Roaming data and calls USA

michele-p

Hi all, I'm lucky enough to be going to Colorado and Utah for 3 weeks this year. I'm currently with Vodafone, out of contract on a sim only monthly plan. If would cost me £7.29 a day for US roaming. I run my own business, so I'm keen to keep my same number if possible. I'm happy to change network now, but living in Norfolk not all cover my area (no signal on 3 sadly).

I've got a dual sim phone, but it can't use e sims. I've currently got a free Leabra sim to check signal. They do a pretty good roaming pack i could swap to them and buy. 

BUT anyone have  any experience of using Lebara abroad? They seem to get good reviews, but then there's plenty amongst them that report they can't access data outside the UK.

Other than buy a local sim when I arrive, anyone have any advice. With 2 sets of elderly parents and our own digsitters at home, I really want them to be able to contact me if needed!

I considered putting all calls on Vodafone number to voicemail, with a message to give out temp number, but asking only to call in am emergency (that's for customers, not family of course!). 

Any other ideas?

photome

A three payg sim bought in a three shop ( chapelfield) for £10 will get you unlimited calls and texts  to uk numbers from the USA and an amount of data.  After buying the sim you just need to change it to an international bolt on ….at least it works something like that from memory…the guys in the shop will tell you…it does mean you have a different number in the US but if yiu are dual sim it won’t matter

mrsplinter

I've used Lebara abroad (the EU) without any issues. I had to adjust some settings the first time, but it worked straightaway on subsequent trips. I'm off to America in June and was thinking of buying one of their roaming add-ons as the price is fairly competitive.

michele-p

Thanks Mrsplinter, good to hear you have had a positive experience. 

Photome, I have a 3 sim, you can order a free one to test out signal. I would happily change my number to 3 and use it all the time, but sadly no signal at all where I live. 

I'm still trying to decide best way to do it for our holiday, but probably between these two options.

400ixl

Blimey, you have found the one place in Norfolk where Vodafone works

i have Vodafone sim from work and use EE in the same phone. Night and day between the two across Norfolk, but also my experience is Three is also far better than Vodafone.

One thing for when you are at home, is wifi calling. The only way I get any connectivity from Vodafone at home is that it uses my wifi to receive / make calls and texts etc.

Can also confirm EE and Three both work well in the US. Vodafone also tends to be OK as well over there.

Three includes US roaming in some of their PAYG I believe for new customers but contract phones need to take the add-on (grandfathered in for some older contracts). EE seems to be the other way around, you can get it included in some of the contracts but have to buy the Add-on for PAYG.

michele-p

Thanks 400ixl, I've just ordered a fee EE sim to check out their coverage in my area. It's a pity 3 is so dire here in Coltishall, as I used a 3 unlimited sim when we were renovating the house and living in a temporary rented place, and it worked so well!