Write lists of phone numbers and addresses of emergency contacts, friends you will be visiting, numbers to call if you lose things and need to cancel services or get replacements sent to you (your cell phone and credit cards, for example), phone numbers and addresses of embassies/consulates, and perhaps addresses of useful travel-related websites.
Similarly, for any hotels or lodging you have arranged in advance, make a note of addresses and phone numbers.
Enter all the phone numbers into your phone’s address book and maybe even email a copy to yourself. Another idea to keep it safe is to print out the list on a small piece of paper and laminate this (thus waterproofing it).
Try to get local numbers. These will be cheaper to call from within the country where you are staying, and besides, most home country toll-free numbers can not be accessed from overseas.
There are ways around this, however. One is to use the 
AT&T USADirect service, which gives access to a limited number of 800 numbers. Or a similar service from MCI where you can call the number listed for the country where you are currently located and ask the operator to make a collect call to the number you are trying to reach (my bank in the US uses this service, for example).
However, the best way to keep in touch while abroad is to use Skype.
I have been using this service for a few years now, calling between Europe and the States (and occasionally to France and New Zealand), a lot of the time for free, and at other times for just pennies. It is also the best way to call 800 numbers in the US from Europe (and for free).
Click on the ad above to check them out.
