Telephones and Electricity

Telephones:

Direct dial to most countries is available. You may also use telephone credits cards through the appropriate operators including ATT, MCI, Sprint, and Bell Canada or simply dial the access code to your carrier and then the number.

AT&T operator by dialing 0-800-011-4114, MCI by calling 0-800-012-2222, Sprint by dialing 0-800-013-0123, Canada Bell by dialing 0-800-015-1161, British Telecom by dialing 0-800-044-1044

To make a collect call from any phone, dial 09, the international access code of the country being called, and then the number. If you ever need an English speaking operator, simply dial 116.

Making international calls from pay phones is difficult because of the amount of coins you have to feed into the phone. Also, waiting in line to use a phone might be fruitless as it is not customary for a person to rush off the phone, even if someone is obviously waiting. A lot of pay phones in Costa Rica are out of order, so be sure you know a phone is working before investing coins into it.

Electricity:

Standard current is 110volts, 60 Hertz. Same as in the U.S with 110V, 60Hz current and the same wall outlets. Sometimes outlets only have 2 slots w/o the 3rd 'ground' receptacle, so an adapter can be handy.