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Roaming Curacao: Rates and how to avoid it
Get to know more about the roaming in Curacao service and see what are the alternatives available to use there when traveling!
April 19, 2023
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Traveling to Curacao soon, and you want to know how roaming works there? It’s no surprise that this question comes to mind, especially when it comes to managing your budget for that trip. But there’s a lot that travelers need to know regarding this service, and that’s why it is necessary to have a handy guide to understand how it works.
Even though roaming seems like a suitable alternative for tourists and adventurers, there are other alternatives that are even better to use to get cellular internet in Curacao. However, it’s important to know the specifics, the terms and conditions of each service to know which one best fits your needs. So, let’s get on with it!
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What is a roaming service?
Roaming is a service that became popular among travelers. It used to be one of the main options for people to use when visiting a new country, but as time passed by, roaming services have become an alternative that’s not so common to see when it comes to traveling.
Even though this is the case, it is important to mention that travelers in places like Curacao, roaming is available, and they can fully enjoy it while being there. There’s no doubt this is an important thing to keep in mind, but people need to remember that the prices will vary from one cellular carrier to another.
Nowadays, there are different cellular operators with this service available. It is something common to see, and these companies will offer different features to their customers, which is also something important to get to know and compare.
(You may also be interested to know about roaming in Peru)
Comparison of roaming rates in Curacao
When it comes to talking about roaming in Curacao, there are different things to set side by side. There are different services available for those interested to use, and most surely are keen to know more about what each one of these offers. So, before talking about each one, let’s see some of the prices of these services.
| Cellular provider – Rate | Cost (in US dollars/MB) |
| Holafly eSIM card | $34 for 5 days with 2GB. |
| AT&T | $2.05/MB |
| T-Mobile | $70/5GB |
| Verizon | $2.05/MB |
| Vodafone | $6 per day |
| Three | $3 per MB consumed |
| Rogers | $15/10MB or $15 with Roam Like Home |
With this information, customers can get an idea of how much they might end up spending when traveling using roaming. But what’s also important here is the fact that backpackers and foreigners need to keep in mind other features, which will be talked about now.
Roaming in Curacao by Mobile Provider
The first thing we’ll discuss here comes with the roaming in Curacao service offered by the different cellular providers that were mentioned before. So, let’s get into the details about each one of these operators to see what they offer.
Roaming in Curacao with AT&T
A&T is one of the major companies when it comes to talking about cellular providers within the US, and as for the rates, these are the ones they offer to their customers.
- Calls: $3 per minute.
- Send texts: $0.50/message
- Send pictures and videos: $1.30/message
- Internet: $2.05
How to activate it
There are two different ways for users to activate the AT&T roaming service. Both of them are quite easy, so that’s something good to know. The first available method is through a phone call, and customers need to dial 611 in order to activate the roaming.
The other option is through International Customer Service. Customers simply need to call them and ask them to activate the roaming service.
Roaming in Curacao with T-Mobile
T-Mobile is also a great alternative when it comes to using a cellular carrier within the United States. As for their service, the roaming is a bit more limited due to how it is obtained, so here’s the info about their rates.
- Calls made: $0.25/min.
- SMS: $0.50 per text.
- Internet: $60-85/data plan.
How to activate it
When activating T-Mobile roaming, there are two steps that need to be completed before activating the roaming. First, people need to call #RON# for the service to be activated, and then they have to activate the “Roaming” option on the “Mobile/Cellular Data” menu.
Roaming in Curacao with Verizon
Time to talk about Verizon. The third option, that’s also quite popular to use, has some extra details that must be mentioned for customers to know what the carrier offers.
- Calls made: $1.79/minute
- SMS: $0.50.
- Internet: $2.05/MB.
How to activate it
Verizon is by far the company with the most effortless process to start using the roaming service. Those who purchased the service simply need to activate the “Roaming” button that’s located within the “Mobile/Cellular Data” menu, and that’s it.
Roaming in Curacao with Vodafone
For Vodafone users, it is important for them to know how the roaming works. For this company, the roaming service is divided into different “categories”. As for Curacao, it is located within the Zone D of the service, which means customers have to pay $6 per day to use the roaming service.
How to activate it
Vodafone is a company that likes to manage most of the things they offer through their app, including roaming. To activate it, consumers need to visit the “My Vodafone” app and then visit the “International Roaming” menu to complete the process there.
Roaming in Curacao with Three
Another company from the UK is Three, which is also one of the companies offering roaming services in Curacao. Compared to Vodafone, rates are a bit different when it comes to talking about what Three offers.
- Calls made: $2/minute
- SMS: $0.35.
- Internet: $3/MB.
How to activate it
When it comes to talking about easy activation processes, Three options come into the conversation. It is so easy to activate their roaming that once users reach the coverage area of Curacao, it will be activated.
Roaming in Curacao with Rogers
Lastly, there’s Roger as the final alternative. Rogers is the company with the highest roaming prices on the list, and that’s important to keep in mind.
- Call: $3 per minute
- Text: $0.75 per text
- Data: $15 per 10 MB or $15 per day with “Roam Like Home.”
How to activate it
To activate Rogers roaming, the process is extremely simple. The client only needs to activate the roaming button that’s found on the “Mobile/Cellular Data” menu, and that’s it for the activation process!
You may want to know about roaming in Nicaragua
Alternatives to roaming in Curacao
Once people can get to know more about the roaming rates of the different providers operating in Curacao, it’s now time to elaborate on the alternatives users will come across when visiting Curacao that might be cheaper than the roaming service.
Even though roaming services are good, there are some options that are just as good as that service, and that can cost a lot less. Therefore, it’s time to talk about what each one of these will offer and where those interested can get them.
eSIM for Curacao
When it comes to talking about a famous alternative that has become a favorite among travelers nowadays, eSIMs are on the top of the list. These are among the best alternatives for e-nomads and travelers for several reasons, but especially due to their price and how easy it is to get one.
Companies like Holafly offer customers the opportunity to get an eSIM they can use in over 80 different locations, and Curacao is included among the list of countries where people can use an eSIM from Holafly when traveling!
You may be interested in learning about the best eSIMs for Managua.
Prepaid SIM card for Curacao
Similar to eSIMs, and as a matter of fact, the oldest brother of eSIMs, SIM cards are still a thing for people when it comes to traveling. Even though eSIMs have become more popular around the world, SIM cards are still to be dethroned as the favorite alternative for those with devices that don’t support that type of technology.
The only downside here comes with the fact that when buying a SIM card, especially if the SIM card is at the travel destination, it can be sometimes difficult to come by due to the cellular operators restrictions.
Free WiFi in Curacao
When it comes to talking about cheap traveling alternatives, that’s where free WiFi comes into the conversation. These free WiFi hotspots are a good way to save some money, but they aren’t always available.
It is important to keep in mind free WiFi connections are available in certain places, such as hotels, malls, restaurants, and similar areas, so once those connected leave any of these places, the connection will be lost.
Also, it is important to keep in mind that these connections aren’t so safe compared to other alternatives available. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid introducing any personal data when using these free hotspots.
Free WiFi in Curacao: Alternatives
For those who want to rely on a free WiFi connection while traveling, there are some apps that can help travelers with this, especially when it comes to finding reliable WiFi hotspots to use.
There are apps like WiFi Finder or WinMap that can help travelers a lot as they can save some time looking for these hotspots when traveling. Still, it is important to keep in mind these options are secondary alternatives and shouldn’t be taken as a main road to go when traveling.
Pocket WiFi in Curacao
For the final spot, it’s time to talk about Pocket WiFi devices. There are different alternatives to getting one, but it is fair to say that these devices are rented rather than bought due to how they work and how cellular operators manage them.
The thing with Pocket WiFi devices is how expensive these can be, but let’s talk about what they offer.
Pocket WiFi in Curacao: Alternatives
Similar to other alternatives, it’s time to discuss the different alternatives travelers can rent when using a Pocket WiFi.
- Travelers WiFi: For people who are located in Switzerland or near, Travelers WiFi is an option that must be kept in mind. It is a company that offers a rental service for about $8 per day. Also, it offers worldwide delivery, and it charges an extra fee for those who lose or damage the device.
- My Webspot: Another alternative that offers a worldwide service is My Webspot. The company has a price that varies from $8 to $12 per day, depending on the country where those interested are traveling to. Similar to other operators, they offer a delivery service as well as charge an extra fee for those who lose or damage a device.
Comparison of alternatives to roaming in Curacao
Lastly, now that we have shared the different services available, let’s make a final comparison.
| Features | eSIM | Roaming | Pocket WiFi |
| Price | $34 | $2.05 up to $15 per MB | +$120 |
| Data | 2GB | – | 1GB per day |
| Free shipping | Yes | – | No |
| Added costs | No | Yes | Yes |
| Can you share the internet with other devices? | No | No | Yes |
| Fee in case of loss? | No | No | Yes |
| User friendly? | Yes | No | No |
Verdict: the best alternative to roaming in Curacao
After everything that has been mentioned here, it’s time to give people a final verdict on what is the best alternative when it comes to traveling and roaming in Curacao. As seen here, there are different services and options available for people to use, but by far, the one with the most advantages is the eSIMs.
For us, this is the best alternative due to what it offers, the price, how easy it is to get one, and much more. But, of course, people can get the one they prefer.
Either way, this is the perfect guide for travelers to prepare their budget for traveling and get to know the best alternative to use!
Tips for roaming in Curacao
- Limit using the roaming service when traveling to avoid spending more money than what’s expected. The more cellular data you spend, the more you have to pay at the end of the day.
- Always check the amount of cellular data spent when traveling to see if you are within your limit or if you are spending more than expected.
- Check out if there are some promotions or offers before buying a pocket WiFi service from any of the companies you prefer using.
- Check out that your device works outside your home country. It is important to check that the device you have is compatible with the network bands of the place you are visiting!
- Save some cellular data using free WiFi hotspots, but remember to avoid providing personal and sensitive information when connected to these.
By this point, people are ready to decide based on their own needs! All the features mentioned here are surely helpful and can be kept in mind for future occasions. As for us, we will keep up with the Holafly eSIM as the best alternative for travelers!
