3 Video Call Options for Travelers & Expats

Back in the days before the internet became as widespread as it is now, traveling could be an overwhelmingly isolating experience. Living abroad could be even more so. Prior to the spread of internet connectivity, the best way to stay in touch with friends and family back home was with international calling cards. Before that, it was stamps, letters and post-cards. We’ve come a long way!

New ways to keep in touch

These days it’s pretty easy to find an internet connection when you’re traveling around the world. That makes staying touch with people at home much easier – but it also makes the communication much better. You no longer need to deal with a crackling, echo filled phone line. These days, we can talk with clear sound, and even see each other! Here is our list of the best ways to stay in touch with people back home while you’re traveling or living abroad.

The list

SkypeSkype. Skype was the original heavyweight of the internet video call world. For many people, it’s still the first thing that comes to mind when they think of video chatting with their computers. Skype has made a lot of progress in the past few years, and now you can find it anywhere – from it’s traditional icon on a PC desktop to physical phone, tablets, and more. Basic 1 on 1 video calls with Skype are free. You can also use Skype to talk with groups, or to call landline or cellphone numbers, but that costs money. The biggest benefit of using Skype is it’s robustness – not only can you use it to make video calls to home, but you can use it to send and receive files and numerous other little helpful things. Skype is also very well known. If you wander into an internet cafe in a small town in the middle of nowhere, there’s a good chance they’ve already got Skype installed and ready-to-go.

Google HangoutsGoogle Hangouts. Google Hangouts is the latest naming iteration of Google’s chatting service. Hangouts evolved from Google Video and Google Voice. Hangouts offers much of the same functionality that Skype does, but it does so from within the Google services ecosystem. If you have a GMail or a Google+ account, getting into Hangouts is super easy. Video calls to other users are free, just like Skype. Unlike Skype, though, Google Hangouts will also let you group video conference for free! That’s nice. While Hangouts is a spin-off of Google Voice, it did not inherit Google Voice’s ability to call actual phones. For that, you still have to use the Google Voice app. Calls within the U.S.A. are free, but anything involving another country costs a tiny amount. Call quality is as good as your connection. These days, even in remote areas, it should be very usable.

YouTubeYoutube. You know Evan and Rachel are gonna talk about YouTube as a communication method, right? That’s our thing! While YouTube is unlike the previous methods we mentioned in that it’s inherently one-way communication for video, it’s still a great way to keep in touch. You can upload anything you like, from anywhere, and your friends and family can watch it when they have time. A major benefit of this is that you don’t have to wake up your parents by calling them on Skype when it’s noon in Thailand, but midnight back home! YouTube can also expose a lot more people to your ideas than you’d ever considered. Why not start a channel?

Other ways

Of course, these aren’t the only ways to stay in touch with friends and family back home. All of those old methods still work, too – and who doesn’t love getting a post card or letter from an exotic destination, even in the age of the video call? Thanks for reading. Safe travels!