Suggestions on getting a phone while in Negril

Hi,

Trying to get some imput on getting a cell phone while I'm in Negril for 7 days.
Looking for basic service just to call local businesses, short term commitment.
Thank u for any advice.

I just had my driver...Terry from Clives Transport stop at the Digicel that's near the airport...he helped me pick out a cheap phone, and it came with a SIM card, charger and headphones. I topped it up with $500 JMD...the good thing about it, every time I sent messages, I would earn more credit. The total cost of everything was around $40USD.

It's sometimes possible to get a cell phone from your airport transfer company. Sometimes complimentary and sometimes a reasonable fee is involved. I have found this available form private transfer companies such as Kingley's but you won't have that option if you don't use a private transfer. Otherwise you can buy a cheap phone at digicel or their competition. There are plenty of past threads on this topic. Do a search for more detailed information.

you don't need an account, contract or any committment - in fact I think you must be a local resident to get a monthly account. For visitors, it's prepaid phones, which are easily available and inexpensive.

Just go to any Digicel store. You can get a phone, SIM card, and credits, for about $50.00 US.

Your hotel usually will rent you a phone

That good info, thanks I'll keep that in mind

Signmon45

I'll check with CCLP, last time I was there I didn't notice if they rented, I know White Sands does but you have to be a guest.
thanks!

I believe you can get a Lime cell, & sim for $20. Marko did a thread on this wiith all the supportive facts showing how much cheaper Lime was than Digicel. I cut & paste it here for you:

Re: Cell phone question.
okay mi did the Jamaican cellie shuffle in Negril a week ago..........
it was a Monday morning and mi waited till 10AM and hit the Cambio at Bourbon Beach......yes they have one there
and then took mi $100J red plate taxi to the roundabout and proceeded to the Digicel Store.........
within a minute mi have the pricing for the cheapest Digicel cellie, sim and tax = $4,500J's
next mi went to the Electronic store on the second level of Coral Seas Plaza........
and within a minute mi had the pricing for the cheapest Digicel cellie, sim and tax = $4,000J's
then mi went door to the Lime store on the second floor above ValueMaster..........
and within a minute mi had the pricing on the cheapest Lime cellie, sim and tax = $1,800J's

so guess which one mi took........of course the Lime or Slime as mi call dem.......lol
the Lime came with 100 free credits too so it was a no brainer.......
mi gave her a copy of mi passport and the nice lady wrote it up........
plus mi bought $1,000J's worth of credits.........the Lime cellies are actually cheaper to call North America too.....
now if mi had been der the Friday before.....
they had the same cheap cellie, sim, tax and 100 free credits for $1,185J's as a one time special promo......dayum mi missed it.......lol
nice Lime Lady setup the cellie, checked to make sure it took a charge from the adapter and added mi minutes

FYI the sim card from Lime or Digicel is $300J's plus tax.......cheap mon
the Lime Store and Digicel Stores are open to 5PM weekdays........
the Lime and Digicel have about the same cellies........
mi got a Samsung that has the FM radio but never used it........
Lime had two choices for their cheapest cellie.......Digicel only had one when mi was there......

okay so mi had 1,000 credits.......so someone guess what mi had left on the cellie when mi left Jamaica......

approx 750 credits........lol......mi hate using phones on vacation but they are must when you need dem......lol

you can text from the USA or call Jamaica on Slime but you are roaming on the Cingular network........
the text messages aren't too expensive but you'll go right thru your credits if you talkie on it........lol

personally mi use eztop to top off the cellie.........you can see it right on the phone when you do it too.....

hope dat was some help........so go Slime.....lol........Digicel cellies are way too expensive to buy in Jamaica

Cool Runnings, Marko

I'm going slime for better than half the price. Thanks for sharing your research Marko! In addition to Negril, there's a Lime store in the Baywest shopping center, St. James, open 8-6, Mon - Sat.

Or you can you can bring your own unlocked GSM phone (like ATT) and buy a Lime sim card for about $3.50 USD and all you have to do is add minutes and you are set. Ask your friends....you'd be surprised how many people have older ATT phones like a RAZR sitting around they'd likely give away :D

I have a Motorola RAZR that I've used for three years. I think I paid about 20 bucks.

I just checked eBay and there are a bunch of phones for under 20.00

Most cell phones, even "disposable" ones are locked to their carrier. You will need the "unlock code" to unlock your phone. Make certain it is a GSM phone, also. I believe that there is a shop in the Juicy Patties plaza that can do it for you for a small fee..Yellowman Electronics or Yellowman Phones...something like that...you can also buy the codes on Ebay...I think....

I called ATT customer service and I gave them the ESN numbers off two phones given to me. ATT gave me the unlock codes for free without any hassles.