Thinking of picking up a phone on our next trip. We visit 1 to 2 times a year. What do I need to do to keep it activated. Is this any easier with Digicel or Lime?
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Thinking of picking up a phone on our next trip. We visit 1 to 2 times a year. What do I need to do to keep it activated. Is this any easier with Digicel or Lime?
I top mine up the first of the month with the minimum amount ( i think it is 7.50 US with eztop) to keep it active
We bought a cheap phone several years back at the Digicel store in the roundabout. On our subsequent visits, we buy a prepaid SIM card with the lowest calling minutes available. Your minutes expire after 3 months. And you don't need to get a separate international calling plan to be able to call the states.
If you have a phone you no longer use, get it unlocked (or unlock your current phone) and buy a sim card from Digicel when you arrive and add mins to it. You can top up online from your home in order to keep it activated until your next trip.
Digicel has an auto top up option on their website. I have it add 500 J once a month.
OK, here's who I see it , please comment if I'm wrong, you top off $5 a month (500ja= $5 about now) I go 6mos to a year, no top off, buy new sim about $7 and min $5 and I'm ready to go! Then top off as needed when there. Let the sim die...does anyone really need your old #?
I top up on line (Digicel Jamaica) every 60 days until I go back. I have had the same sims for the last 5 years. Same for my lime phone which I've had for 7 years. And using the same phones that I brought with me that I had unlocked. (Old cells from home.)
Thanks everyone! Still deciding if it worth it to buy a phone or just borrow one from our driver
Lime is cheaper and the sim lasts a good 6 months before needing any kind of top up. I saw a post a few months ago saying they were able to just top it up online, just short of a year later. I bought one in November and topped up before going mid April, $5, and it was fine. Will be longer till my next visit so I'll top up twice a year. It's really convenient to have your saved contacts. I paid just over $10 for phone & sim, another $10/year to keep it active is well worth it. I got my phone half price tho. :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lulu and Al
5 bucks a month is not much. It's less for a year of celly service in Jamaica than it is for one month in the states.
Save me a trip to get a sim. Have my driver on lock. Etc
Thanks Melody.....think maybe I'll try Lime. Is the sevice equal to Digicel? I like the idea of just topping it off a couple times a year rather than monthly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Melody
I have a digicel and I top up every 3 months online about $5 US... keeps it active and also gives me plenty of credit when I arrive.
I've read the service is the same. I certainly didn't have any problems. Calls to the US & Canada are only 3 cents/minute, no need to buy an int'l plan. Calls Lime to Lime are the same. Calls to digicel or Jamaican landlines are 8 cents/minute I believe. Anything I've read posted indicates the digicel cheapest phone and sim is about 2x the regular cost of the same with Lime. Digicel has dominated the market so you'll find most locals use digicel plus travellers who purchased their phones over a year ago. Lime's phone prices have been cheaper over the last year to break into the market competing with digicel - I was lucky enough to get in on one of their half price sales. In April, I did find some little stores were out of Lime credit. I found some at a couple of places and of course, was able to top up online while there (using wifi on my smartphone).Quote:
Originally Posted by NoWorries4 me