International calling

Will the place where you stay have WiFi? One great app is called WhatsApp. Allows free calling and texting. I used this app when I visited with my sister in Amsterdam. I believe whoever you want to contact needs to add the app to their phone also.

I didn't use my phone in St Petersburg or Moscow, but the hotels in both cities had
WiFi which was free and as fast and convenient as hotels in the US. Both are great cities for tourists, but watch out for aggressive pickpockets in St.P. and be careful crossing busy streets like Nevsky Prospect in St.P.