CABO INTERNET ACCESS
It wasn't too long ago that traveling to Cabo meant completely dropping out of society for the duration of the trip. Telephone service was difficult, expensive and reception was often poor. Internet access was not available at any cost so checking your e-mail while in Cabo was not even an option. But since the turn of the century, Cabo has come a long way on both fronts.
Not only has telephone service improved significantly in Cabo over the last few years, including cell service, but the Internet has come to Cabo in a big way. Year by year Cabo's entrepenurs have established Internet Cafes in most of Cabo's corners. While there is still no Internet access in most of Baja's remote outback outside of Cabo (and that is a good thing!), most of Cabo is now on-line and offering an easy way to keep in touch with family, friends and business associates back home.
Rates for Internet access in Cabo vary very little, depending upon the scarcity of the service. Where a person might pay $3.00 US for 30 minutes in a Cabo Hotel, that same person might find Interet access available in downtown Cabo San Lucas for $1.00 US for 30 minutes. Competition keeps prices down and the customer benefits.
Internet Cafes in Cabo are a great place to meet other travelers.
The vast majority of the Internet Cafes in Cabo charge for their services in pesos, although they will alway accept US dollars as payment. So if the total cost of your on-line experience is $35 pesos, $3.00 dollars US will do the trick, using the popular 12 to 1 pesos-to-dollars ratio.
While the newer Internet Cafes in Cabo are using US keyboards (and you thought all keyboards were the same!), some of the older Cafe's in Cabo have Mexican keyboards. Fortunately, Mexican keyboards are not a whole lot different from US keyboards. The letters are all in the same place on the keyboard, but some of the other keyboard items and functions have been moved around or removed. If you can't find the "@" sign on a Cabo computer don't be afraid to ask the person behind the counter. You won't be the first person that day to do so!.
A word of caution! Now that Internet access is so readily available in Cabo, it takes a certain amount of discipline to break the habit of checking your e-mail all the time. Remember...you are on vacation and there are many more important things for you to do that delete a bunch of spam in your e-mail in box. Take a hint from Carlos Fiesta...check your e-mail no more than once a day when in Cabo, usually after 5:00 pm 'home-time'. If there are any important e-mails waiting for you this will allow you to respond the same day the e-mail came in, which is about all anyone can expect from you while you are on vacation. And by clearing your e-mail in the late afternooon, you are all set to take on the Cabo evening, have a worry-free meal and cocktail, and sleep like a Cabo Clam knowing that you are all caught up with the drama back home.
Another word of caution! Unless your uncle is Warren Buffett, don't use your cell phone to access your email in Cabo. You'll be sorry if you do. It's expensive!