Buying SIM for use in USA

amf

We (2 adults and 2 kids) are off to Nevada/California for a month in the summer. For past US hols we've taken walkie talkies for when the kids wanted to wander off at theme parks, shopping mals, etc. These worked so so depending on distance apart.

The kids are getting older and want to roam further so I was considering using the mobile phones to keep in touch - we have a few that are triband and unlocked. Rather than use our UK contract SIMs (very expensive) we were considering buying cheap US PAYG phones, but then I came across THIS I've done some quick research and it seems that any PAYG US SIMs will be use and dispose of (whether we buy cheapies once there or go the ebay route), since they seem to need a top up every 3 months to avoid SIM being cancelled.

The ebay route looks attractive. I see that, if we get an activated SIM, we need to buy shortly before the start of the holiday to ensure that the credit doesn't expire timewise. Since I've never used a US SIM I was wondering if anyone has experience of using these ebay activated SIMs.

GUMPO

Seems to be a bit of a dear way of doing things. How old are the kids?

amf

Around £11 for SIM with $30 credit seems quite cheap.....if it works!

The kids will be 13 and 11. My eldest is quite used to wandering around overseas theme parks and shopping malls herself. The walkie talkies work OK in smaller parks/malls. She is meeting up with a US penpal this time and both will probably want to do their own thing. That's why I want her to have a phone, preferably with a US SIM.