Cancun Mexico
 

To piggyback on mmastera's post, I too am going to Cancun. I am somewhere between Mexitel, Movistar, and Telcel. However here is my problem. I really don't want to rent a phone if I have my own, but I can't read the Movistar or Telcel websites because I don't read spanish and google doesn't translate the webpages. Therefore I don't understand the who, what, when, and how as it relates to rates, sim card purchases, and top offs. But I will do the Mexitel thing if their rates are the best and reputation is good. Please help me with a solution.:o

Whats mexitel? Telcel and Movistar are the only GSM providers in Mexico. For calls to the US and for cheaper rates movistar is better is what I always use when in mexico. They have a plan called "por llamada", it allows 30min calls to the US for $1. Let me know if you have anymore specific questions and I will answer them.

Considering the recent incerease in termination costs to Mexico mobiles, you may be better off using an international SIM card such as 09.

If you're lucky you may be able to find a second hand eKit Premium International SIM (IoM based - +44-7624 or +44-7924) that also offers free incoming calls in Mexico.

Money, thanks for the reply. Mexitel is a phone rental company that charges $35.00 per 2 week period. Local calls in Mx are $ .36 per minute and international calls are $ .02 more because they use VOIP technology

Rod,

I've used Mexitel in the past.
They're actually Telcel, but include a VOIP twist you mentioned which makes international calls just about the same price as local.
My experience with them was good - phones were like new and worked flawlessly in Mexico and (as you mentioned) the price was definitely right.

It did ... but not any more. I used that card in Mexico earlier this year, worked fine. But they appear to have dropped the free incoming in Mexico, now $2.99/min! No notice to customers of course.

My 09 worked fine the previous year but didn't seem to work properly this year, but when it works it (with enlinea or gphone callback) is one of the cheapest ways to make calls from a mobile in Mexico for infrequent users. The domestic cards need recharging too often to be practical for me so far.

Existing cards were grandfathered. I just check the rate plan associated with both my cards and they still have Mexico in Zone 4a.

Thanks, I had just routinely checked the public rates, didn't notice the logged-into-account rates were different. That's good, could still be usable this winter.

I hope your trip isn't this week! Cancun's going to get hit pretty hard.

I am going to Riviera Maya later in the year. I will not be traveling around Mexico, only Riviera Maya. I want a SIM card where I can receive incoming calls from USA and not pay a per minute charge for these incoming calls (I realize the person calling me will be charged).

As long as the SIM card is purchased in Cancun or Playa del Carmen, is this how this works in Mexico?

I read somewhere about incoming calls being free and then someone told me that incoming calls originating outside Mexico are charged.

Thanks for all the input. I'm going to try Mexitel. The price is right and they seem competent.

Cancun is in great shape. I have a friend who was there during Dean and reports all pretty much to be normal.:)

Lookingo forward to hearing (well, reading) your evaluation of Mexitel once you get back (cost, performance, etc).

Everything went very well in Mexico with Mexitel. They are very helpful and go out of there way to assist you in any way possible. That being said, I prefer to use my own phone. With a rental I found myself worrying about their property. I found that it is very easy to buy a Telcel sim card. The rates are 4 pesos per minute local and 7 pesos per minute within Mexico. Incoming calls are free. In addition, you may start an account with Rebtel, the VOIP company, and enjoy .02 per minute above the local call fee.

One last thing, I found a Movistar store in Playa Del Carmen but none in Cancun. Telcel affiliate stores were everywhere in Playa. I found the company Telcel store to be located at the La Isla shopping mall in Cancun.

rodgiddens,

I've had a similar positive experience with mexitel.
I would warn against expecting any SIMs you might buy in Mexico to work for your next trip, however. Mexico SIMS self-destruct in a month or so without use. Then you go back and they don't work, and it takes the better part of a week to get the new one working anywhere near correctly.

That's one of the reasons I continue to rent (in this case, from Mexitel). It's easier, it works, and it's really not that expensive. By comparison, T-Mobile wants $1.50 minute in Mexico and you don't get calls reliably (and you can't get local calls at all).

naoautorizada

I actually traveled to Playa Del Carmen in late August, returned home, and then to Cancun in early September. Each time I used a Mexitel cellphone but on my trip to Cancun, I also took a quad band Razr that I use when traveling. I purchased a SIM card from Telcel for 150 pesos with 50 pesos airtime included. I also created an account with Rebtel (VOIP provider) and all worked perfectly. I understand that my SIM card won't work next September, however 14 dollars for a new SIM with credit, ain't bad. By the way, I was able to make calls immediately, and was receiving them within 24 hours. The only improvement I can make is to improve my Spanish so I don't need a Telcel rep to configure my phone.:)

Thanks rodgiddens, that's good info.

I have a Razr also, but I suspect that it won't work there unless I get it unlocked, which will take another $25 or so, and I'm not 100% sure I wouldn't rather have someone else's phone with me on the beach rather than my Razr, just in case something weird happens (like I stumble into the water perhaps?).

(I'm probably not as consciencious as maybe I should be about items I rent, but I think that's part of why we sometimes rent rather than buy.)

Thanks again for the info!