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Hello everyone, so here is my dilemma my wife and I are going to Aruba in April and our phones will not work there (cricket wireless).
So I am planning to bring a spare phone and buy a sim card there with the local providers.
Has anyone here done this before? How does this work? Is there a better idea?
It's only for emergency use really, just to keep in contact with family.
Hello everyone, so here is my dilemma my wife and I are going to Aruba in April and our phones will not work there (cricket wireless).
So I am planning to bring a spare phone and buy a sim card there with the local providers.
Has anyone here done this before? How does this work? Is there a better idea?
It's only for emergency use really, just to keep in contact with family.
Download WhatsApp and communicate that way using the resorts WiFi and hotspots you’ll find around the island. You can text and make phone calls using WiFi.
If you choose to bring a phone you have to make sure it’s unlocked.
Check with your wireless provider to see what international plans they have. I know for the AT&T International Day Pass, it's $10/day and you're only charged for the days you actually use your phone ("You’ll be charged a $10 daily fee for each 24-hour period you use it. Each period begins as soon as you accept or make a call, listen to a voicemail, send a text, or use your data while abroad").
That saves the hassle of buying a phone and a SIM card, and might end up being cheaper. And you can avoid having to make sure your family has a new phone number.
We have TMobile and have had coverage in Aruba and every other country we have visited. To be honest, I've never called anyone while abroad and I wouldnt go through hoops just for "emergency call" use. Of course if there are extenuating circumstances, that changes things.
As said, WhatsApp even Facebook messenger or similar is a good alternative just to keep in contact.
Download WhatsApp and communicate that way using the resorts WiFi and hotspots you’ll find around the island. You can text and make phone calls using WiFi.
If you choose to bring a phone you have to make sure it’s unlocked.
This. (or better yet, let being connected to for a week.)
Download WhatsApp and communicate that way using the resorts WiFi and hotspots you’ll find around the island. You can text and make phone calls using WiFi.
If you choose to bring a phone you have to make sure it’s unlocked.
I'm not a big fan of free wifi for security reasons.
but I may look into whatsapp anyway.
Check with your wireless provider to see what international plans they have. I know for the AT&T International Day Pass, it's $10/day and you're only charged for the days you actually use your phone ("You’ll be charged a $10 daily fee for each 24-hour period you use it. Each period begins as soon as you accept or make a call, listen to a voicemail, send a text, or use your data while abroad").
That saves the hassle of buying a phone and a SIM card, and might end up being cheaper. And you can avoid having to make sure your family has a new phone number.
I've got cricket wireless, no international plan for Aruba.
This. (or better yet, let being connected to for a week.)
I would love to just go dark for a week but seeing that we are leaving our 17yo in charge of the house and the wifes mother is 85 with health problems, that's just not gonna happen.
Happy wife, Happy life indeed!
A little more research says that for $25+/- I can get an old unlocked phone a sim card down there for a week.
i'm just going to let the kid know what the number is and maybe check in every couple of days.
We have TMobile and have had coverage in Aruba and every other country we have visited. To be honest, I've never called anyone while abroad and I wouldnt go through hoops just for "emergency call" use. Of course if there are extenuating circumstances, that changes things.
As said, WhatsApp even Facebook messenger or similar is a good alternative just to keep in contact.
It's not exactly "going through hoops" to buy a super-cheap burner phone, take 10 minutes and 5 bucks to buy a sim card and some time at the airport, to make sure you're covered in case of emergency. When you're lost, being robbed, whatever, and there's no wifi around to play with WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger (or Google Maps), you're going to regret not spending the 10 minutes and 5 bucks. And if nothing happens... it's still only 10 minutes and 5 bucks.
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(or better yet, let being connected to for a week.)
