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Roatan and Bay Islands Discussion List Archive
| Posted On: | 28-Apr-2003 |
| From: | [reefdweller.....com] |
| Subject: | RE: [roatan] telephone internet connection for visit |
Again, cell phones do NOT cover the entire island. USA cell phones do NOT work here unless programming is changed for Honduran signals. This can be tuff to do with our Celtel office closed back months ago. Some phones you have to go to the mainland to get programmed. Try B. J.'s in Oakridge is the only place I know of out there on that end of the island with public use internet. Turn in where the big sign says Oakridge -- off the one paved road-- and follow the dirt road to the sea--then ask anyone to point you to the way to walk to BJ's. Maybe (or maybe not) they'll let you use the phone too--for a price--expect it to be quite high as LD calls stateside are VERY expensive from here--as in dollars per minute not cents. Also international operators do NOT always work to get through when you wish. If she does let you use her phone it's a HUGE favor! Buy some drinks or food there to return the favor and tip well! And I'm NOT saying BJ will let you use her phone--just that that's the only place I can think of that might. She might want to shoot me for even suggesting it!!! But she DOES do public internet. Folks here don't tend to like to lend phones at high rates we get charged--especially not for USA calls==especially when the person you lend the phone to looks at you like a thief when you quote them what the charges actually are--as best you can tell. Then they try to give you a credit card to pay for it??? (Credit cards are NOT widely used here) Billing on phones is NOT consistent, so it's almost impossible to figure what to charge someone. So the person with the phone still may loose no matter what they charge you. Maybe bring an AT&T calling card then call 800=0123 for the international operator here in Honduras (again USA dial in numbers don't work--you have to use the Honduras access number). Then bill your calls on your own calling card so that the folks who "may" allow you to borrow a phone will only be looking at an "inside Honduras" call. Generally, when folks seem to really need to call home often. I suggest they stay in the larger resorts or at least someplace that has a phone for this reason. We have a phone here, but do NOT like to use it for stateside calls unless prearranged with a customer of ours who is holding a calling card and the calls are for an emergency. We tell folks, and believe it is true, that if you must spend your vacation trying to call stateside from here you won't have much of a vacation. We strongly suggest that guests get the folks that they need to communicate with onto the internet while on vacation. It's cheaper and you have a MUCH better chance of getting E-mail thru than a phone call. My first month here I called my Mother on Mother's Day. It took all day hitting redial to get thru to an operator on my cell phone-getting charged for each attempt that failed. No, there is NOT direct dial service from here--all calls are operator assisted. I finally got thru that PM and talked for --maybe--15 minutes. The call cost me $600USD!!!!!! That was awhile back--things are a bit better now on rates. But still, don't try this!!! Other public phones, but MUCH further away--say an hour drive one way from there. Hondutel offices, airport, and Coxen Hole. There "may" be an office closer still in Oakridge for Hondutel (hard line phones). They may or may not let you make a call from there. IF they do, be aware that we are sometimes charged for calls here--even if the call does not go thru--say is busy, or just doesn't make it. Complain about it if you wish--but then don't expect that person to loan you a phone again since they must pay this whether you think it is fair or not. Also, even incoming calls from the USA carry a $1 per minute surcharge some say, but not so far quite that much showing on my bill. But incoming calls form the USA are NOT free either. Problem is no one really knows what calls cost here!!! Doesn't matter. If you want one of the few phones there are here you gotta pay what they bill you or get cut off. Is why we all use internet here thru local dial up numbers or a quasi-high speed we have here in a few spots that's always connected via antenna. On your phone, cards can only be bought in Coxen Hole at Celtel's "not quite an office" near Warren's --and once your cellular is programmed for Honduran service-IF it is the right type and can be programmed for use here at all. Even if you manage the first two things it may not work in that area--depends on the lay of the land where you'll be exactly. Only way to be sure is to have someone take a local-type cell phone up there and see if it works and has access to signal from a tower. Celtel doesn't do this sort of thing. It's up to you to know if you can get signal from your location. For any of these solutions you'll probably need a rental car--unless the place has a radio to call a taxi--which 'may" be as expensive as a rental from way out there anyway. As always, we hope this helps. In addition this time, I hope this is comprehensible to you. Most times, when we try to explain this folks from the USA, we get a lost look back like we're making it up. FYI we're not. Waylon and Sandy Sims Coral Beach Inn's Photos are available at: http://members.aol.com/athundersm/photos.htm Note: E-mail is NOT perfect. Please never assume we have received your message unless you get a response from us. We answer ALL E-mail daily. PS Asking about staying with us gets you put onto our newsletter list. If you want off just say so. No problem. -----Original Message----- From: africantreasures128 [mailto:africantreasures.....com] Sent: Monday, April 28, 2003 8:02 AM To: roatan.....com Subject: [roatan] telephone & internet connection for visit We are visiting Roatan in May and staying at a house (guava plantation) near Punta Blanca. I need to be able to use my laptop for internet connection to check e-mail once in a while, and also to call home to the U.S. to check in once in a while. Does anyone know if we can purchase phone cards or the closest location to Punta Blanca for calling home and for internet hook up? Get A Free Psychic Reading! Your Online Answer To Life's Important Questions. | |
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