When traveling, we need to keep in touch with our family back home lest they worry that something has happened.

For cheap ways to keep in touch, we can choose any of the locally available phone cards to call back home. Problem with this option is that our relatives back home would have no way to call us anytime, should it be needed. Unless, of course, mental telepathy works and you were able to get the mental message that you need to call home.

Another budget option is to go to an internet café and send an email or chat. The thing is, we can't really expect our family to be online everytime you are on, especially if you are on different time zones.

REBTEL is another option which just came to my attention. With Rebtel, you can make and receive phone calls using your mobile phone without paying an arm and a leg in roaming fees.

Rebtel allows you to make an international mobile phone call at the price of a local phone call. With no downloads needed to be made nor contracts to be signed.

When you make a phone call using Rebtel, they will connect you to your family or friend's number via the internet. The service is available for FREE for the first month. After which, you will be charged US$1 every week but only if you use their service.

Check out this list for countries which are serviced by Rebtel.