This "taken for granted" service, by foreign buyers, should be one of the questions you ask when your are looking for property here, if a telephone is a MUST for your family. We are getting better in this area. We now have all fiber optics installed from Tijuana to Ensenada. According to AT&T management in Tijuana, in another couple of years, we'll have a state of the art telephone system that will make the U.S. system antiquated. The popular La Mision area just received their phones in 1994. There are many who have lived there since the 1950's and 60's and just now have telephone service. If you should purchase a home that already has a phone, the phone line is usually included in the purchase agreement. A phone line can cost $500 to $2000 for areas tat are getting new service and the cost of the poles and equipment plus the number of residents requesting service are used in determining the fees. (Note: Buyer Beware: Those phones that let you use your credit card to call collect to the U.S. and Canada are the worst gift you receive when you get home and find your credit card statement... Expect $35.00 to $50.00 for your first three minutes! The only disclosure are the rates within Mexico and they look "reasonable" so you "assume" the rates north of the border are in line too! NOT SO!)

Telephone Tips That Offer Some Savings

Long Distance is expensive because of the taxes. If you're a permanent resident and need a service that can provide you with 22 cents per minute to the U.S. and Canada, call 677-3458 for information This is good for all of Baja.

Most 800 numbers from the U.S. are not free in Mexico and must be dialed with different prefixes. For 800 numbers call 001-880+ 7 digit number and for 888 number, call 001-881 + t digit number. These calls are .50 cents a minute.

Pay Phones

The Telmex-Telnor-Ladatel signs you see in local stores sell prepaid long distance/local service cards in increments of 30,50 and 100 pesos. The payphone will show your balance on the card as you use it. To dial the U.S., dial 001+area code+number and it will work like a charm.

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of public telephones designed for international phone calls. These phones have instructions in English and allow you to make collect calls to another country or charge those calls to a credit card. They are reliable, but notoriously expensive, usually charging several dollars per minute. Use only in extreme emergencies.

Cell Phones

Telephone lines are not always available and if a telephone is a must, you might consider one of the cellular companies, Nextel, Movistar, or Telcel. They all have offices in Rosarito. They can add a "Mexico number" on your existing cellular if you have two nams. Be sure you ask specifically how to dial when you're in Rosarito, Ensenada, Tijuana, etc. If you do not dial correctly you may incur long distance charges as well as the air time fees.

Using your American Cellular in Mexico may be possible on roaming, but you may be in for an unpleasant surprise when you get the bill, since roaming charges can be expensive.

Nextel's radio service is a good alternative, if you have Nextel, because the radio works here and in the U.S. in an ever expanding market..

Emergency Numbers for Rosarito Area

Tourism and Convention Bureau (Comite de Turismo y Convenciones)
In Oceana Plaza on Blvd Benito Juarez in front of Oceana Towers
011-52-661-6120396 or toll free 1 (800) 962-2252
Open Mon-Fri 8 am - 5 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am - 3 pm

State Tourism Office
In Plaza Villa Floresta on Blvd Benito Juarez, near northern entrance to town
011-52-661-612-0200
Open Mon-Fri 8 am - 5 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am - 3 pm