mobiles in america

daniel-2412

hello all, we are going to America in august this year, i was wondering what would be the best and cheapest way to use a mobile while there. i am on ee pay as you go so it works out quite expensive to use my current package, i was wondering if it is better to get a deal here or pick up a disposable sim while in America? it will be used mainly for data as we have a car when we get there and will need navigation, i do not foresee using any call package but if it came up would use WhatsApp or messenger for this so again would fall to data. we will be going to Florida for 10 days if this information helps, as always any help will be appreciated. thank you all

Archergirl

I would google it as there are no replies, I am with 3 and have been for years so still get free roaming but I imagine a local sim with data is the way to go. 

400ixl

What phone have you got, is it one with an eSim capability. This is often a good way in getting a local eSim to use whilst there.

Equally, you can use maps offline for navigation, won't give live traffic but will do all of the routing and turn by turn directions. This won't need any data connection.

phatbear

buy one of these:

Three PAYG Voice SIM Pack - 10GB - £10: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

it will give you a month to use 10gb, which is more than enough for navigation, whatsapp etc etc. 

Smudge's_Lot

I wen to the USA in 2019 and the advice was to get a local sim card once over there. In the UK, you can pick a sim card at any supermarket/train station/airports etc but I found that in Washington(DC) I couldn't find anything like that there. In the Mobile shops I went into to ask about a pre-loaded sim card with some data was not available unless I signed up to a contract-which defeated the point of what I was trying to do.

Not sure if that is a USA thing or just the Capital?

NoodleDoodleMan

https://kenstechtips.com/index.php/best-sim-cards-for-usa

daniel-2412

I am with ee and I have a Poco x3

photome

phatbear said:

buy one of these:

Three PAYG Voice SIM Pack - 10GB - £10: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

it will give you a month to use 10gb, which is more than enough for navigation, whatsapp etc etc. 

I think this is a great solution, I have done it in the past with 3 as a £10 bolt on...But  3 is stopping  free roaming in May this year,, dont know if that means this sim will be no use after that date ?

Reg1988

I am travelling shortly and am with BT. I spoke to them and their honest advice was to buy a SIM locally as this was cheaper. Generally UK providers provide data and do not support either texts or calls in their packages. As I am only going for a few days as a tourist and will not require calls (can do over Wifi if needed) I bought their only package which is 500mb of data a day for £6. This is fine for me but won't help people who stream videos etc.

NoodleDoodleMan

I'm not up to speed on the cell 'phone scenario in the USA - however I believe they don't have a seamless national network across the country in the same way that the UK works.

If you 'phone out of state the call is past through neighbouring state(s) to the eventual destination using whatever network is best available.

That probably impacts on costs.

Happy to be corrected if wrong.

Buying a cheap PAYG handset with SIM from a convenience store might be worth considering ?

daniel-2412

ill consider anything to be fair, i thought the three deal seemed good, its a one off trip to florida,