Non-motoring > US Sim advice	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: smokie	Replies: 17

New Mon 7 Apr 25 12:37   US Sim advice - smokie

I'm off to New Orleans in May for 8 days and my plan doesn't cover the US. While it's not essential a modest amount of data would be useful, at the right price. I don't need calls I'm with ID and their bolt-on is more than I want to pay. My phone doesn't take an eSim unfortunately. All the UK providers who used to include the US in roaming plans (I have Three in mind) now seem to charge £5 a day or more. I'm not prepared to spend that much, as there is abundant free WiFi in the US in my experience. Any suggestions for a cheapo SIM please? I'd have though 500mb per day would be ample. (Yes, I wish I wasn't going to the US but there is too much invested to drop out now!) Reply to this message | Report message

New Mon 7 Apr 25 14:28   US Sim advice - zippy

Not sim advice - sorry... I would clear any and all social media and email accounts from your device before you go. These can be reviewed by customs there and used to deny you entry. If you are willing to change to Three, they have a £10 a month sim which includes roaming in the USA I believe (DYOR), via USwitch. 12 month contract. Reply to this message | Report message

New Mon 7 Apr 25 14:31   US Sim advice - maltrap

I’ve recently gone high tech and acquired an IPhone. Someone suggested I try a LEBARA sim only deal via MSE. You get 5 gb of data for £1 99 for the first 6 months rising to £4.99 thereafter On a 30day rolling contract. Don’t know if it covers the US but worth enquiring. Reply to this message | Report message

New Mon 7 Apr 25 16:46   US Sim advice - smokie

Yes Zippy, already started purging all the Trump jokes and memes etc from WhatsApp , and I'm thinking twice about bothering to take my laptop. Lebara looks like it might be a good call, if I can cancel the SIM after a month. Seems they have an 8 days 2Gb bolt in for £3, or 15 day 5Gb for £10. Reply to this message | Report message

New Mon 7 Apr 25 16:55   US Sim advice - Zero

>> Yes Zippy, already started purging all the Trump jokes and memes etc from WhatsApp , >> and I'm thinking twice about bothering to take my laptop. I'd take a burner as my only phone. Reply to this message | Report message

New Mon 7 Apr 25 21:19   US Sim advice - legacylad

>> I'd take a burner as my only phone. >> That’s what I do. Then visit the local AT & T and buy a package with data and calls to the UK. And make sure my camera works and remember how to use it. ! Reply to this message | Report message

New Mon 7 Apr 25 23:43   US Sim advice - smokie

Yes that's been suggested elsewhere. I may well do it. What a sorry state of affairs... I have an old Pocophone which would do, maybe I'll take that. I was going to take it as backup, which I tend to do since the time when phone I was dependent on for reaching my initial destination broke en route. The Lebara plan has legs, £1.50 for a month plus a £5 for 2Gb US roaming plan should do the trick. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 15 Apr 25 05:25   US Sim advice - Fursty Ferret

I use a Three pay as you go sim, others at work just buy Airalo or Flexiroam eSIMS. Either will be fine for a week. You need to be a particular person to be profiled by US border agents and frankly the British tourist does not rank highly on that list. I wouldn't dream of taking a different phone, and if you did get stopped, a completely blank phone is way more suspicious than one with your text messages and porn library on it. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 15 Apr 25 09:40   US Sim advice - smokie

Thanks. eSim not supported by my phone but useful info for others. I just look ed at Three and it seems I'd have to get a PAYG plus a Go Roam Around The World bolt on which would cost a fair bit (though it's hard to find just how much!) The Lebara is still looking favourite. In spare moments I've prepped my second phone with all the apps I'd need, and signed them all in etc. I was taking it as a spare anyway. But it rebooted itself twice during those efforts so I'd class it as a bit unreliable so will keep my main phone in my packing list. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Apr 25 05:36   US Sim advice - Fursty Ferret

All of the PAYG bundles over £10 on Three include the Go Roam option. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Apr 25 09:24   US Sim advice - smokie

Three confused me. I thought you needed Go Roaming around the World for the USA, which was not the same as Go Roam, i.e. would be an additional cost. But now you say it, maybe it isn't. I think the Lebara would be cheaper (they use Vodaphone) but only a few ££ but maybe I'd prefer Three so I've ordered the SIM only and will look again when I get back to the UK tomorrow. Thanks Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Apr 25 10:41   US Sim advice - zippy

In 2015 when Miss Z did here elective in Aukland, New Zealand for 6 months, I bought her a 3 SIM for their world wide roaming. It was a contract at the time with the same terms as in the UK for minutes, text and data - the first two being unlimited. I would say that at the time it was good value rather than expensive and it proved to be invaluable. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Apr 25 13:28   US Sim advice - smokie

Yes, I can see that, but I'm only there 8 days, staying in the centre of New Orleans where probably there is abundant free WiFi, and WiFi at our apartment, so I doubt I'll need it much. I am fully expecting to spend most of the time at the numerous music venues in Bourbon and Frenchman St (plus some recommended dive bars elsewhere close to eh the centre) I've downloaded the offline maps for the much wider area, as I have a Jeep pickup for 3 days and may have a day along the Gulf (of America!!) coast and deeper into Mississippi in which a mobile might give me some reassurance. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 16 Apr 25 14:27   US Sim advice - tyrednemotional

>> and may have a day along the Gulf (of America!!) >> ...I see you're preparing your social media profile well.... ;-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 15 Apr 25 11:12   US Sim advice - zippy

>>and if you did get stopped, a completely blank phone is >> way more suspicious than one with your text messages and porn library on it. >> Just use the "burner" for few days to put some usage on it before you go. (In 2007 to 2011 when I went to the USA a few times for my employer, they insisted on us taking an absolutely blank laptop and an operating boot disk because laptops were being examined.) Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 15 Apr 25 11:45   US Sim advice - Arctophile

An interesting and recent change of policy by the EU. www.theregister.com/2025/04/15/ec_burner_devices/ Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 15 Apr 25 12:43   US Sim advice - Kevin

And if you accepted the invitation to the chat group for the Houthi attack you might want to wipe that before you go. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 15 Apr 25 13:24   US Sim advice - Zero

Make sure this is in your browser favourites www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTHmD-MVM9E&ab_channel=GZEROMedia Reply to this message | Report message