cell phone in DR

[jjst34]

I am going to be visiting DR in a few weeks, I am trying to find out the easiest/cheapest way to call back to the US (not very much) and receive calls while I'm there. I'd prefer cellular, should I buy a pre-paid phone from DR, bring a phone and get a card etc.. any help is appreciated! I will be staying in Puero Plata, if that makes any difference. Thanks a lot!

[Ken]

A rebuilt cell phone is a possibility. There is at least once business in the Sosua area that sells them for around RD$2000 and I would expect them to be available in Puerto Plata as well. These are phones, most from the US, that were turned in by people upgrading. The phones were then reconditioned and are now being offered for sale with a one month guarantee. With one of those phones and a phone card, you are in business.

The sticker in your post is the desire to receive calls. Otherwise calling from the local Codetel office would be the best way to call people at home.

Have you considered having people call you at the hotel during a certain time period? For outgoing calls, go to a Codetel office since calls from hotels are usually very expensive.

[Dominican Babe]

When I was in POP in December, I saw phones to rent for a couple of weeks in a couple of shops in the mall at Playa Dorada. The rental was something like US$25 for 2 weeks if memory serves me correctly. You can make and receive calls, but I don't know what the cost of the calls would be. It might be worth considering if you are there for a short while and want the flexibility.

[ride2hard]

best thing to do is take an unlocked GSM fone from US to DR and activate it with www.orange.com.do it's super easy and real cheap. you can use fones from T-Mobile, ATTWS GSM, Cingular GSM.

and if you want to call back to the US, the long distance is included in the regular mins...they don't charge extra for calling the US....

let me know if you need a fone, i have a slightly used nokia 3595 that you can use over there, i'd be willing to sell it to you...

[jjst34]

thanks for the replies... I guess the way I want to go is w/ a rental after hearing suggestions. Any way to set this up before I get down there? Or do you think there will be plenty of places to find one in Puerto Plata? I just need a 1 week rental... w/ one of those free incoming plans. Thanks!

[ricktoronto]

Originally Posted by jjst34

I am going to be visiting DR in a few weeks, I am trying to find out the easiest/cheapest way to call back to the US (not very much) and receive calls while I'm there. I'd prefer cellular, should I buy a pre-paid phone from DR, bring a phone and get a card etc.. any help is appreciated! I will be staying in Puero Plata, if that makes any difference. Thanks a lot!

You can buy a NEW Orange phone if you don't need to take pictures etc., for RD$1000 or so, or less than US$20 , in which case US$25 a week to rent one is pretty dumb. Brand new phones are a deal and a half in the DR, and the service is adequate. so don't rent, don't bring one and roam, don't bring some old one and spend 1/2 a day getting it unlocked and activated, buy one, use it, give it away when you go as a gift.

[jjst34]

Originally Posted by ricktoronto

You can buy a NEW Orange phone if you don't need to take pictures etc., for RD$1000 or so, or less than US$20 , in which case US$25 a week to rent one is pretty dumb. Brand new phones are a deal and a half in the DR, and the service is adequate. so don't rent, don't bring one and roam, don't bring some old one and spend 1/2 a day getting it unlocked and activated, buy one, use it, give it away when you go as a gift.

ahh it's only $20.. and then i just get a phone card to make calls? but it still allows free incoming? Thats a deal! i'll have to get some help checking out the orange site to see if i can buy one now... or see how close one is to my hotel. Thanks!

[tired_boy]

Rick is BACK!

[ricktoronto]

Originally Posted by jjst34

ahh it's only $20.. and then i just get a phone card to make calls? but it still allows free incoming? Thats a deal! i'll have to get some help checking out the orange site to see if i can buy one now... or see how close one is to my hotel. Thanks!

Skip the web searching etc., just go to one of the 4 million-odd merchants that sell Orange cells and buy the cheapest NEW phone they have which should include RD$100 time, and if you ask nice both the phone display AND the service when you call to add time (with the cards) can be programmed in English. With the death of the peso it might cost US$30, e.g. RD$1500 or so but I bet you can still find the cheapo Motorolas for RD$1000 or so.

Or go to a compra venta (helpful to speak espanol) and see if they have one for less. Free incoming, even after the card expires actually, so if you don't plan to make a lot of calls the RD$100 card may be all you need.

[jjst34]

Originally Posted by ricktoronto

Skip the web searching etc., just go to one of the 4 million-odd merchants that sell Orange cells and buy the cheapest NEW phone they have which should include RD$100 time.

I assume this means when I get off the plane these merchants are EVERYWHERE!! Thanks a lot!