When you travel overseas, for business or pleasure, you still need to stay in touch with friends, family and business colleagues back home. Just taking your home mobile phone with you should not be an option, as international roaming costs can be prohibitively expensive. Here are some ideas for you to consider so that you can save money whilst you travel:

- Get yourself an International SIM card- This is one of the best ways to keep you mobile and contactable. An International SIM card can save you between 60-90% on your call costs and, in many countries, you will not even pay to receive a call. International SIM cards are cheap and allow you to always be contactable.

- Leave your home mobile phone off- With your home mobile, not only will you have high costs for making calls, but you will also pay a fairly high rate to receive calls. Most mobile phone carriers will allow you to call your voicemail box from a landline. This can be the cheapest way to get your messages whilst you are away. Some mobile phone carriers can send voicemails to your email inbox. Some international SIM cards will allow you to forward your home mobile number.

- Send a text if it will suffice- If you are using a mobile, the next think to ask is whether you really need to make a call. Will a text message suffice? Text messages are cheap, and you do not pay to receive a text.

- Send an email- An email is another option. The only cost you have here is internet access in your hotel or at an internet café.

- Get an International Phone card- One of these is a must! If there is a landline you can use to make a call, then use your phone card and you will save a fortune.