INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

International Dialing

There are four components to the number you dial:

1) The international direct dialing prefix (IDD). 

This code indicates to phone systems that you are making an international call. In the U.S., this code is "011".

Canada, and many Caribbean islands, use the same country code as the U.S. -- 1. For these locations, dial as you would a long-distance U.S. number, and do not enter the 011 code.)

2) The country code. 

This is a number of 1, 2, or 3 digits (see below).

3) The area code.

This is a number of 1, 2, or 3 for a region of phone numbers within that country.

4) The phone number.

This is a number or 5,6,7 or 8 digits.

Troubleshooting

• You may not know whether you have the area code. (In the U.S., for example, a person doesn't always include the area code when giving out their number.)

• The area code is missing. Search the web (eg. ‘area codes for X’ : where X is the city) or search out a few other businesses in the same country or, better, the same city. Compare these phone numbers with the one you are trying to reach. 

• You may need to drop a leading zero. In France, all numbers are expressed as 10 digits, beginning with a zero. Dialing within France, you dial all 10 digits. From abroad, you drop the leading zero. Each country has their own rules.

• It's an old number. If the number is more than a year or two old, there's a good chance it's changed. You'll have to track down a new number. Numbers and number of digits are changing rapidly in many countries.

Some Specific Countries as examples: 

Australia: The country code is 61. This is followed by the area code (typically a single digit -- drop any leading 0), then the remaining number (typically 8 digits). The current pattern is:
Sydney: 011 61 2 9### #### Port Douglas: 011 61 7 4### #### Leura: 011 61 2 4### ####

France: The country code is 33. The areas codes are usually single digits with a leading zero (the first digit is always 0), followed by the 8-digit local number. To dial from abroad, drop this initial zero and use the single remaining digit as the area code. To call France from the U.S. you would dial something like: 011-33-# #### ####.

Italy: The country code is 39. The length of area codes varies; Rome is 06, Florence is 055. In Italy, the leading zero does not get dropped when you dial from abroad.

Mexico: The country code is 52. The country code is followed by 8 digits, representing the regional code and number; eventually this will be a 10-digit number.

New Zealand: The country code is 64. The regional code is one-digit  (South Island is a 3) and a 7-digit phone number.

Saba: The country code is 599-4. All phone numbers on Saba have 5 digits, beginning with a 6. To call from the U.S. you would dial: 011-599-4-6####.

Switzerland: The country code is 41. Many area codes changed in 1996 and 1997. The Zermatt area code changed from 28 to 279, but the 9 is often separated, and made into part of the following number, which is 6 digits. A typical call from the U.S. to Zermatt would be: 011 41 27 9## ## ##.

Thailand: The country code is 66. Followed by an area or city code (1 or 2 digits) and a local number (length may vary). Within the country, the area code often starts with a zero; this is dropped when you dial from abroad. Bangkok area/city code is 2; Chiang-Mai is 53; Phuket is 76. To call Bangkok from the U.S. you would dial: 011 6 2 ### ####.

Selected Country Codes