I think you just need a better cell phone plan. I guess it also depends on how much you want to spend a month, though. If you get a calling card, like OneSuite, you can keep a minimum of $10 on it and then just use it when you need it. Sounds like that might be an option for you. My family used it when I was over there, and now I've taken it over to call my friends back in Japan and Australia. I know what you mean about the "better rates" though. My phone didn't charge me for incoming calls, so as long as other people called me, my bill was low. But if I had to call out, I got in trouble with high bills there too.