I havn't narrowed down which date i'm going with.. i guess it depends if i decide to pay the expedite fee for my husband and I's passports. Going to apply for them today.. anyone recently have to apply for a passport? How long did it take to get? Was it the full 6 weeks to process? So excited for this day to finally get here.. been a lurker for way too long... :-)

What about phone reception? Will I need to get international calling added to my phone?

If you want to call or receive calls w/o spending a fortune, yes. As soon as we crossed the boarder into MX, I got a text message from Verizon saying calls going in and out would be charged at .99 a minute and text messages .55.

that is good to know DDFin, I have sprint and it covers roaming for free, I wonder if mine will cost that too. I am planning on bringing my ipad and maybe laptop (probably only one if I can get an IPAD too cheap enough, because I only have the old one and does not have a camera), and talking to my family on it.

What about a prepaid phone? Thought about trying to find one that would be cheaper than AT&T international roaming.

I am hispanic and many hispanics here use calling cards to call to mexico, I would suggest having your family buy some they are anywhere from 5-20 dollars each depending on the amount of minutes. Go to a mexican store and ask there which one will give you the best number of minutes wherever you are calling. That might also be a good question for Anid or whoever you are working with, if they have calling cards there or if like Jthurman said prepaid phones are better or what they recommend. I am not sure about paid phone I worry about them being more expensive and maybe going out faster because you are outside of the country. Good things to look into.

What about phone reception? Will I need to get international calling added to my phone?

Good question that was my next one... i have verizon but i think i'll just keep it turned off while in Mexico. I will just use the free wireless in the hospital and hotel to relay messages home :-)