Any time's a good time to call your mother, but Mother's Day (May 11) is an especially good occasion, even if the call is of the dialing for dollars nature. It's also a good opportunity to learn how to get hooked up with a Skype account, or some VoIP solution, for cheap international phone calls. You can also pick up calling cards for ten bucks in most countries, buy an international calling card before you leave home, or rent a GSM international phone for use abroad. Just don't use your US cell phone outside the US -- way too spendy.

• US Cell Phones Abroad (Or Why I Love Skype) - learn about Skype vs cell phones
• How to make international phone calls -- finding country codes | Learn about buying and renting international cell phones

^{Photo - Carlos 'n Charlie's, Acapulco, Explorica Mexico Tour 2005 - © Kathleen Crislip}