My husband just asked me if ATT cell phones will work in Belize. I, personally, am taking off my watch as soon as the plane touches down, not to mention not checking e-mail or making phone calls. He was able to use it in Mexico. Just checking. I don't want to carry it if it won't work. Phone cards would be cheaper, I'm sure, but he likes to feel connected. Let's just shoot him now.

Thanks for all the good wishes for a great trip. Will report back with a trip report in a couple of weeks.

Bang.....I must have missed, take him along

ENJOY, without that cell

Forget the cell phone. The only cell phones that work in BZ are those arranged for through BTL. Not worth the hassle.

In addition, US issued phone cards now also seem to be a problem, or at least they were in November. BTL finally caught on to the fact that they were being bypassed for revenues, and made the ATT, MCI, Sprint etc. cards impossible to use. You can however buy a BTL phone card and pay the extraordinarily "competitive" rates that the monopoly offers. My advice, use e-mail or have a prearranged time for calls to come from the states.

T-mobile rents tri-mode phones and lists Belize and BTL as a county and carrier that supports their phone.

Here are the specs from T-mobile:
Carrier:
BTL (Belize Telecommunications Ltd)
Handset Display(s): BTL
GSM Frequency: 1900 MHz
Customer Care: +501 227 2017

I am not a shill for T-mobile, only a current customer who has looked in to how am I going to keep in touch with my youngsters while I'm gone.

I really don't want to go through the headaches we had in Cancun. However it sounds as if BTL has gone the way of TELMEX.

Good luck. Perhaps ATT has rental units as well.

KCJD

At $2.99US a minute I suspect that calls would be VERY short. The BTL phone card still sounds like the best of terrible options, and I never thought I'd say that.

You’re so right, but here’s what happened to me while in Cancun. (probably too much info but kindly indulge me if you please)

I had “planned ahead” and went to the northeast side of Kansas city to one of the many “Latin American” stores in that part of town, and purchased a 10.00USD phone card that would allow me to call back from Cancun. Everything’s going great so far.

Well, we flew out Jan 16th at 07:30 in the middle of the winter season’s 1st snowstorm. Okay, still going good as we had stayed at the airport hotel in order to take advantage of the free “park and fly” offer with a night stay.

Later that afternoon, we’re in Cancun and call home to my Mother-in-laws house. She lives 3 hours west of KC and was to have driven in, picked up the kids, and driven home. We knew she wouldn’t be home yet, but were calling to leave a message.

She answers?!

“How are the kids?”

“I haven’t picked them up yet.”

“Where are my kids?”

“Still at the sitters”.

PANIC SETS IN.

Note: I had neglected to tell my wife that the babysitter and I had made arrangements for the kids to stay in the event the in-laws could not make it.

That call, and one to the sitter (who doesn’t answer phone calls from unknown numbers) pretty much burned up my 10.00USD prepaid.

Then we begin the process of trying my long distance card. I had switched from AT&T and had no idea what the access codes were or anything. AT&T prints the access codes for all of the Caribbean in the morning paper though, this was a real “Homer Doh!”

We were hesitant to use the TELMEX cards because you have NO IDEA how much time you get. So we made a 50.00USD mistake, and swiped our Visa card. This put us through to the sitter, who of course had no idea how much panic and frustration was at our end, and proceeded with a somewhat leisurely conversation about the weather and other things.

Later we purchased the TELMEX card and used it fairly easily. It is intimidating though, you’re in a foreign country, things are SNAFU at home, there’s this payphone that is the size of New Jersey, and your parsimonious nature kicks in, next thing you know, you’re screwed. Being a tightwad isn’t an easy life. You drive across town on empty to save 4 cents on a gallon of gas, but you pay 8.00USD for a beer at a Chiefs football game.

So anyway, I’m considering doing the renting thing for piece of mind.

I think I need help. Maybe a trip to AC.
Hmmmm…

KCJD

You can rent a cel phone from btl at the Intl airport. www.btl.net

Thanks Katie V.

Although this does mean more homework.

KCJD

I used an AT&T prepaid calling card on numerous occassions earlier this month in San Pedro...it was either $.50 or $1.00/min.