What to Bring on the Island

[USIMG2011]

I was wondering, besides a laptop, what things should I buy in the US before I come to the island? Also generally how expensive are groceries on SXM?

[echolake85]

Hey everyone,

Sorry it's echo again with another phone question -- I went to a phone store that carries unlocked GSM phones. Following the suggestions from this forum I asked for a quad-band phone but the guy kept insisting that it wasn't needed (although they had quad band phones in the stores) -- he was convinced that in the carribeans not all signals were needed. anyway I'd like to hear from the AUC veterans, it would be nice to get a dual-band phone as there were alot to choose from. Thanks in advance,

Echo

[PsychoProfius]

Also a quick question about cell phones, not meaning to hijack the above poster, but I was wondering if anyone uses the new BlackBerry Worldphone and what your input is on it. I have Verizon so I need to obviously speak with them about the phone and coverage in SXM, but I was figuring that I might get some first hand experience before I have to deal with the Verizon people. Thanks!

[echolake85]

Haha no problem PP,

Like you, I'm currently a verizon member and Nelphus was kind enough to forward me this information. If you flip back a few pages on this forum you'll find alot of info (sorry I don't know the info quite well myself)
Verizon Wireless

Verizon may offer a vast network in the United States, but because it's a CDMA carrier, its coverage abroad is much less extensive than that of Cingular or T-Mobile. Using a Verizon CDMA handset, you can roam to China and Taiwan, Israel, India, New Zealand, Thailand, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, South Korea, and a few Caribbean islands, though a software upgrade may be required for some countries. Coverage is available on some cruise ships as well. You'll pay a standard per-minute roaming charge plus any other costs set by the national carrier that handles your call. Also, you'll need to activate international dialing before you leave.

If you're a Verizon customer hoping to travel beyond the aforementioned countries, you have a couple of options. You can rent a GSM phone (calls will be forwarded from your normal Verizon handset), but a specific phone is required for Japan. Alternatively, you can buy a Verizon dual-mode phone. The RIM BlackBerry 8830 operates on both GSM and CDMA networks. Stateside calls operate on Verizon's CDMA network and count toward your normal calling plan, while calls made overseas switch to GSM using the included SIM card. Either way, you'll pay for roaming costs.

Service in: 17 countries and four U.S. territories with a CDMA phone; more than 140 countries with a CDMA/GSM phone
International roaming activation fee: None
Standard roaming rate: 69 cents to $4.99 per minute *
Long-distance charges: None
Internet usage: See Verizon for details
Text messages: 50 cents per sent message; 5 cents per received message*
Multimedia messages: Not available

So everything I've comprehended so far:
1. Keeping a verizon phone is pointless and will cost a FORTUNE [as with any US phone, I've been told]
2. You can buy a phone on the island
3. If you want to get one in the states:
-'GSM' and SIM, you buy a 'Chippie' Sim card and use it with the phone
-'Unlocked'
AND 4. Quad-band -- although when I went to a retailer, I was told I didn't need a quad-band (my above post)


Hope that helps and thanks in advance,

Echo

Also a quick question about cell phones, not meaning to hijack the above poster, but I was wondering if anyone uses the new BlackBerry Worldphone and what your input is on it. I have Verizon so I need to obviously speak with them about the phone and coverage in SXM, but I was figuring that I might get some first hand experience before I have to deal with the Verizon people. Thanks!

[kemper6036]

guys just spare yourself the trouble and get a cheap phone when you get down here. it's too much to try to use your number from the US. deal with the regression in technology....after all its only temporary. i'm looking forward to a nice new phone when i come back to the US!

[PsychoProfius]

Thanks a bunch echo!! That roaming charge sliding scale makes me nauseous. I guess I'll just have to cancel that contract and pick up a GSM phone and forego that headaches.

Kemper - duely noted. I figured it's just going to be one of those temporary inconveniences that really isn't a big deal. Thanks!

[kemper6036]

Thanks a bunch echo!! That roaming charge sliding scale makes me nauseous. I guess I'll just have to cancel that contract and pick up a GSM phone and forego that headaches.

Kemper - duely noted. I figured it's just going to be one of those temporary inconveniences that really isn't a big deal. Thanks!

exactly.....hopefully you adopt that mindset in all aspects of your life after coming to sxm!

[slevit1MD]

Or, don't deal with a technology regression. Plenty of people have nice phones here. Any unlocked GSM phone will work just fine. The only things I don't have in SXM on my phone that I would in the states are visual voicemail and reasonable calling plans.

[Slaol_121]

Echo,
I have to agree with Kemper and say that you should buy a phone in the country you plan to use it in. I moved to Sweden for a year back in 2004/5 and made the stupid mistake of buying one of those tri-band phones off ebay for like $150 (thinking I had made a great deal!), only to discover I could buy one for half to 1/3 the price off the streets - even cheaper if I wanted a used one!

In Kenya, where ironically there is better cell phone service than in my hometown in NC, the market is flooded with crappy, cheap cellphones (mostly stolen ones). I was able to buy one for $7 that worked just fine. Just out of curiosity, is this a possibility on St. Martin?

[slevit1MD]

No, phones are expensive here. All electronics are marked up on the island. You can get a phone for $20, if you're lucky, but it's gonna be the most basic of basic phones, which is fine for some people. Your cheapest bet is to probably buy a quad band, unlocked, GSM phone from e-bay and bring it here. If you already have an ATT or T-mobile phone, you can get it unlocked and then use it here with a chippie SIM.

[DrFraud]

In two months, a large 5th semester class will be leaving the island, and many will be selling their phones. Keep an eye on the classified, or when you get down here, ask around. You will not have any difficulty buying a phone off of 5th semester students