Phones

[hockeymom]

The last time I was in Aruba, I rented a cell phone from Fast Phones as I was nervous about some things going on at home and wanted to check in daily. This trip things are better and I don't think I need to call every day, maybe twice while I'm in Aruba. We are staying at the Divi and I was wondering about those phones that are placed around the resort. Does anyone know how they work and how much it would be to call back to Massachusetts. The first time we went I made the mistake of using the rooom phone - $75.00 later - yikes! That's why I got a Fast Phone last time. Any help would be appreciate - PS My cell phone is so old it can't do international and I don't want to upgrade right now. Thanks!

[Andrea J.]

i do not know about the phones that are placed around the resort. Are you speaking of the ones that are pay phone like phones with credit card and country flag logos?
If so, they too are expensive.

If you do not want to bring or rent a cell phone, i suggest using the little phone store out behind the alhambra casino at the shopping ctr. i do not know how much the calls cost but i think it is 5 minutes for $2 and there is a minimum.

If you are bringing your laptop............download skype and add in some minutes with your credit card.
I used mine quite a bit on aruba and to the best of my recollection it was about .20 a minute, less i think.
andrea

[Snidely]

Although I've never used the service, I'm told there is a place at Alhambra where calls are very reasonable. Also, Divi and Tamarijn have international pay phones that I see lots of folks using. Not sure of the cost. I just get a card for the internet cafe @ Tam and do all my checking/communication that way. Very reasonable. If something urgent does arise where a call is needed, the expense will be of little concern. IMHO

[Liz - Aruba Lover]

The pay phones that you pay by credit card are very, very expensive. Since you are staying at a Divi property you will be close to Alhambra Casino. Unless you are staying at the Divi Phoenix. The call botth at Alhambra charges 25 cents a minute to call the U.S. much cheaper than the credit card phones. The call booth at Alhambra opens at 3:00 pm 'till 10 pm.

[hockeymom]

Thanks Everyone! The phone place over by the casino sounds like the answer! Even though my kids are 18 and 20 and their dad is staying with them, I still like to check in a few times!! We moms never stop worrying!!

[Robert Dekoff]

In previous years, I would rent a cell phone fron Fastphones at the Airport. This year, Iris is no longer located there. I called her at 7400603 in Aruba. She delivered a sim card directly to me at my timeshare. It cost $35, and it yielded about 114 minutes. The sim cards work with any phone equipped for a GSM 900/1800/1900 format.