Calling from Coz/Cancun

[richhagelin]

What's the best way to call the US from Cancun and/or Cozumel? I did the TELMEX card last time and I never could get it to work from the pay phone at Cancun airport.

Is there some secret to using it? Is there a better way?

Rich Hagelin

 

[Photocoz]

What's the best way to call the US from Cancun and/or Cozumel? I did the TELMEX card last time and I never could get it to work from the pay phone at Cancun airport.

Is there some secret to using it? Is there a better way?

Rich Hagelin

The phone has to be a TELMEX phone in order for the TELMEX card to work. Everyday people come into my shop asking the same question, and in all honesty - I really don't have a definitive answer, because every time I ask the phone company - I get a different answer. Here is what I do know:
Do not buy a phone card in the states to use down here - 90% of them do not work - even though they say they will.
Either buy a telmex card & find a telmex phone OR go to one of the thousands of calling centers & place the call from there - price is average & you have many options on how you want to do it (i.e direct dial, phone card, calling card etc...)
By having your hotel operator connect you to an AT&T or MCI or whatever operator - you are going to pay a very hefty service fee ($5 - $10 just to connect you PLUS your call)
And watch out for "Satellite phones" that look like payphones, I honestly am not sure how to identify them, or if they still even are around here, but I know a few years ago my mom who was here visiting me, called my dad from one without knowing it & when she got home, the 10 minute conversation was over $60.00!!!

 

[Giggi]

Whatever you do, do NOT call collect. A 5 minute phone call home cost me $50.

 

[DiverMo]

Is there a better way?

Rich Hagelin

There is an article that deals with this subject in depth on another coz forum. I don't remember the details, but it's how you switch plans with your cell phone provider to allow you to call from coz to the us. Here's the article:

Cell Phones in Coz


Alternatively - you can just stay at the Villa Aldora. They provide unlimited FREE use of their phones to anywhere in North America. Yep - I said FREE. In addition, anybody in the states may call you in Coz for the cost of a long distance call to New York. No international rates.

 

[Christi]

There is an article that deals with this subject in depth on another coz forum. I don't remember the details, but it's how you switch plans with your cell phone provider to allow you to call from coz to the us. Here's the article:

Cell Phones in Coz


Alternatively - you can just stay at the Villa Aldora. They provide unlimited FREE use of their phones to anywhere in North America. Yep - I said FREE. In addition, anybody in the states may call you in Coz for the cost of a long distance call to New York. No international rates.

They must have the vonage phone which is connected to the high speed internet. It's flat rate of $30 a month or something...I'm looking into that myself. Sure would be nice to have NORMAL phone bills again...haha!

 

[richhagelin]

Does anyone know if there is a calling center in the Cancun airport? If so, where is it?

Rich Hagelin

 

[DiverMo]

They must have the vonage phone which is connected to the high speed internet. It's flat rate of $30 a month or something...I'm looking into that myself. Sure would be nice to have NORMAL phone bills again...haha!

I'm not sure what it is called, but you are right - it is an internet phone. And only $30/month? Man, I don't even have that low of a rate here in the states! But that would be great - a little less money for them, a little more money for you.

Also, Christi - ygpm.

 

[Christi]

I'm not sure what it is called, but you are right - it is an internet phone. And only $30/month? Man, I don't even have that low of a rate here in the states! But that would be great - a little less money for them, a little more money for you.

Also, Christi - ygpm.

Got it and responded

The internet phone service may be more than $30, I just remember it being VERy cheap for being able to call the states whenever and for as long as i want. There are differnet plans, and a European plan as well. I have a few other friends on the island that have it, and I think calls to Europe are only 6 or 7 cents a minute. Pretty cool stuff! I need to quit procrastinating and just DO IT.

 

[Cozoholic]

We have it, and the quality is definatly worth the savings.

Called coz back in feb, i think it was only a few $$..prob. on the phone 20 mins or so..

Typically our phone bill is ~$29.00 unlimited calling...

 

[Christi]

We have it, and the quality is definatly worth the savings.

Called coz back in feb, i think it was only a few $$..prob. on the phone 20 mins or so..

Typically our phone bill is ~$29.00 unlimited calling...

I'm getting wirelss internet here at my office at the end of the week...I wonder if it will work with that. I have DSL at home which I am sure it will work with. I know that the cable conenction is too slow here, not to mention unreliable.