pricing structures from different carriers.

2. Be specific about connection fees. Basically, there should be no connection fees. Also, check for hidden fees. They are there in a lot of cases and can "kill" your entire phone card experience!

3. There should be no expiration date on your card. For example, if you spend $50 and get 2000 minutes of talk time but don't intend using it up in a hurry, then you should not be penalised for this. Make sure that your investment isn't governed by a due date.

4. Be aware of any hidden cost that may be associated with your card. Your initial payment should be final.

5. Check to see whether you can use your card 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I won't purchase a card unless I can get total unrestrictive access at any time of the day.

6. Is the phone card carrier contactable? In other words, if you require customer service, can you talk to a customer service representative. Believe me, this one rule will save you a lot of frustration.

7. Is the card re-chargeable? Better still, can you re-charge you card both online and over the phone. Again, you don't want to be paying a fee when you re-charge.

8. Avoid cards which charge a fee just for making a call but not a connection. In my book, that's pretty rude.

It's simply a matter of protecting your consumer interest. Competition is fierce in the card communication industry and the carrier choice is extensive. International prepaid phone cards will save you money, in fact, that's what they are designed to do. When you become accustomed to using one, you'll wonder how you ever got on in life without a phone card.