The Internet
We have a wireless Internet connection and, comparatively speaking, it is pretty fast (on average, about 8-12 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload). If you have Verizon Fios, Xfinity, or a 1,000 Mbps fiber connection at home or at work, you will be disappointed. That said, you are here for a vacation. The internet is fast enough for email, watching movies, and video conferencing. You will be fine!
The Internet is shared between the upstairs and downstairs apartments, so upload and download speeds depend on the number of active users, as well as the time of day and other “network factors” that are beyond our control.
Our network name is Sal del Mar. The password is in your Airbnb confirmation email and in the House Book.
Cell Phone Service
Cell phone service varies across the island. AT&T works pretty well in both apartments, but service is better on the front porch and back deck. Verizon and T-Mobile aren’t very good indoors, so you may need to go outside to get a good signal. Sometimes you can walk down the street one way or another, and it gets better. Just like back home in Virginia! Wi-fi calling works well on our network.
Printing and Fax
The best place to try is the little print shop down the street. As you leave the house, turn left, then take the first right. Go one block, and you will see Jo-Chanel Craft and Gift Shop on the corner. Their email address is jochanrlshop@gmail.com, and they are wonderful to work with!
TV / DVD Player
Enjoy your vacation without them! We don't have a TV or a DVD player, and you won't miss them. If you want to watch Netflix movies or shows from another service you subscribe to, we recommend that you download them during the day and then play them back at night. Our internet is unlimited, and it might be slower than what you are used to, but for a small island, we are very happy to have it.
ATM and Credit Card Machines
Not all vendors accept debit or credit cards, and many have a minimum purchase limit ranging from $5.00 to $15.00. From time to time, the ATMs will be out of money, or the ATM and credit card machines won’t be able to connect to the Internet. Cash is your only option at that point!
You can find ATMs at most grocery stores, gas stations, and at the (one and only) bank, and fees typically range from $4 to $6. Sometimes, the cashiers at Big Morales have to take the card reader outside the store and point it up at the sky. It’s all part of the charm of living on a small island!
Most food trucks will accept cash, but don’t count on them accepting debit or credit cards.
Books
Thanks to Gutenberg, paperback books are among the most widely used technologies on the island. We read them at home, and we read them on the island. You can find free books to read at some of the bars and sometimes at the grocery stores. Most operate on a take-one-leave-one policy, but if you don’t have one, just take one. The thrift store on the corner across from the old post office may also have books for sale, and there are pop-up book displays around the island; just be on the lookout for them.