Buy cell phone at Mega?

[richhagelin]

I'll be down in two weeks. Some have suggested getting a cell phone preloaded with minutes at Mega on arrival to avoid roaming charges on my US cell phone. Sounds like a good idea.

Has anyone done this? Any advice? Cost? Minutes? to US?, etc?

Thanks in advance,

Rich Hagelin

 

[cvchief]

Rich,
We bought one, a little amigo phone. We just use it to text and call local there. I never called the us on it. The cost per minute seems to go along way. The biggest problem we have is they suspend your service after so long and you have to put some more money on it to get it going. You can charge it about anywhere. We usually buy a card near the ferry in Playa to get it working each trip. You do have to do some registration thing to make sure they know who you are. Some sort of thing to avoid burner phones for the trafficantes. We had a local friend do his magic on it and fix that. otherwise I think you have to take a copy of your passport or something to the telcel office in town maybe?

 

[cobra269]

If you have verizon you might want to check out their Nationwide plus MX plan single line.

 

[ccannon707]

IMHO if you visit Coz (or anyplace in Mexico) 2x a year it's worth it to buy a pay-as-you-go phone. Previous thread talked alot about it:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cozumel/372971-phones-cozumel-2.html#post5771513

Since posting to that thread I used International Cellular aka Babblebug.net to fill my Amigo TelCel phone with success. So I can vouch for them.

Take your passport (& your phone + any paperwork that came with the phone) to a TelCel store to get the official verification/registration done. I went to the TelCel store on 2 North and 10 - someone there usually speaks some English and that can be helpful.

 

[MMM]

Yes I have done it. Bought mine at the Telcel on 10th Ave. and 2nd Calle N also. Manager there speaks English but so does the young guy at the Telcel in the Mega. I paid about $30 for mine. Nothing fancy.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

When you buy a phone on the "Amigo Plan" it comes with some pesos that last a fair time but can be used to call the US for high rates. If you plan on doing much calling buy the 500 peso card as they then give you 800 pesos of time which is near a 30% discount. Yes, the phone will shut off access after a period of time of non-use but even 100 pesos added will give you all of your previous time back.

The TelCel shop at calle 2 norte and ave 10 is perhaps the best choice but Mega is OK.



Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[mstevens]

Unless you're proficient in Spanish, you will need help getting either a phone or a SIM registered so you can use it.

I'm looking for a way to "top up" my Cozumel TelCel Amigo numbers frequently enough that the numbers don't die between trips. Apparently, this can be done through the TelCel website but as far as I can see only from Mexican banks.

 

[Codiak]

If Wi-Fi is available where your staying, just use Skype on your laptop or SmartPhone and avoid the added cost of the phone service.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Some Cozumel hotels offer free IP phone calls to the US and Canada, that is cheaper yet.


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[DandyDon]

If Wi-Fi is available where your staying, just use Skype on your laptop or SmartPhone and avoid the added cost of the phone service.

Many do not want to take a laptop, so just take your own headset, plug into the hotel lobby computer, log onto Skype: 10.5c/min. I have the $3/month subscription so calling the US is free. If the other party logs onto Skype, hang up the phone connection and talk skype-skype for free.

If your hotel does not have a lobby computer, there are still some internet cafes.