Is it necessary to

BillysWife · 02-02-2010, 12:53 PM

register with the US State Department when traveling to Cancun? I never have but have recently been told that we should?
Thanks

angels_among_us · 02-02-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillysWife

register with the US State Department when traveling to Cancun? I never have but have recently been told that we should?
Thanks

It's a good idea to. We always do. If anything happens ( bad hurricane etc) it will help them know where you are and such.

Zibbyzap · 02-02-2010, 03:46 PM

Or heaven forbid, something serious happens back home that requires your notification. We had a family member pass away unexpectedly while we were in Cancun and the Consulate notified the resort we were staying at.

It only takes a little time and is worth it if something happens.

HammieJ · 02-02-2010, 04:24 PM

how do you do this?

Dougout2424 · 02-02-2010, 05:26 PM

With the exception of huge natural disaster why not just take or rent a cell phone. We have rented with cancunValet in the past but Steve may have an idea too! Get your number before you leave!

shalomtou · 02-02-2010, 05:28 PM

https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

HammieJ · 02-02-2010, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shalomtou

https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

Thanks! somehow, some way.... knowing america.... i dont think they use it for the reasons they say they do. I think I may opt out on this one! lol They already have enough info on me.... and passport is being scanned anyway! lol

Zibbyzap · 02-02-2010, 07:21 PM

We have rented cell phones previously and have even used our own while down there. In our situation we actually were aware of the death before notification by the Consulate because we had called our family to check in.

In all honesty, you will probably never need to use their help. But then again, the people that have needed their assistance in the past, didn't travel out of country thinking they would using it from the onset. Especially people that head down and find themselves in a bind after a drunken evening and a session of unfortunate interaction with the policia.

BillysWife · 02-03-2010, 01:32 PM

Sounds good to me. I'm sure it can't hurt to let them know where we are.
Thanks everyone.

Sunday is the big day. Finally out of the Cold and snow. I'm sure I will have to come home wayyyy before I'm ready. LOL

juli@dave · 02-23-2010, 09:11 AM

do cell phones work there? I mean i have good plan but not sure about that! juli

ToriB · 02-23-2010, 10:03 AM

Of course cell phones work here!!! Check with your provider because you may need an international set up on your account, and you will want to check about charges...calls per min and text, incoming and outgoing. I know for sure AT&T and Verizon work...and very well.

T.J. · 02-25-2010, 11:27 AM

US cell phones are deadly expensive to use here. You are roaming internationally and if I remember correctly, you are making an international call while roaming internationally on some carriers.

Try Skype or Magic Jack and go to an Internet Cafe to use, or more simply and quite reasonably, rent one from Home - Cancun Valet They also provide airport transportation and can hand you the phone when they pick you up. Or it is left for you at your hotel and you can leave it there in the same manner. You know your number in advance and it will br preprogrammed for I think 8 numbers you provide at the time of your order.

Pretty idiot proof. Great service. Newer phones. Locally owned and operated.

dmbBluejay · 02-25-2010, 05:36 PM

Or just leave the phone at home, go enjoy your vacation, worry free, and deal with anything that may come up once you return home! Plus, that way you won't make (potentially embarrassing) very expensive drunk dials...

Laura Mapchick · 03-04-2010, 11:53 AM

cell phone- when Perry travels w/o me, (which I try to avoid!)

We switch him to a plan with AT&T called Viva Mexico, we do the one with more minutes because he calls a lot!
900 minutes, for $75. There's one with less minutes that's cheaper.
We also use skype ocassionaly, but Perry does what's easiest.. and that is dialing his phone. In the past, a 10 day trip worth of his calls home has cost us $300! It would have been cheaper if I bought a plane ticket. For some reason he wants to talk to me more when he's in Mexico than at home

I guess that's good.

gabesz · 03-07-2010, 11:59 AM

First to register with the State Dept. is only of value if there is a major international incident in which they will try to find all Americans in a certain country to give them the appropriate warning. Otherwise they will try to find you if your family cannot and they contact the State Dept. Remember the State Dept knows when you leave the country since the airline reports it to them, but they do not know where you are going other then your first landing with the plane.

If you leave word with your family as to where you are staying with the phone number of the place, they will find you that way from home if necessary.

As for cell phones-AT&T has a service for $5.00 per month to connect to Mexico and Canada and use your existing minutes with no roaming charges. I am not sure if they charge any more then normal per minute used in either direction, but still for $5.00 per month if you stay that long in Mexico its a good deal. If you only go for one week, they will pro rate the rate to the time you are out of the USA. Make sure you let them know that you are back and want to discontinue the service otherwise you will pay the $5.00 forever.

Verizon has a similar deal as well but their per minute charge is 90 cents for each call in either direction. Again make sure you call to disconnect from their international services when you get home.

TNCJ1 · 03-08-2010, 06:50 PM

Just got back and have phone service with ATT. With the $5 Mexico plan the rates were 59 cents a minute to landlines in the USA and 99cents to cell phones in the USA.

02-02-2010, 12:53 PM	#1
BillysWife Cancuncare Enthusiast Join Date: 31st Jul 2006 Posts: 14	Is it necessary to register with the US State Department when traveling to Cancun? I never have but have recently been told that we should? Thanks

02-02-2010, 03:46 PM	#3
Zibbyzap Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 30th Mar 2004 Location: Utopia Posts: 616	Or heaven forbid, something serious happens back home that requires your notification. We had a family member pass away unexpectedly while we were in Cancun and the Consulate notified the resort we were staying at. It only takes a little time and is worth it if something happens. __________________ You can learn from anyone, even your enemy. ~ Ovid

02-02-2010, 07:21 PM	#8
Zibbyzap Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 30th Mar 2004 Location: Utopia Posts: 616	We have rented cell phones previously and have even used our own while down there. In our situation we actually were aware of the death before notification by the Consulate because we had called our family to check in. In all honesty, you will probably never need to use their help. But then again, the people that have needed their assistance in the past, didn't travel out of country thinking they would using it from the onset. Especially people that head down and find themselves in a bind after a drunken evening and a session of unfortunate interaction with the policia. __________________ You can learn from anyone, even your enemy. ~ Ovid

02-25-2010, 11:27 AM	#12
T.J. I can choose my own title Join Date: 13th Apr 2003 Location: Cancun. QR, Mexico Posts: 2,443	US cell phones are deadly expensive to use here. You are roaming internationally and if I remember correctly, you are making an international call while roaming internationally on some carriers. Try Skype or Magic Jack and go to an Internet Cafe to use, or more simply and quite reasonably, rent one from Home - Cancun Valet They also provide airport transportation and can hand you the phone when they pick you up. Or it is left for you at your hotel and you can leave it there in the same manner. You know your number in advance and it will br preprogrammed for I think 8 numbers you provide at the time of your order. Pretty idiot proof. Great service. Newer phones. Locally owned and operated. __________________ T.J. Cancun, Q. R. Mexico *Jesus said: "My food is to do what God wants. He is the one who sent me and I must finish the work that he gave me to do." John 4:34*

02-25-2010, 05:36 PM	#13
dmbBluejay Cancuncare Regular Join Date: 19th Jan 2010 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 191	Or just leave the phone at home, go enjoy your vacation, worry free, and deal with anything that may come up once you return home! Plus, that way you won't make (potentially embarrassing) very expensive drunk dials... __________________ Eat, drink and be merry. Life is short but sweet for certain. A true friend is one that knows all your faults but loves you anyways Here's to the nights we'll never remember... with the friends we'll never forget!

02-02-2010, 04:24 PM	#4
HammieJ I can choose my own title Join Date: 19th Jan 2009 Location: NJ - Fist Pump baby! Posts: 2,313	how do you do this?

02-02-2010, 05:26 PM	#5
Dougout2424 Cancuncare Enthusiast Join Date: 25th Jan 2010 Location: OHIO Posts: 95	With the exception of huge natural disaster why not just take or rent a cell phone. We have rented with cancunValet in the past but Steve may have an idea too! Get your number before you leave!

02-02-2010, 05:28 PM	#6
shalomtou Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 4th Nov 2008 Location: San Jose Ca. Posts: 647	https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

02-03-2010, 01:32 PM	#9
BillysWife Cancuncare Enthusiast Join Date: 31st Jul 2006 Posts: 14	Sounds good to me. I'm sure it can't hurt to let them know where we are. Thanks everyone. Sunday is the big day. Finally out of the Cold and snow. I'm sure I will have to come home wayyyy before I'm ready. LOL

02-23-2010, 09:11 AM	#10
juli@dave Cancuncare Newbie Join Date: 25th Jan 2010 Location: cascade iowa Posts: 6	do cell phones work there? I mean i have good plan but not sure about that! juli

02-23-2010, 10:03 AM	#11
ToriB Cancuncare Sun Care Advisor Join Date: 23rd Jan 2009 Location: Cancun via PHILLY!!! Posts: 1,158	Of course cell phones work here!!! Check with your provider because you may need an international set up on your account, and you will want to check about charges...calls per min and text, incoming and outgoing. I know for sure AT&T and Verizon work...and very well.

03-04-2010, 11:53 AM	#14
Laura Mapchick Cancuncare Regular Join Date: 31st Dec 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 150	cell phone- when Perry travels w/o me, (which I try to avoid!) We switch him to a plan with AT&T called Viva Mexico, we do the one with more minutes because he calls a lot! 900 minutes, for $75. There's one with less minutes that's cheaper. We also use skype ocassionaly, but Perry does what's easiest.. and that is dialing his phone. In the past, a 10 day trip worth of his calls home has cost us $300! It would have been cheaper if I bought a plane ticket. For some reason he wants to talk to me more when he's in Mexico than at home I guess that's good.

03-07-2010, 11:59 AM	#15
gabesz Cancuncare Addict Join Date: 31st Oct 2006 Posts: 301	Is it necessary to First to register with the State Dept. is only of value if there is a major international incident in which they will try to find all Americans in a certain country to give them the appropriate warning. Otherwise they will try to find you if your family cannot and they contact the State Dept. Remember the State Dept knows when you leave the country since the airline reports it to them, but they do not know where you are going other then your first landing with the plane. If you leave word with your family as to where you are staying with the phone number of the place, they will find you that way from home if necessary. As for cell phones-AT&T has a service for $5.00 per month to connect to Mexico and Canada and use your existing minutes with no roaming charges. I am not sure if they charge any more then normal per minute used in either direction, but still for $5.00 per month if you stay that long in Mexico its a good deal. If you only go for one week, they will pro rate the rate to the time you are out of the USA. Make sure you let them know that you are back and want to discontinue the service otherwise you will pay the $5.00 forever. Verizon has a similar deal as well but their per minute charge is 90 cents for each call in either direction. Again make sure you call to disconnect from their international services when you get home.

03-08-2010, 06:50 PM	#16
TNCJ1 Cancuncare Regular Join Date: 26th Nov 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 118	Just got back and have phone service with ATT. With the $5 Mexico plan the rates were 59 cents a minute to landlines in the USA and 99cents to cell phones in the USA. __________________

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