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Zidaho
Check out argentinaprivate. Their is quite a bit of discussion about using Vonage in BA. What you are proposing seems doable and not violating any agreement. I did some research on their site and it seems like they actually encourage it.
I am not sure what the electrical situation is in Colombia but this seemed to be the only major issue that the guys were facing.
I always buy the girls OLA phones because they do not charge for incoming calls!
I had bought the Bushnell binocs with digital camera too but was underwhelmed by picture quality, capacity (bought expansion SD card but never worked!)
I was addicted to Colombia from my first visit for sure.
Zidaho
Contact Sunset of the Rio board for details about Vonage.
He is using it in Rio and it works fantastically.
All you need is a fast internet connection and the Vonage box.
As for GSM phones and cards the phone will function with a specific card as long as it supports the band that the sim card is using. eg 850, 900, 1800,1900 MHZ
There are motorola phones that they are able to function on all the above bands. Quatra band phones.
Others are using three, two or even only one band.
Pre paid sim cards expire after a certain time if they are not recharged with additional air time and you eventually loose the number.
My two cents for you
El Greco
Of the three cell phone companies in Colombia - Ola, Comcel and Movistar - none charge for incoming calls. I have never used Ola, but I have used the other two. Comcel is better. The rates are always much better within a system. Most of the people I know use Comcel. It is much cheaper to call other Comcel numbers with my Comcel phone.
Read with interest about San Andres. Understand it is a very small place (the airport almost travels across the width of the island. As far as Cicas go, where to find them (massage, strip bars, escort service, local bars etc.), chica friendly hotels, do large hotels allow chicas to the room and the going rate for the same ? Do chicas from mainland Columbia fly in here for the mongers similar to S.J. Costa Rica ? All the good Columbian stuff available for sale I am sure. Anyone please advise any names\locations. Any local bars similar to the Blue Marlin in San Jose, Costa Rica ? Understand September\October rainy season. Anyone have experience with November weather. Appreciate anyone's advice on this.
Thank you.
Alwayson
Well these recent posts have cleared up a big mess in my head. Thanks mongers for turning me on to the Argentina link that Argentinaprivate link is a very useful resource.
Today I ordered Vonage. Since it is not available in Idaho yet, I set up a number in Colorado where I have some family. So they will be able to call me with no LD charges. And as for my phone calls I get 500 minutes per month included with my $20.00 per month subscription fee. Then it is 3.9 cents per minute thereafter. So esentially for $10.00 I buy the modem and the $40.00 activation fee now I can hook it up wherever I find a cable or DSL connection and basically stay on the phone for two or three hours a day and not be concerned about a HUGE phone bill. I am going to get rid of one of my home telephone numbers and replace it with my new Vonage phone number. The activation process took about 20 minutes with a nice sales rep.
I cancelled my order from ebay for a dual band (900 and 1900) GSM phone, hopefully I can get those $65.00 order reversed and get a four band GSM phone before I leave. That's what I should have ordered from the begginiing as to potentially include service for Asia, and Europe and I suppose all South America monger destinations. That was important info from NN and EG. Man I owe you guys!! Thanks.
It IS an issue to many, but it should be separate from the main discussion thread. Not a critique of the discussion, just a suggestion.
Tom: Maybe things have changed then, or maybe you have a different plan that does not charge for incoming calls, but I went to the Comcel office in Cali to ask about the rate plans and on the prepagado (prepaid calling card code) they told me incoming calls were charged. In addition, the per minute rate is MUCH lower, like 50%, of Comcel rates. ALL networks are much cheaper for calls to other network members so that is no advantage of Comcel at all.
I think that there was a misunderstanding with Comcel. If they had ever charged for incoming calls, no one(including most chicas) could receive calls when they had no minutes. Most chicas I know never have any minutes, but I can always call them. No one would use Comcel if that were the case.
As far as the exact rates, they change regularly. Competition does work in Colombia. I'm guessing that the only substantial difference over time would be the discount you get for calling another number serviced by the same company you have. Thus, if most of the people you will be calling use Ola, get Ola.
Tom is correct, no charge for incoming calls. Zidaho, let us know of your quad band purchase.
[QUOTE=TheShadow2]Slim pickings on San Andres is more an accepted myth than a reality. I think since that's "the word", no one ever looks for chicas there. During my trip there, a local guy took me around to three casas and two "strip" clubs. There were all kinds of hot Colombianas to choose from. The most upscale club I would rate just a notch below La Dolce Vita in Cartagena, but then not many places anywhere can compare favorably to LDV. Prices are generally higher there than LDV, I think an hour on site was 150,000 and todo la noche was 200,000. But there were chicas de Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, etc just like LDV.
Bringing your own is preferable I agree, but not a necessity.[/QUOTE]How about the massage scene in San Andres? Any local bars where local ladies hang out. Any Chica friendly hotels, casas etc. Any experience with prices for services.
Thanx,
Alwayson
Hey Alwayson
I'll probably be there for 3-4 days after I leave Medellin, that is between Dec 11 through the 14th. Are you going to be diving? I will probably take a hottie with me. I have yet to make lodging reservations, and will probably wait til the last minute. Z
My cell phones have all but 850Mhz band.
Can someone pls tell me what company to avoid, because of that, when I go to Colombia?
One more thing. Do they charge same rates all over colombia or they charge roaming while someone travels within the country?
Thanks
El Greco
San Andreas and Providentia are islands near Nicaragua. They may be different. The rest of Colombia has no roaming charges.
I think you will need a phone that works on 850mhz.
Hello Zidaho,
I hope to visit San Andres mid-end of November for one week, that is if feedback re S.A. mongering prospects look good. Are you going to Columbia mainland first, then picking up a hottie and flight from Medellin, Cali or whatever, and if so how much is the flight? I am also looking to go diving. There seems to be a lot of Dive Shops. tours on the Island. I'm sure the diving is great- weather permitting. For that reason, thinking of going on short notice after a clear weather forecast. As you know this is rainy season in the Carribean and this year has not been good at all. Anyway, Jackson was kind enough to start a new thread on San Andres. Maybe we should move our discussions in the future over there. Anyway, looking forward to other mongers input on San Andres, and who knows, maybe even start some sort of regular weekly meeting time\place down in S.A. to swap info, chicas? And other stuff.
Regards,
Alwayson