Calling home from Bonaire

[lmorin]

We have sprint cell phones that worked in roaming mode last summer, but did not connect at all in January.

 

[DandyDon]

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.

I sign up for the $3/month Skype plan for virtually unlimited US calling before I leave, then I can call US phones for free from outside of the US - and then cancel it when I get back.

I'm not clear on why she can't text from her computer - what you want to do exactly? I turn off texting on my Verizon phone when I leave the US so I won't get charged international roaming text rates for deliveries, and I don't answer it when it rings. I use Skype to check my voice mail, then return calls as needed. I only leave the phone able to call out in case of an emergency, other than when I go to Cozumel - when I change to the Mexico plan and use the voice services as much as I want.

 

[Gill]

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.

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to try the Talkatone app. I didn't feel like lugging my laptop during my last international trip and was wondering what kind of solutions were out there to use on my iPhone since I'm a Google Voice user.

 

[Diver0001]

How things have changed.

The first time I did a trip around the world I was "offline" for 6 or 7 months. I did manage to make one phone call from where I was but it took some effort to negotiate a price to use the satellite phone and I was allowed to talk for 2 minutes say "OVER" between sentences because it took THAT long for signal to get to the other side.

On the second world trip I called weekly from a a phone at a general post office

On the most recent trip I made, I got stressed out if I didn't have coverage for 15 minutes and on the airplane it was the first time in 4 years I had turned my mobile phone off.

To me, something has been lost. Travelling used to be more of an adventure when you (nearly literally) fell off the edge of the world and had to rely on your wits and instincts ... and sometimes got really stuck. I mean, when you're REALLY stuck in the middle of nowhere and your backpack contains nothing more than a pair of underwear that are dirtier than the ones you have on, a book, a towel and 1/2 bottle of whiskey...you have no satellite navigation, no email and no telephone.... For all intents and purposes you're lost, alone and abandoned. THEN... and only then... do your REALLY learn what you're made of.

Before the internet we all used to travel like this. in fact, it's the REASON we traveled.

So to address the OP's question. Tell the people back home that you won't be calling. Leave your cellphone and ipad at home and unplug. You might be amazed at what happens.

R..

 

[morecowbells]

I have AT&T and it worked when we were in Bonaire a few weeks ago. Prior to our trip, we notified our credit card company about leaving the country. Despite the heads up, our first transaction at the supermarket was declined. My one and only call from Bonaire was made to the credit card company.

 

[wwguy]

How things have changed.

The first time I did a trip around the world I was "offline" for 6 or 7 months. I did manage to make one phone call from where I was but it took some effort to negotiate a price to use the satellite phone and I was allowed to talk for 2 minutes say "OVER" between sentences because it took THAT long for signal to get to the other side.

On the second world trip I called weekly from a a phone at a general post office

On the most recent trip I made, I got stressed out if I didn't have coverage for 15 minutes and on the airplane it was the first time in 4 years I had turned my mobile phone off.

To me, something has been lost. Travelling used to be more of an adventure when you (nearly literally) fell off the edge of the world and had to rely on your wits and instincts ... and sometimes got really stuck. I mean, when you're REALLY stuck in the middle of nowhere and your backpack contains nothing more than a pair of underwear that are dirtier than the ones you have on, a book, a towel and 1/2 bottle of whiskey...you have no satellite navigation, no email and no telephone.... For all intents and purposes you're lost, alone and abandoned. THEN... and only then... do your REALLY learn what you're made of.

Before the internet we all used to travel like this. in fact, it's the REASON we traveled.

So to address the OP's question. Tell the people back home that you won't be calling. Leave your cellphone and ipad at home and unplug. You might be amazed at what happens.

R..

Your enthusiasm for unplugging is appreciated and shared, but your advice is likely not helpful to the OP. Many of us are only able to do some of these trips because we're connected. The OP was clear that she needs to stay in contact with her elderly mother. In my case I need to stay in touch with colleagues, customers, and family during extended vacations of 3 weeks or more. For some of us the alternative to connectivity on vacation is staying at home.

 

[uncfnp]

I sign up for the $3/month Skype plan for virtually unlimited US calling before I leave, then I can call US phones for free from outside of the US - and then cancel it when I get back.

I'm not clear on why she can't text from her computer - what you want to do exactly? I turn off texting on my Verizon phone when I leave the US so I won't get charged international roaming text rates for deliveries, and I don't answer it when it rings. I use Skype to check my voice mail, then return calls as needed. I only leave the phone able to call out in case of an emergency, other than when I go to Cozumel - when I change to the Mexico plan and use the voice services as much as I want.

Don,

Mom has a landline and a very low tech cell phone that she writes messages on paper, takes a photo of the message then sends it to me because the keyboard on her phone is very rudimentary. I then text her back. She does not have a computer or any Internet access or I would just email her. In the past, I would Skype her frequently but I am looking for a way that she could call or at least text me.


.

---------- Post added February 21st, 2013 at 04:14 PM ----------

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.

I have downloaded Goggle Voice and Talkatone but have not figured out how to use them yet

---------- Post added February 21st, 2013 at 04:19 PM ----------

How things have changed.

The first time I did a trip around the world I was "offline" for 6 or 7 months. I did manage to make one phone call from where I was but it took some effort to negotiate a price to use the satellite phone and I was allowed to talk for 2 minutes say "OVER" between sentences because it took THAT long for signal to get to the other side.

On the second world trip I called weekly from a a phone at a general post office

On the most recent trip I made, I got stressed out if I didn't have coverage for 15 minutes and on the airplane it was the first time in 4 years I had turned my mobile phone off.

To me, something has been lost. Travelling used to be more of an adventure when you (nearly literally) fell off the edge of the world and had to rely on your wits and instincts ... and sometimes got really stuck. I mean, when you're REALLY stuck in the middle of nowhere and your backpack contains nothing more than a pair of underwear that are dirtier than the ones you have on, a book, a towel and 1/2 bottle of whiskey...you have no satellite navigation, no email and no telephone.... For all intents and purposes you're lost, alone and abandoned. THEN... and only then... do your REALLY learn what you're made of.

Before the internet we all used to travel like this. in fact, it's the REASON we traveled.

So to address the OP's question. Tell the people back home that you won't be calling. Leave your cellphone and ipad at home and unplug. You might be amazed at what happens.

R..

While I appreciate the sentiment it's not really a good idea for me to be out of touch with my Mom. For obvious health concerns but even more so that Mom get VERY ANXIOUS when she can not reach me over any length of time.

 

[bcaderunr]

There's a place in the small strip Mall immediately north of the traffic circle by Den Laman on the west side called "Chat & Browse". An American, Mike, the owner, is always there and was very helpful to us during our stay for the month of January. He's got sim cards, prepaid cards, and cell phones to rent. Just a good, honest operation.

 

[Diver0001]

While I appreciate the sentiment it's not really a good idea for me to be out of touch with my Mom. For obvious health concerns but even more so that Mom get VERY ANXIOUS when she can not reach me over any length of time.

Understood

R..

 

[DandyDon]

Don,

Mom has a landline and a very low tech cell phone that she writes messages on paper, takes a photo of the message then sends it to me because the keyboard on her phone is very rudimentary. I then text her back. She does not have a computer or any Internet access or I would just email her. In the past, I would Skype her frequently but I am looking for a way that she could call or at least text me.

Gotcha! You can get a Skype number that she can call, but the easiest would be to set her phone up with a saved Quick Text saying "Call me, ok?" that she can send to you in text. If it's important, tell her to send twice; emergency, 3 or 4 times.

Then save your email addy to her cell phone so she can send the text there. You could leave texting enabled on your Verizon and I think it would work, but it's pricey!