Using Skype abroad

[JAS]

As part of my planning for the great road trip I posted the following question on the Skype site forum and as there might be others out there who have wondered the same sort of thing I thought I'd share the answer with you. Might be useful to know for those planning or with kids who are planning gap year trips etc as a way of saving a fortune in phonecalls back home.

I'm in the UK and planning to take a small road trip to Australia in 2011 (I like to plan well ahead) I do NOT own or need a mobile phone here so I don't want to have to buy one just for a holiday.

My question is...if I get myself a netbook for uploading photo's, video, email etc while I'm travelling can I add Skype (already in use on home PC) and use it in hotels that advertise as having internet access to keep in touch with family in the UK and contacts in Australia either through calling, chat or SMS's ?

Answer...

You can use your skype anywhere anyhow. If you have a skyped program on the computer or a usb dongle with skype on it you can use the computer on a wifi or a mates machine etc.
Just open skype log on with your name and hey presto.
We have skype out and a number in so if we were say in the US and the machine was on then someone could ring our UK number and we would answer.
We are actually in France but frequently ring the UK and when we are in the UK do it the other way to ring France.

Regards
JAS