Hi,

I have the lovely problem of many cushy stays all over Europe in my future and would like to be able to call home without losing my shirt epaulets and left arm.

I live in Canada have a phone with no sim card and was considering getting an I-pod touch, I phone, or I pad to Skype home with (I do not need an Apple product that just seemed to be what many people have). Does anyone have any recommendations. ie should I just get a phone card. Do the hotels all have free wifi like they seem to have in Canada?

This does not need to be only for EU it could be a thread for anywhere.

skype mate - you can even route it through your mobile phone .

If you use an Apple computer then FaceTime is really excellent but as far as I know it only works from Apple to Apple computer. Perhaps an 11 inch or 13 inch Mac Air and an iMac base station?

Do the hotels all have free wifi like they seem to have in Canada?

Generally European hotels regard providing wifi as a priviledge not a right, and charge accordingly, and the cost can be extortionate.
Happily many handling companies provide freee wifi.