Calling Card Question

[a1vacation]

I've been to Cancun twice and Playa Del Carmen 3 times and I've never used a calling card, but my daughter is going to Cancun on March 10 for her HS grad trip and I don't know if we should buy her a calling card here in Canada before she leaves or does she buy one down there? If she buys one here, will it work down there?

Not only do I want her to call home a few times during her trip, but she also wants to call home and her boyfriend.

So what recommendations do you guys have, because I'm just an old fart and don't know anything about calling cards

Thanks,

Wendy

[John]

Wendy, it is probably best for your daughter to buy a card here in Mexico. They are very easy to find; most gift shops and convenient stores carry them. I am not sure what the going rate is for a card, or how many minutes she'll get.

If you do opt to buy one for her in Canada before she leaves, you have to make sure that it has a local access number for Mexico, preferrably a toll free one. In Mexico, the toll free numbers generally start with 01 800.

Another option is to look for Internet cafes that offer phone service. I believe that most use Voice Over Internet (VoIP) and are theoretically inexpensive. There is decent competition for this service, so the rates are likely comparable to a phone card. I believe that these are pay-as-you-go type places, so if she doesn't want to worry about running out of credit, this may be a better option.

Hope that helps!

[himynameisjan]

The Latadel cards are very easy to purchase and use. You can find them at most small stores, and the pay phones are all over the place. Just make sure that you are buying a card for international use, not in country use. They will ask when you are buying it.

[a1vacation]

Thanks for responding folks, I neglected to say she will be staying at the Gran Caribe Real in Cancun, so she won't be in Playa where there are a lot of stores, do you think these AI hotels would sell them in their little store they have on the premises, that is if they have a store. If not, I'm not sure how close a store would be to her hotel.

Thanks again,

Wendy

[John]

Most AIs have a few little stores on their premises. She should be able to buy one there. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with that AI.

I believe the cards are pretty high profit margin for the stores, so assuming the resort has a store, I'm sure they'll carry some.

[a1vacation]

Thank you John for your response. We decided to wait until she got down there and she bought a calling card at the little store in the Gran Caribe Real. It's still a little pricey, but I'm sure not as much if she had used her cell phone, which she is normally glued to - what 17/18 year old isn't. Anyway, the cost is $1.00/minute, so I told her to check to see if the hotel had computers and it would probably be cheaper for her to send emails or sign onto MSN.

Anyway, just wanted to let anyone else who might wonder what to do with keeping in touch with their baby while they party in Cancun with a group of friends.

Cheers,

Wendy