www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi guys,

I ran several searches on the thread to find what I can do for Cell PHone in CR. Nothing really came up. I know Cingular has coverage and I have CIngular, but I would rather pass on the 1.99 / min + tax fees. Where can I get a pay as you go phone like here in the US. I plan on starting to come to CR about 2 - 3 times a year so a phone dedicated to CR for me at this point would make sense.

THanks for the help.

P.S.
if there is a thread on this and I missed it maybe someone can give me advice on refining my searches in the engine.

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Caribbean Hotel Guide

There's a bunch of threads on this already but I will say that I use my Cingular phone at the rediculous $2/minute and it works well. (I don't pay the bill though so I don't care what it costs) To get a phone in CR a citizen has to buy it for you and it's in their name not yours. I know several people that have gone that route. Skype.com is another option that I'm going to try on my next trip. The limitation is that you have to have a computer with you to use it. There's a lot more info on phones in CR here if you use the search function. (I know that's how I figured out how to make my Cingular phone work in CR)

There is no Pay as you go phone in CR as of this date. However, my non pro told me ICE is bringing that out soon. "soon " in Costa Rican term , that is

Let's wait and see.

I doubt that will get you a lower rate with a phone bought in the US. Your best bet is to get a calling card in CR, and use a land line to make the call. Cingular will get the $2/min out of you every time you use your phone while there.

The only trick I know with Cingular is that, from the US, they won't connect many international calls. So, I programmed my phone to call my Net2Phone calling card account, and then dial the international number. That also saves big time over their direct dial rates for international calls.

Have not tried it yet, but like Skype, Net2Phone will let you call from your computer. Might work on that for this next trip...

If your main concern is calling the States from C.R.:

AT&T prepaid LD cards work fine from C.R. Calls cost around $0.15/minute, if I remember correctly.

I.C.E. sells phone cards. They come in two types, a chipped card that works in some (but not all) pay phones, including phones at the HDR. The other traditional calling card is more suitable for calling from your hotel room and for making international calls.

Many hotels offer a free LD call each day per guest. Hotel Don Carlos offered this, as did Zona Blue at one time.

Skype, Net2phone, Vonage all work relatively well from C.R.


For calls within C.R.:
Pay phones are plentiful. The older ones take the larger, old style 10 colones coin. Many phones will accept the electronic I.C.E. prepaid card as well.

I wish I could get a cellular phone for my stay in C.R., but at this time it's not really very easy or cheap to do so. Good luck.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Yeah actually I got skype finally on the pc, and I have cingular so I figure between the two I will be ok.

Thanks for the help guys.

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Caribbean Hotel Guide

anybody know what the data usage rates are in CR? I've got a blackberry on cingualr and I'm thinking of telling people to email-only.

NO DATA USAGE AVAILABLE IN CR PERIOD!

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Thank you for supporting CRT!

yes this is true. I use my cingular every trip and am coming 5 to 6 times a year. It works very well. I have only learned 2 draw backs. First you have to leave it on for your vmail to work. If you turn it off cingular says it can not find you basically. Second, once on a weekend the phone lines were so busy anyone calling me received a message that all international lines are busy.

If you want to be available from the US like I do the only good choice is to suck it up and pay the 1.99 a minute.

So, does that mean 2008?
I simply can not figure out the "CR/Tica" time. They certainly are on a different "time" than us gringo's.

Travelerman, in my honest opinion, just use your cingular. I use it every trip, and it works great. Ya, the bill sucks, but it is SO easy. Just like my ticas .