Calling home from Bonaire

[uncfnp]

Got another trip in two weeks and have always just used Skype in the past but wondering how others manage phone calls while on the island.

 

[bkpix]

On Curacao we just bought a pay as you go cheap cell phone. It worked just fine. I suppose it is the same on Bonaire as they are both Digicel.

 

[vincent54]

Digicel and ATT are partners in the caribbean.. If you have ATT as a provider, then you can use your 3G phone. Buy the International plan to save dollars. Or just buy a prepaid and buy minutes as you use them. Sprint doesn't seem to connect. Cheers

 

[uncfnp]

Verizon :-(

 

[drrich2]

I seldom phone home, but my iPhone 4 (AT&T) can do so. I'd rather not pay the international call rate, whatever that is. My call was regarding a debit card being declined (do call your debit & credit card providers in advance & let them know where you'll be!).

I've got a buddy in Bonaire; voice calls via Skype are okay, but video intermittently choppy.

A big question is how much time do you figure to spend on the phone. Brief as needed calls of necessity are fine for the iPhone. Extended chats with Mom might be another story.

Richard.

 

[wwguy]

We use two methods. Both depend on internet connectivity, which is free where we stay.

1) Google Voice account combined with the Talkatone app for iOS or Android. The apps are free, as are the phone calls and texts placed while using it. You have to set up the Google Voice account while you're in the US. You can alternatively access Google Voice directly from your PC to make calls. It takes a little time to figure it out when first setting it up, but it works great.

2) We have iPhones and IPads that support Apple's FaceTime with other iOS users back home.

We have Verizon phones and have been surprised by background data usage charges in the past. We now turn off all cellular data features on our phones before we land in Bonaire. The above solutions work completely over wifi and don't require cellular connection.

 

[uncfnp]

Thanks guys. Really appreciate the input. The critical calls I need to make are to check on my 80 something Mom so no Wi Fi or smart phone options. Looks like it will be Skype again this year.

She can text but only through her phone, not Internet. Still investigating any way to get her phone messages on iPad or send messages via wi if to her phone.

 

[drrich2]

Have you tried the paid Skype offering(s)? I use the free version, but I've got a buddy in Bonaire who pays and can call my cell phone from his computer using Skype.

But when he calls, I think my caller I.D. shows the origin as Palmdale (or something like that), Florida. So if you do this, better warn your mother so she doesn't think it's a telemarketer.

Richard.

 

[wwguy]

Thanks guys. Really appreciate the input. The critical calls I need to make are to check on my 80 something Mom so no Wi Fi or smart phone options. Looks like it will be Skype again this year.

She can text but only through her phone, not Internet. Still investigating any way to get her phone messages on iPad or send messages via wi if to her phone.

With Google Voice you get a unique phone number associated with the account. Calls you make originate from this number, and others can call it and/or leave voice mail etc. As long as Mom has your GV phone number she won't know the difference from her end.

 

[bkpix]

Digicel and ATT are partners in the caribbean.. If you have ATT as a provider, then you can use your 3G phone. Buy the International plan to save dollars. Or just buy a prepaid and buy minutes as you use them. Sprint doesn't seem to connect. Cheers

We have ATT here in the US, and it did not work on Curacao.