Cell phone use in Playa del Carmen, MX
You might have different needs. Here are some of your options:
1. Check your carriers website or call them for specifics.
Many of them have made it much easier now to use your phone normally at a very affordable price.
2. Use Wifi as much as possible.
Your carrier may offer Wifi calling (Verizon offers it for free) but it will use your data. Skype and Whatsapp are two other great ways to Wifi call or text for free. But the only way you can control inbound calls is by switching to airplane mode. And by the way, you're on vacation, shouldn't you already be on Airplane mode yourself!!
Use the secure Wifi in our condo for all of your browsing, email, and secure transactions. It's free and you won't find a safer option for banking or anything with a password.
3.Buy a Mexican Cell Phone or Chip
If you have an unlocked cell phone, you can buy a Mexican chip for your phone so that you can make and receive calls on a pay-as-you-go basis. (And if your phone is locked, not to worry, you can unlock it at most any cell phone repair shop in Mexico.) Or, you can purchase a cheap phone in Mexico to use for making and receiving calls and texts, and keep your phone from home with the data and roaming off so that you just use it when you have wifi.
There are a few different cell phone companies operating in Mexico. The largest company and the one with the most extensive coverage across the country is Telcel, but you may find that Movistar or Iusacell or another company offers cheaper options
4. Making a phone call from, to, or within Mexico
The country code for Mexico is 52. The area code for Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya is 998.
The country code for the USA is 01.
If you are dialing between two US mobile phones, you simply dial the number as you would in the USA.
If you are dialing a Mexican mobile number from your cell phone dial 52 + local 10 digit number
5. Texting in Mexico
Texting via a phone number on a Mexican plan (i.e. Telcel) is very expensive. Most Mexicans use What's App for all of their texting. If you have a need to text a local Mexican person, I recommend you download it from the app store. It's free.
If you are texting between two US phones, the data rates from your plan will apply.
6. Emergency and Useful Phone Numbers
Keep these phone numbers close at hand for any emergencies that might occur. You do not need a phone card to call 3-digit emergency numbers from a pay phone. The emergency number is 911. For any emergency assistance you can dial 911 to get an emergency operator who will transfer you to the appropriate service.
- Emergency 911
- Directory assistance 040
- Tourist protection and information 01 800 903 9200 or 01 800 987 8224, from the U.S. and Canada 1 800 482 9232 or 1 800 401 3880
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