| By Valterreekian on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 12:45 pm: Edit |
Anybody know the best place/company/price for a SIM chip for my phone while in Peru. I will spend most of the time in Lima, but it would be great if the chip worked in Cuzco as well. Any advice would be appreciated.
Val
| By Copperfieldkid on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 05:06 pm: Edit |
I think Claro is probably your best bet. They have a location right on Jose Larco in Mira Flores near 28 de Julio. Within a blk or two, you can see their sign on East side of the street.
| By Valterreekian on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 07:12 am: Edit |
Thanks, CFK, I will keep my eyes open for it. Any odea what the cost is for the chip?
| By Valterreekian on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 07:14 am: Edit |
Also, is there any recommendations for currency exchange? Are most of the exchanges fair or are they like so many places where they are a rip-off?
| By Copperfieldkid on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 12:54 pm: Edit |
I can't remember if the chip is about 30soles(about $10) or not.. Get yourself at least $100 exchanged at the airport to start, the rate their is pretty good, usually 3:18 to one (banks in town about 3:20). CAUTION: the street vendors sometimes give you phony bills, especially the 20's and higher, so I stay away from them, Best to go in grocery store as they all have banks within and exchange. Banks ok except there is always a wait. There are two exchanges at baggage claim and both are good...enjoy
| By Gooch, RTGooch on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 10:47 pm: Edit |
RT here. A whole new prepaid phone is only 89 soles these days. You can pick one up at a Claro kiosk in just about every supermarket, or at a Claro store (as noted above). The same goes for Telephonica phones. I assume that you could buy a chip and put it in your unlocked phone, but for $30 you get a whole setup, and you don't have to worry about losing your US phone.
quote:Anybody know the best place/company/price for a SIM chip for my phone while in Peru. I will spend most of the time in Lima, but it would be great if the chip worked in Cuzco as well. Any advice would be appreciated.
I've never had a problem on the street -- maybe I'm lucky. The airport is paying 3.12 right now, and the street guys are at 3.15 or so. The difference is minimal, so I just buy wherever I am. The only 'bad' exchange rates are at the American chain hotels. My best bet has been buying soles at the Hacienda casino. They run your card as a sale, not a cash advance, and you get a pretty good rate from the credit card companies, as long as you don't get hit with a large foreign transaction fee.
quote:Also, is there any recommendations for currency exchange? Are most of the exchanges fair or are they like so many places where they are a rip-off?
| By Copperfieldkid on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 07:03 am: Edit |
Good info on the prepaid phone RT.....
| By Gooch, RTGooch on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 04:05 pm: Edit |
Well, here's even more info for you. I was in the supermarket today, and the Claro booth was unmanned, but they had prepaid phones on sale for as low as 69 and 79 soles. Unlike other countries, it doesn't take an act of god to get one, either -- just money and some form of ID and 10 minutes of your time. They talk really fast in Spanish, but even if you don't understand a word, they're saying, "Here's your phone, go home and charge it. Also, here's your phone number. You only get a few minutes included, do you want to buy more?" That's the same in any language.
There was someone working at the Telephonica booth, and I asked her how much a chip was. She said 30 soles. I can't believe that the Claro price would be much different.
| By Copperfieldkid on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 07:40 pm: Edit |
Thanks for the price confirmation.....