2 of the people traveling with me in August are interested in renting a cell phone to use during their vacation. It is unlikely that they will travel to Jamaica much after this trip so purchasing one is not a good option for them. Where can they rent a phone and how much will it be? It would be ideal if both could know their phone number prior to arriving.
Thanks!
How about getting the U.S phone unlocked and putting in a Lime or Digicel Sim Card in it? The new(Less than half of last years) rates make it
inexpensive...Did all the talking I wanted for 30 dollars total, including local and international....Just thinking....
Happy Travels...
SKB
Instead of starting my own thread I'll just bump this one. I have the same question as I'll probably want a phone to call taxis' and to set up reservations for dinner and such. I hear mentions of getting them at digicel (sp?). Is that purchase only or can you rent there as well? Reading other threads people say hotels can help you usually but also that you might as well buy. Seeing as it will be a very long time before I can return I'm not sure if that's the best option for me.
Last edited by maxwell87; 08-01-2012 at 04:34 PM.
You can purchase an unlock code for your current phone for $1.99 on ebay. If you have a newer phone thru T Mobile or AT&T it should work. I did it with a blackberry and it worked. I believe I paid around $7 for a local sim card in Jamaica and than you can buy some minutes for around $10 which should last you the entire trip if you keep the conversations on the lighter side. So for around $20 you are good to go.
I find wifi access almost everywhere for free
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/kbisiar
okay the cell phone rental business in Negrl for the most part has gone bye bye........
I think with the fairly inexpensive Lime cellies and using Wifi on your phone........have killed the cellie rental business
some drivers hand them out for free or a nominal charge.....SeaStar Inn offers them free to all guests.......
but for the most part you need to bring a cellie or buy one there.........mi bought one there two weeks ago.......
and here is the story from another post.........
okay mi did the Jamaican cellie shuffle in Negril 2 weeks 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
Americana Ocho Rios 82~HedoII 84,91~T-Water 85~Wexford Court Mobay 85~Miss Mary’s 86,87~Barry’s 88~Seawinds Mobay 89~LTU 91~Charela Inn 92~Negril Inn 92~SamSara 93,94~Ocean Edge 95,96~Singles 95,96~Thrills 95~Hilltop 96,99~Pee Wees 97~Kool Browns/Bentley's 97~Cottage 99-03~Roots Bamboo 03~Merrill’s I&II 04,05~Corals Seas Cliffs & Beach 06~Catcha Falling Star 07~Blue Cave Castle 08~SeaStar 10,12~(4x)Bourbon Beach 12~T&J Cottages on Ella Dr 12-18~PeWee Cottages 18~Lynch Cottages 19,20
To rent, it is best to contact your driver and/or your hotel. Many offer this service... usually between $0-$20 per week to rent.
Have a look at the other recent cell phone thread. You can buy a Lime phone and sim card with some minutes thrown in for $20. I don't want to mess with my iPhone plan at home and don't even carry it around with me everywhere while there. I only bring it out when wanting to surf using wifi at my hotel. Plus I've read there's a chance our phones won't be compatible. It may be worth it if you have a spare gsm quad band phone that you're not too worried about possibly getting wet etc. That's just my opinion. I believe renting a phone for a week would cost more than $20. Some transfer drivers will loan you a cell phone, and just take a deposit that's returned when you are picked up to go back to the airport. That's obviously your cheapest option, IF you're planning on using one of those drivers for a private transfer anyway.Originally Posted by maxwell87
*while I was busy writing, the last couple of posts beat me to it - Marko kindly copied his post from the other thread - thanks Marko, you're awesome!
Last edited by Melody; 08-01-2012 at 07:52 PM.
Thank you all for the replies. Sounds like I'll ask at the hotel(still figuring out which one) and if they don't offer it I'll just grab a cheap phone at a store.
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