What To Expect Of Phone Service
In Mexico
While you are on your vacation to Mexico, you may need to
communicate with friends and family back home. Or, you may
have forgotten to relay some important information to a colleague
at work. At the very least you may need to speak to a local
restaurant over the phone to make reservations or call a golf
course to set up a tee time. In any event, knowing what to
expect of the phone service you will find in Mexico can be
very helpful.
The phone in your hotel room may be the most convenient to
use, but it is probably best to avoid using it for making
long distance telephone calls. Most resorts contract their
long distance call service out to a second party long distance
company who charges exorbitant prices. Even making local calls
from your room or suite could incur a surcharge from the resort
for every call. Your best bet is to use the special pay phones
that are located in and around most hotels that will charge
about $1 a minute. That may seem a little pricey as well,
but it is much better than the alternative. Make sure that
when you check in that you have the person behind the counter
explain to you what the local and long distance rates are.
That way, if you do decide to use the phone in your room or
if you have to use it for an urgent matter, at least you won't
be surprised when you get the bill at check out time.
Calling cards are a great way to call home from Mexico. Purchasing
a prepaid card for the many LADA Tel or TelMex payphones that
are located in many public places is easy and affordable.
Prepaid phone calling cards can be purchased at small kiosks,
in supermarkets, and gift shops all over Mexico. If you buy
calling cards before you leave home, make sure to call the
toll free customer service number located on the back of the
card and they can give you the international access code for
calling from Mexico to the United States. Always be mindful
of what phone you use, as some may not work with a calling
card or they may charge a fee (usually by taking extra minutes
from your card) above and beyond what you paid for the card.
Your personal cell phone may work in Mexico and you can obtain
that information by speaking to your service provider before
you leave. You can also go to your service provider's website
to see coverage maps of the areas in Mexico that you will
get service and which areas will incur roaming charges. Of
course, it all depends on your location and what kind of coverage
is available, but your provider should have that information
as well. If your cell phone doesn't provide that service,
there are often cheap prepaid cell phones for sale once you
arrive in Mexico. Good places to find those would be at the
airport, your hotel's gift shop, or larger shopping areas
at your destination.
Wherever you plan on going you should be able to easily and
affordably keep in contact with the folks back home. The country
of Mexico has kept up with the technology of communication
as well as most developed nations and there won't be a major
resort area that will fail to provide for you.
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