I can get 100 minutes from ATT for a reasonable amount for my cell phone. Do you recommend just bringing my cell, which I could also use to check emails, or to buy a cell phone in Negril?
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I can get 100 minutes from ATT for a reasonable amount for my cell phone. Do you recommend just bringing my cell, which I could also use to check emails, or to buy a cell phone in Negril?
What's "reasonable"? How long are you staying? Are you staying somewhere that will necessitate calling for taxis?
Cell phones and minutes are cheap in Jamaica. Weigh your options.
I get a phone from my driver and put credits on it. 10 bucks. US. A digicel phone can be bought cheap. Lime also. To me it comes down to data. I leave my phone at home. I have a cheap tablet that I take. Use on wifi. I use the digicel phone and call home to tell someone the name and number of my hotel. Also the digicel phone I am carrying. Cell phones can be bought anywhere. I think the hi lo sells them.
How much for minutes to call the states on the local cell phones? I'm only there 6 days, but I need to be able to call home and check on kids and husband and also maybe for some local calls. Thought it might be easier to just use my phone, but maybe not? I'm not planning on bring my ipad, so I could just check email from my phone on wifi and use a local phone. What would cost be to buy a phone and say have at least 100 minutes to call home?
50 bucks should do it.
You can buy a Digicel phone for as cheep as $24USD. Put $500J on the phone and get 600 minutes of international time for $1200J. In other words, you can have a local phone for taxi's and such + 600 long distance minutes for less than $50USD. I think Hi-Lo is selling throw away phones for even less. Maybe $10USD if I can remember.
you can buy the cheap but effective LIIME phones for perhaps 10-15 USD and that comes with small amount of minutes, if you need more 12 USD get you about 600 minutes of international; for $30 you would have a phone, local and USA minutes
we have his and hers ja cell phones, for about $ 45.00 u.s. each, all in, you also get 700 or 800 international l.d. min included, plus local minutes, we just update them each visit , it is worth it if you go every year, soon come
DO NOT use your cell phone in Jamaica --- the cost will be exorbitant - I mean crazy high - make sure you keep it on airplane mode and turn off data roaming and cellular data - ATT will not be your provider and data roaming fees are nuts - much much cheaper to get a JA cell phone
If you have an older cell phone kicking around, have it unblocked and buy a sim card and minutes down there. We had an older IPhone 3 unblocked. We paid $13.00 for 1000 international minutes and 30 local minutes. We'll take that phone down with us ever year now and buy minutes when we get there. When we got home we used the rest of the minutes up texting friends we met on our trip.
We use Digicel when we are there, it's quite inexpensive. If you go to the Digicel store do not forget to bring your passport. They cannot serve you without it and you will end up having to make an extra trip. It's happened to us and I have seen it happen to others.
Your US drivers license is sufficient.
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Originally Posted by Shaggy
Just so you are aware, you do not 'have to' buy the "international minutes" to be able to make calls internationally - the regular $J phone cards work fine to make international calls. the 'international minutes' package is really intended as a savings deal for longterm use, for someone who will be there for a while, or who really likes to talk a LOT, lol. But just for a week, there's no need - of course you certainly can if you want to, but it's not necessary. A $J500 phone card is likely all one would need if just making 'check in' calls.Quote:
Put $500J on the phone and get 600 minutes of international time for $1200J.
and i concur with seveen - never use your home cell phone - it's the roaming charges that kill you on the bill - no matter WHAT kind of 'deal' your phone company 'says' they have for 'per minute' charges. It's always much cheaper to just buy a cheap local phone. And safer too..... fancy phones are targeted items. I know for me personally, i don't want my good phone to be 'seen' out and about, and never want it to be out in the hot sun, or near the sand or water.
I agree with missblue. Regular minutes with Lime cost 3 cents a minute, local to Lime or Digicel; to US and Canadian cells and landlines. $500j gets you about 166 minutes calling any # listed above. Their SIM cards are all $300j. I bought a basic phone including sim for $999j. They now have "phones to go" at most gas stations and HiLo etc, as cheap as $1100-$1200j, including sim. Their sims stay active for 6 months, or longer I've read others report. You can top up online as well. I bring my smartphone and make sure roaming and data are off, but wifi on, to use for emailing/searches, checking in for flights etc, but keep it locked in my safe when I'm not using it at my hotel. Works great.
When you buy one of the low cost Lime or Digicell phones, do they include the charger or would that be extra? (If so How much are the chargers?). Thnx!
Chargers are included.
I use a jail broke iPhone and just top it off at the Lime store in the circle. Cheap and easy.. That way you can use free wifi at many places in Negril and have the talk and text feature as well.
Lime or Digicel? Can anyone confirm pricing on the phones? I may be bringing a half dozen people to Hi-Lo if this is correct...Quote:
I think Hi-Lo is selling throw away phones for even less. Maybe $10USD if I can remember.