Traveltalkonline.com Forums


SXM Cruise Schedule TTOL Sponsors SXM Travel Calendar
Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics38,429
Posts310,033
Members26,538
Most Online2,218
Jan 21st, 2020
Top Posters(30 Days)
RonDon 115
pat 43
jazzgal 41
Todd 40
Member Spotlight
Aries4
Aries4
Morrisville, PA/West End, Tortola
Posts: 437
Joined: July 2006
Show All Member Profiles 
Today's Birthdays
ecco, OceanDrop, vincent
Who's Online Now
49 registered members (JandIrene, Bernd, bobsob, luvtotravel, SXMNAN, StMartinFan, MKGrey, lcote, SirRichard, Fletch, nevar37, taraavo, OceanSong, pburke40, RickG, Scooter, duckfat, BillB42, marybeth, RonDon, tradewinds, sunmantwo, Sandsailsun, SXMBND, johndana274, Tonythepilot, KirkB, Uksimonusa, Rbailey, louismcc, Time Will Tell, John, ColoBoater, 16 invisible), 994 guests, and 75 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Phone service #243961
01/03/2021 11:40 AM
01/03/2021 11:40 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
SXMNorm Offline OP
Traveler
SXMNorm  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
Last year I used my Spectrum serviced phone on SXM. Are there any other of the major carriers that work on SXM?


Next SXM visit -November 2023. Also January 2024.
SXM Sponsors
Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #243965
01/03/2021 12:11 PM
01/03/2021 12:11 PM
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 305
Rhode Island
E
eightzerobits Offline
Traveler
eightzerobits  Offline
Traveler
E
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 305
Rhode Island
I’ve used AT&T and T-Mobile while on the island.

Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #243966
01/03/2021 12:21 PM
01/03/2021 12:21 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 538
Sugar Land, Tx
I
IslandBoi Offline
Traveler
IslandBoi  Offline
Traveler
I
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 538
Sugar Land, Tx
AT&T works, but it’s far from cheap, even with the international travel plan....but of course as long as you have wifi, you can use “wifi calling” and continue to use your phone for free as though it was still in the states


[Linked Image]
Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #243976
01/03/2021 01:11 PM
01/03/2021 01:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 143
St. Louis, MO
bethandsteve Offline
Traveler
bethandsteve  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 143
St. Louis, MO
T-Mobile works well for us

Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #243977
01/03/2021 01:37 PM
01/03/2021 01:37 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
Traveler
pat  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
Norm,

We do the same as IslandBoi although our cell carrier is Verizon. It works very well judging by our success rate for the few times we've used it down there.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Phone service [Re: pat] #243978
01/03/2021 01:44 PM
01/03/2021 01:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,081
Massachusetts
boucharda Offline
Traveler
boucharda  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,081
Massachusetts
Agree....wifi calling works great and at zero cost to the USA OR on Island USA based cell phones

Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #243981
01/03/2021 02:17 PM
01/03/2021 02:17 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
For an extended stay the Verizon international program works great but with so many hot spots and Wi-Fi readily available Wi-Fi calling is essentially all you'll need..

Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #243982
01/03/2021 02:28 PM
01/03/2021 02:28 PM
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 157
Arlen, TX
BillDauterive Offline
Traveler
BillDauterive  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 157
Arlen, TX
I use Verizon. They have a service called Travel Pass, where you're charged $10 per 24-hour period, with unlimited talk & text. When I used it, they sent a text alert in advance of the next 24 hours starting, giving me a chance to go to "airplane mode" to avoid being dinged with a charge for the following 24-hour period.

When travelling internationally, I keep my phone on airplane mode with wifi calling activated, only using the service when I need it (starting Travel Pass by disabling airplane mode). I've used it in Germany, Netherlands, UK, and on the island (both sides).

To register, text Travel to 4004

Re: Phone service [Re: BillDauterive] #243988
01/03/2021 03:47 PM
01/03/2021 03:47 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
We have used that 24 hour service before. Verizon used to have a monthly program but not sure if they still offer it or the charge. Used to be 50.00 for 30 days but that is probably more now.

Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #243990
01/03/2021 03:53 PM
01/03/2021 03:53 PM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,929
Connecticut
The_Lurker Offline
Traveler
The_Lurker  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,929
Connecticut
We used our phone with At&T using WIFI in our villa. Plus we used messenger and text.

It will be considered an international call if you try to call a restaurant in SXM though, but the charge was small.

An option would be Whatsapp , since many of the businesses use it.

We also have the international plan through AT&T, for $10 a day if used, in case of emergency.

Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #243992
01/03/2021 04:26 PM
01/03/2021 04:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 203
Ontario
T
tbaybob Offline
Traveler
tbaybob  Offline
Traveler
T
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 203
Ontario
As long as you have wifi,the Talkatone app works great.You can call any phone for free.Also the number you get can receive calls.

Re: Phone service [Re: The_Lurker] #243994
01/03/2021 05:09 PM
01/03/2021 05:09 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 367
CT
MamaB Offline
Traveler
MamaB  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 367
CT
If we're on the island and we use our cell to call restaurants- since that's considered an international call ,am I correct to assume I'll need to dial the area code- not just the 7 digit number?

Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #243995
01/03/2021 05:19 PM
01/03/2021 05:19 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
Traveler
GaKaye  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
Verizon is $ 10 a day to replicate your calling and data plan. I usually just put my phone in airplane mode and use WiFi on the island, and I do have a Chippie phone for local calls.

Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #244000
01/03/2021 06:53 PM
01/03/2021 06:53 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
Keep in mind if you have WhatsApp on your phone if you have a local SXM number to call first put it in your regular contacts. If that contact has WhatsApp it will show up in your WhatsApp contacts.

Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #244031
01/04/2021 02:29 AM
01/04/2021 02:29 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,253
Boynton Beach, FL
EdB Offline
Traveler
EdB  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,253
Boynton Beach, FL
also have used t mobile over the past few years, and have been quite satisfied with it. in the room connect it to wi fi, and also keep it on airplane mode throughout. the cost of phone calls from sxm is pretty cheap also.

Re: Phone service [Re: MamaB] #244049
01/04/2021 11:20 AM
01/04/2021 11:20 AM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,929
Connecticut
The_Lurker Offline
Traveler
The_Lurker  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,929
Connecticut
Originally Posted by MamaB
If we're on the island and we use our cell to call restaurants- since that's considered an international call ,am I correct to assume I'll need to dial the area code- not just the 7 digit number?


I have to admit, I assume the same, that you would need the area code, but it's been a while since we have done it.
I know that the charge was less than $2 to make a local call.

Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #244069
01/04/2021 02:57 PM
01/04/2021 02:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,081
Massachusetts
boucharda Offline
Traveler
boucharda  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,081
Massachusetts
It would be the same procedure as calling from the USA...and the cost of two calls I made last year were around $1.50 each...maybe 2-3 minutes each. Not worth the daily or weekly International calling plan cost.

Last edited by boucharda; 01/04/2021 02:58 PM.
Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #244093
01/04/2021 08:55 PM
01/04/2021 08:55 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
Traveler
GaKaye  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
Another point about the Verizon international plan....on our last day on the island, our credit card went missing. I immediately took my phone out of airplane mode to lock that card on the card app. The peace of mind that I got from that $10 was worth every dime. I still like having my island phone for emergency situations and local calls, but the ability to use my home cell phone for a secure transaction like locking the lost card is important too.

Re: Phone service [Re: SXMNorm] #244117
01/05/2021 07:40 AM
01/05/2021 07:40 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,081
Massachusetts
boucharda Offline
Traveler
boucharda  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,081
Massachusetts
Exactly....and having that plan also works in case of an emergent need away from wifi. No cost if you do not need it but well worth the price if you do

Re: Phone service [Re: tbaybob] #244150
01/05/2021 10:12 AM
01/05/2021 10:12 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
SXMNorm Offline OP
Traveler
SXMNorm  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
Thanks all for the info.


Next SXM visit -November 2023. Also January 2024.

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.6.1