How to get your cell phone working in Panama. And PAY LESS

If you have a GSM type phone. Why pay high roaming charges? Here's how to replace your SIM with a local number and way cheaper rates.

[@JMP1649]

Excellent video. Thank you both.

[@dougscott188]

I recommend Google Fi for USA folks and works all around the world including Panama. I mostly fly into Panama overnight and what you say is real. You are stuck without a SIM in a place like PTY. and I agree go to the phone store not a Mercado especially if your Spanish is bad. But with Fi you can avoid that hassle. When you land just take off airplane mode and it takes a few minutes to lock in but that’s it. No new SIM needed. I also recommend a second backup phone.

[@laptopseniors]

Hi. Thank you for watching and your kind comment. 😃 We appreciate you.

[@stacycadencevideos]

Thanks for the information! That was quite helpful.

[@laptopseniors]

Thanks for watching.

[@daviddcollier9467]

I have a Samsung phone that has "E" sim capabilities. By that I mean that you don't need a physical SIM card. Do you know if any of the cell providers have the capability to use this technology?

[@laptopseniors]

I found and bought an E-Sim for my iPhone for Panama using Airalo (wouldn't work in Panama or N. America). No matter what I did I couldn't get it to work. Have one in same phone now (Alo) and that works in N.America. Don't know yet if it's good in Panama.

[@daviddcollier9467]

@laptopseniors Thanks for the info. How do I find Arlo to inquire about their capabilities and a possible purchase? I would also appreciate it if you would update your thoughts when and if you get to Panama

[@laptopseniors]

@@daviddcollier9467 It's alo....David. Here's the link. alosim.com/. I actually bought it for 1/2 price, lifetime subscription through Macheist.com. They do differnt deals on different Macintosh software. It's up and up. I've signed onto Alo....activated the lifetime sub. and at some point I'll use it.

[@denisestephens1685]

Did you just walk in to make an appointment? How did you get to your ride from the airport, without the phone?

[@laptopseniors]

We took a taxi to hotel but I knew what Uber typically charged for the ride so I just held out until the guy dropped the taxi price to a little bit more than an Uber. Ride was fine. They were asking 30-35 depending on driver. I paid 25. Uber would be around 22 depending on time of day and volume.

[@FSadventureSky]

Price?????? for the Sim Card???? no more than US$ 5.00.Once you have the sim card and you are a Tourist, you buy Time Cards. Most popuilar are US$ 5.00 or 10.00. It gives you a code you key into the phone and Wala!!!! you have a Live phone......

[@laptopseniors]

Thanks for writing. The main part of that video was for someone unfamiliar with Spanish trying to have a working cell phone in a foreign country. So this was the easy route. We paid $20 for 30 days of unlimited everything. Definitely you can do it for less if you're really decent at Spanish and understand how phone companies work in Panama; the options. I had to assume a foreigner coming here wouldn't know that. Plus, unlimited everything in the US or Canada would be $40 to $45-50 instead of $20. So, even the $20 would seem like a bargain to them.