Travelling to USA for 3 weeks next May-best sim card

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psychrn

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#205728 24-Nov-2016 16:59

We are going to the US in May 2017 to do an Eaglerider tour from LA to Las Vegas then a Trafalgar bus tour.

Only California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah,Wyoming, Arizona states will be visited.

What would be the best solution as far as getting a sim card is concerned.

In the past we have used Ekit cards through Europe but these are probably pricey.

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scottjpalmer

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#1676911 24-Nov-2016 18:19

Check the coverage maps, the T-Mobile tourist SIM pack is good.

shk292

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#1676999 24-Nov-2016 20:53

Three UK. 10UKP gets you a similar package to the $19 packs here in NZ, with free roaming to many countires including USA

sir1963

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#1677002 24-Nov-2016 20:59

shk292:

Three UK. 10UKP gets you a similar package to the $19 packs here in NZ, with free roaming to many countires including USA

Yep, thats exactly what we did. The US is generally just a rip off.

scottjpalmer

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#1788461 26-May-2017 03:27

A new product in the market, AT&T $45 for 6GB and calling texting including Canada and Mexico roaming.

I'm using it now, free SIM from AT&T store, was slow around LAX but fine in Chicago, Toronto, Montreal so far.

https://m.att.com/shopmobile/wireless/plans/voice/sku7420265.html

tdgeek

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#1788468 26-May-2017 06:50

Roaming. Get off the phone and enjoy a holiday. Hotel wifi to catch up emails, GZ, and off course late breaking news on Stuff.....

Ive had to go away twice in recent weeks, used a few hundred MB each time. And where we stayed had LOW LOW LOW or NO internet speed. No issue.

scottjpalmer

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#1788507 26-May-2017 08:31

tdgeek: Get off the phone and enjoy a holiday

Who made you boss of what I do on holiday? That's right, it's none of your business, so keep this on topic.

It's 2017, apps like Uber, Google Maps, Airbnb, WhatsApp, Messenger all provide maximum benefit when permanently connected.

tdgeek

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#1788526 26-May-2017 08:49

scottjpalmer:
tdgeek: Get off the phone and enjoy a holiday

Who made you boss of what I do on holiday? That's right, it's none of your business, so keep this on topic.

It's 2017, apps like Uber, Google Maps, Airbnb, WhatsApp, Messenger all provide maximum benefit when permanently connected.

Calm down. I wasn't referring to you, to the OP. Many here and elsewhere have commented that they take a holiday as an opportunity to say goodbye to online, nothing is wrong with that suggestion

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freitasm

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#1788533 26-May-2017 08:57

Either way it doesn't matter. You are not the one to judge how one or another enjoy or enable their holiday.

tdgeek

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#1788541 26-May-2017 09:09

freitasm: Either way it doesn't matter. You are not the one to judge how one or another enjoy or enable their holiday.

I see. I'm not allowed to put forward a comment regarding a thread. That goes against a comment made here the other day as to free speech

If I see anyone suggesting they will turn off or reducing their internet on their upcoming holiday, I will correct them/tick them off

frankv

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#1788542 26-May-2017 09:11

All hotels, and lots of malls, tourist destinations, and airports have free WiFi. Good hotels do have good Wifi, cheap hotels have crappy Wifi.

Don't believe Vodafone's $5/day roaming package. I just got back from the USA (SFO-Vegas, then NYC-Nashville), and had to buy data packs whilst there :( It would have been *much* cheaper to just get a US SIM, despite using WiFi as much as possible.

I know you didn't ask, and you're on bus trips so might not have much choice, but a couple of ideas:

Since you're going to Vegas, you ought to go the Grand Canyon. I enjoyed Grand Canyon West, which (a) has the Skywalk, and (b) is much closer to Vegas than the usual South Rim site. But I haven't been to the South Rim, so can't comment.

Pretty much hated Vegas... too much noise and crowds and fakeness for my liking.

If you have an option, try to stay in Death Valley overnight... we didn't (hadn't booked ahead :( ). Lots of stars in a pretty much totally dark area.

If you can, go to Yosemite. It is a mighty long way from anywhere, but IMHO still worth the drive. And you would probably need to book ahead if you wanted to stay in the Valley.

Take an NZ multi-pack and one US-NZ power adapter, and a couple of USB 2Amp chargers, so you can charge all your devices quickly from one outlet.

Take a powerbank to recharge phones/cameras/whatever on the go.

Don't rely on cheap USB cables.

freitasm

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#1788567 26-May-2017 09:50

tdgeek:

freitasm: Either way it doesn't matter. You are not the one to judge how one or another enjoy or enable their holiday.

I see. I'm not allowed to put forward a comment regarding a thread. That goes against a comment made here the other day as to free speech

If I see anyone suggesting they will turn off or reducing their internet on their upcoming holiday, I will correct them/tick them off

You're ok to put a comment in a thread. I am saying that when your comment is really not adding anything to the discussion then it's better not put it in writing. How people want to use their devices while on holiday is their problem, not yours.

JonnyCam

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#1788799 26-May-2017 15:11

frankv:

Don't believe Vodafone's $5/day roaming package.

What's wrong with it, I used it through the states end of last year and didn't need a data pack.

counter intuitively though, if I called a local US number from my phone it cost, but calling back to NZ was free ('free' as in included minutes)

to the OP

My Wife used T-mobile and got great speeds (NYC, Chicago, Michigan) but the 3 UK roaming deal looks good.