www.CostaRicaTicas.com

On my last trip I followed the advice of a fellow member of this board and unlocked a cell phone and bought a SIM card at the airport. I found the people working the desk to be anything but helpful and the process a bit slow. Is there a better way to do this? I have let that sim laPse and i don't think it can be reloaded.

The airport is the easiest option. Going to ICE is even worse, it takes more than an hour. Read this thread: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35382

+1 the airport ICE kiosk is the way to go. The girl there was nice to me. The ICE office at San Pedro mall takes a lot longer.

Yea airport is the only way to go...I've been with a Tica to ICE...it was all morning. At the A/port it's the timing..I try to get there before the crowds.

I think it depends.. I went to the ICE in San Jose and it only took me 40ish minutes.. A bit long sure, but not an entire day like they´re saying..

The airport is easy, but if your flight arrives late and it is closed. Try this.

last trip I got up at 8am and walked the 4 blocks from the Holiday Inn downtown to the ICE office and was in and out in 15 minutes. No line. no wait and the same guy that helped me took the money. The guy who helped me was very easy to deal with and even got thru my poor spanish. Maybe I was lucky? but it was no trouble.

I did notice that as I left the line was growing. So maybe the trick was just get there early?

When I bought my phone a year ago at the ICE office in Ajauala it took almost two hours and was a complete cluster F. wait in one line for the ticket to wait in another at each turn of the process.

Hi guys

Got a trip coming up and want to use the sim card route. What's the cheapest phone I can get that I know will work with the ICE system with no hassel. I don't need bells and whistles - this will be my CR-only phone. I figure I can pick one up cheap online, but I don't want to get the wrong one.

Thanks for any help.

-KD

So, am I to understand that the only option is the airport or ICE office? I have intel that says there are cell phone stores that are options.

The only places I know are the airport and the ICE offices. Anyone else know????

The thread "Orange" refers to says the airport SIM card place is open until 10pm - hope it's true because I arrive 8:30pm tomorrow and will run upstairs asap to buy one.

Buy the cheapest 3g you can find on ebay and sell it on the way out. 3g works in alot of places in CR that non 3g's won't get a signal, and don't let anyone tell you different, some guys say it cannot matter--it matters, I've seen it with my own eyes. There is another ICE desk at the airport near the luggage carousel that is always not busy.

It does not seem difficult to find the SIM cards, thanks for the info posters!

Read the post puppy, there is an ICE counter downstairs also. Don't waste everybody's time with your bullshit.

FYI-According to ICE... as of March 7, 2011, new SIM cards don't come with internet access. Has anybody verified this? I don't have a 3g phone (don't need to get robbed because of my flashy phone), so I can't confirm.

If this is true, bringing a 3g phone is pointless.