If you have an existing cellular phone with a nationwide service plan (with no roaming charges), chances are good that your cell phone will work flawlessly throughout your vacation in Puerto Rico. If no roaming fees are part of your service plan, you will incur no international roaming charges when using your phone anywhere on the island to make or receive calls.

All of the hotels and resorts charge a premium for making long-distance calls using the phone in your guest room. You can easily purchase a prepaid phone card to make calls back to the United States from a pay phone instead. This is a much cheaper option. Prepaid phone cards are sold in stores, convenience stores, and gas stations throughout Puerto Rico.

The telephones in Puerto Rico works exactly as they do in America. To make a long distance call, simply dial 1 plus the area code and phone number. (If calling from your hotel room, you may need to dial 9 first to get an outside line.) Toll-free numbers also work flawlessly.

If you need access to the Internet, the majority of hotels offer in-room high-speed Internet service (for a daily fee), plus computer workstations in their lobbies or business centers (where you'll pay for access by the minute).

There are also many Internet cafés located throughout Puerto Rico. Dial-up Internet services based in America, including America Online, typically offer local dial-up numbers in Puerto Rico. If your hotel charges a per-minute premium for making even local calls from your room, it'll probably be cheaper to use any high-speed Internet services offered.