It may surprise you to learn that it is convenient and cost effective to keep in touch with family, friends and your business while you are in Jamaica. Renting a cell phone is the answer. Rental rates are inexpensive and calling rates are very affordable.
Many people wish to call home from Jamaica. You have a number of major options. Which option is 'best' is mainly determined by your telephone usage pattern.
Resort room phone:
If you are staying at a resort you can just pick up the phone in the room and dial directly back home. In some cases you will need only to dial an access number to access the Jamaican phone system. While this is very easy to do, in most cases this is the highest cost option of those listed below. Because of the high cost of each call, this option is normally usable only if a few short calls are to be made.
Note: Some resorts outsource long distance (calls to overseas destinations off the island) telephone service to a third party. There may be a sticker on the phone or a sign/card next to the phone giving an access number for use to place long distance calls. The third party will ask for a credit card number to be entered when placing a call. These third party phone services often have ultra high charges and long minimum call lengths. Charges for use of these services can be outrageous. Ask for rate information before using any such service.
Calling card:
Many of the major United States and Canadian phone companies (for example AT&T) offer international calling cards for those with their regular phones (see below for users of cell phones). You dial a phone number in Jamaica, in some cases a Jamaican 1-800 number, to get a second dial tone. Then you dial a number off the calling card and the phone number you wish to call. The charge for the call will appear on the bill for your home phone. You are in essence placing an international collect call and cost is rather high (call your home phone company for rates). This option is normally usable only if a few short calls are to be made. Also keep in mind that most resorts will charge you a fee to access the Jamaican phone system each time you use your calling card (ask at your hotel).
Pre-paid phone card:
Pre-paid phone cards can be purchased at many shops, including most resort gift shops, in Jamaica. Follow the instructions on how to activate and use the card. You should attempt to match the number of minutes on the card with your planned usage. Once the card is activated there is normally a limit on how long the minutes you purchased are valid. Unused minutes will 'expire' even if paid for. If you use most or all of the minutes on the card this can be a very low cost option. Also keep in mind that most resorts will charge you a fee to access the Jamaican phone system each time you use your pre-paid phone card (ask at your hotel).
A pre-paid phone card purchased in the United States or Canada may not work in Jamaica, if it does, it will often have significant charges associated with the use of an international 1-800 or other local access number.
Home cell phone: All of the major United States and Canadian cell phone companies (AT&T, Sprint, Telus, T-Moble, etc.) work with one or another of the Jamaican cell phone companies (Claro, LIME aka Cable and Wireless Jamaica aka Bmobile, or Digicel). Call your cell phone company to turn on the 'international roaming' feature. Also ask about the fee for this service for both phone calls and for text messages. You will be able to place and receive calls or send and receive text messages on your home cell phone as if you were at home. Sending and receiving pictures, video, and/or data between home and Jamaica may or may not be possible when using a telephone from home (this is while phone calls and text messages work fine) and may be very expensive. Rates for placing and receiving calls and/or text messages often are not the same (for example sending a text message may cost $0.50 while receiving a text message may cost $0.10). In most cases the cost of using a cell phone from home will be rather high but it allows one to continue to use a telephone number known to those back home. This option works fine for a few short calls or where use of a known 'home country' phone number is important.
Users of the Apple iPhone, any Blackberry, and other 'smart' phones should ask their cell phone provider how to turn off the feature which checks for messages on a regular basis. Checking for messages may incur a charge even when no messages are downloaded. Ask how to have the 'smart' phone only check for messages when you ask the phone to do so (this will avoid a large phone bill). You may also want to consider using 'airplane mode' (aka 'flight mode') while in Jamaica to turn off message downloading, short message service (SMS), bluetooth, etc. and activate the full set of features when needed in Jamaica and when you return home. Contact your phone company for instructions on how to switch into/out of 'airplane mode'.
Note: The Apple iPad is not known to work in Jamaica.
New SIM card:
If you have an unlocked cell phone (tri or quad band cell phones almost always work, if it's a dual band phone you will need to check the frequency the phone works at) you can replace the SIM card. Call your current cell phone provider to see if your cell phone is unlocked or can be unlocked (some cannot be unlocked). In some cases your cell phone company will charge you to unlock your phone. There are many shops in Jamaica which sell replacement pre-paid SIM cards. The major Jamaican cell phone companies include Digicel, LIME aka Cable and Wireless Jamaica aka Bmobile, and Claro. Then purchase pre-paid cell phone minutes good for international calls. If required, you can purchase additional minutes later from many shops around the country. This option gives your phone a new Jamaican phone number so remember to replace the SIM card when you depart Jamaica. Also keep in mind that most of the replacement SIM cards and pre-paid cell phone minutes will 'expire' after a period of no use. This option can be very cost effective for those placing many calls to home.
Rented cell phone:
Cell phones are available for rent at the airports in Montego Bay and Kingston. Check in the arrival hall after you exit from customs. You can return the phones in the departure hall as you depart Jamaica. Again the telephone number for the rented cell phone will be a Jamaican number.
There are also shops in all of the major tourist towns (Montego Bay, Negril, etc.) that also rent cell phones. In some cases you will need to go to the shop but in some cases they will deliver a rental phone to your hotel.
A few of the small boutique hotels also offer cell phone rentals or include them with the price of the room. Ask your hotel on availability.
Some transportation companies will not only take you to and from your resort and the airport but will also rent you a cell phone. Ask when you book your hotel transfers.
Purchased cell phone:
Basic cell phones are very low cost in Jamaica. These basic phones only allow for phone calls and text messaging but up-to-date phones are available i.e blackberry or the iphone. Many shops in the major tourist towns (Montego Bay, Negril, etc.) will sell them. You can then purchase a SIM card and a package of cell phone minutes good for international calls. If required, you can purchase additional minutes later from many shops around the country. This option gives you a new phone with a new Jamaican phone number. Because of the low cost, in Jamaica, of phones, SIM cards, and international minutes, this can be the most cost effective option for those placing many calls to home. Keep in mind that the SIM card and the pre-paid cell phone minutes will 'expire' after a period of no use.
Skype/'smart' phone/wifi:
Users of Skype can download a Skype application to many, but not all, makes and models of 'smart' phones (Blackberry, Nokia, iPhone, etc.). Contact your phone maker for availability of this application for your make and model of 'smart' phone. In Jamaica wifi service is a vailable in many areas. This will allow the use of Skype to contact to phones anywhere in the world at low cost via the 'smart' phone, the application, and a wifi connection. However, at many resorts in Jamaica wifi, while available, is NOT free. Contact your resort to see if wifi is available and what the cost, if any, is. If there is a high cost for wifi and low telephone usage then one of the other options listed above may be a better choice.
Gmail/wifi:
Users of Google Gmail can download a Gmail application named 'voice and video chat' onto a personal computer. Check to see if the personal computer has a microphone and add one if required. In Jamaica wifi service is available in many areas. This will allow the use of Gmail to contact to phones anywhere in the world at low cost via the application and a wifi connection. However, at many resorts in Jamaica wifi, while available, is NOT free. Contact your resort to see if wifi is available and what the cost, if any, is. If there is a high cost for wifi and low telephone usage then one of the other options listed above may be a better choice.
Calling from Jamaica back to the United States or Canada is like calling within the United States or Canada (1-area code-###-####).
The prevalence of public phones has declined precipitously over the last few years. Don't count on finding many public phones. If you do find a public phone, you'll need a Jamaican phone card to use it.
Dial 119 for police emergencies (Not 911).
