Cell Phone purchase for Bahamas coverage?

[gbanker]

In preparation for our Bahamas cruise next winter I am trying to find out where is the best place to buy a cell phone for use in the Bahamas.
I think I want to buy a local (Bahamian) phone. Nassau should have places that sell them but I would like to avoid stopping there if possible. So, can I find phones elsewhere? Thanks

[JayH]

Buying an unlocked GSM phone in the states is probably your best bet. Try eBay or Amazon. You'll find a lot better selection and prices than in the Bahamas. Just make sure it is unlocked. Then when you get to the Bahamas you can buy a SIM for it. You can do that anywhere there is a BTC station.

If you want to use the 4G network for Internet access, you may want to get a phone that is capable for it. Personally, I use a cheap phone as a phone, and a USB aircard for Internet. So I buy two SIMs instead of one.

[gbanker]

Thanks Jay. Anyone cruising in the Bahamas wish to recommend a cell phone they are happy with?

[s/v 'Faith']

They sell a Nokia in the Bahamas for less then $30. It even comes with a built in flashlight.

Buy it from Batelco, and a $15 SIM card, you are in business.

Add as little air time as you want, works well.

[jeremiason]

If you are planning on cruising an unlocked cell phone is a better way to go than having to purchase different phones in every country.

We have two unlocked phones and each country we go into, we just purchased SIM cards and pay by the minute for local calls.

For long distance calls we use EnjoyPrepaid.com, which provides local access numbers for long distance calls. My wife calls Italy on a regular basis at less than 3 cents per minute.

[s/v 'Faith']

Fwiw,

Batelco phones come unlocked. I have put my AT&T SIM card into my Batelco phone and it works fine.

[Jane.Joy]

We have had this one for a year - have used it in the US, Bahamas, Colombia, and Panama with no probs so far: phone

[onestepcsy37]

what s/v faith said.

wait till you get there. buy a batelco phone ($25 and up). buy a prepaid sim card ($5 and up). you're good to go.

batelco phones are available at all batelco offices as well as many phone stores all over the islands. you will have no trouble finding one.

as an added bonus, batelco phones are unlocked. when you come back to the states you can put an at&t sim card in it and you're good to go here.

unless you already own an unlocked gsm phone there's nothing cheaper.

[onestepcsy37]

by the way, here's a link to the phones available from batelco. naturally, the least expensive phones are at the bottom...

BTC:PS Mobile Phones - Wireless

[Jane.Joy]

The problem with waiting until you get there is, where are you gonna go first, and will there be a well-stocked Batelco office - open - when you arrive? SIM cards you can buy at any little corner market.