Our Honest Review of the KeepGo Hotspot, On our Mexican Vacation!

Our Keepgo with full service (4 bars) in San Jose del Cabo

Using our KeepGo to blog in Mexico

We  are dependent on a reliable internet connection when we travel. Getting a reliable internet hotspot in Mexico has been difficult as a frequent traveler, but we took a chance and purchased the KeepGo hotspot and took it to Baja California with us in order to have a back-up in case we couldn't get reliable service at our rented condo. 

Please note that we purchased the complete KeepGo device, which comes with a SIM card included and a Gig of data automatically. The current cost is $119 USD. They also have very good support if you need it. 

​I'm pleased to say that the Keepgo works great! We are getting reliable 3G service all over Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo. The best part? We take it driving with us, so we always have Google maps available when we drive. No more paper maps, no more getting lost! 

Now, there are drawbacks. The KeepGo device is not as fast as you might be used to. The connection speed we get varies. Although we have had fairly reliable service all over Baja California, the speeds are 3G at best. 

Another warning, if you are using the hotspot with your laptop, then TURN OFF data hogging software, especially automatic Windows updates, cloud backups (like Carbonite), and absolutely turn off Dropbox, because these programs will burn through  your data allowance very quickly!

The service is also metered, so you pay for the amount of data that you use. Data is expensive, but you can pay for multiple gigs at a time and get a cheaper rate. 1 Gig of data costs $45. You can purchase 10 gigs for $299, so it's more affordable to purchase more.

As an example, we have used the Keepgo daily in the car and a few times inside our condo when the wi-fi went down. We do not use it to watch videos or play games, etc. Based on our light  useage, in three weeks, we have used 2 Gigs of data.

Our advice? If you plan going to Mexico, most of the major hotel chains have free wi-fi available, and it's important that you confirm this by calling ahead to make sure that it's available.

This is especially true if you are using Airbnb to book your stay, many of the hosts (especially new or inexperienced hosts) will often say that an internet connection is available when it is NOT. A good rule of thumb is to make sure that A/C as well as internet service is available anywhere you will be staying, or your trip to Mexico may be unpleasant. 

The KeepGo data is pricey, which is the main drawback.

However, for us, it's worth it, especially since we always have working navigation in the car. It's wonderful to have a working hotspot while we are in a foreign country, and it gives us great peace of mind when we are noodling about town with the kids. 

The only time the KeepGo did not work was when we were in the high desert between Cabo and La Paz, and in that case, we only lost service for about 30 minutes. The device is dependent on a working cellphone signal, and there weren't any towers available, because we lost mobile phone service, as well. That's not really the KeepGo's fault. 

Bottom Line: The KeepGo is totally worth it for the peace of mind it provides, and worked reliably all throughout Baja California for us. 

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NOTE: This is our honest review of the KeepGo device based on our own experiences with the product. We are not, in any way, affiliated with KeepGo, and we paid full price for this product. We did not receive any discount, freebies, etc. for posting this review. 

Update: The KeepGo is also working great in Salamanca, Guanajuato. It also works in Leon, Celaya, and Irapuato, GTO (neighboring cities). It isn't lighning-fast by any means, but it has allowed us to work, check email, and use Google maps. This is a great little hotspot!