Best prepaid data plan for few weeks in USA?

deiseindublin

I can't remember what they are called but there used to be data cards you could buy with X data to be used over 30 days etc.

Looking for one that can be used for one x three week holiday, or one that can be reused either.

I'm on a good plan at the mo, and they're dying to 'upgrade' me but not interested as it's perfect for me, apart from USA hols etc.

BArra

does your phone have esim capability? posted below on other usa travel thread

anyone needing data for your phone in the US, Airalo (app on playstore or apple) offers esim packages if your phone supports this,this is data only. Enter below referral when you purchase a package, under Apply Code before you finalize payment

• 3 dollars off for you, and me
• Referral code is BARRY9566
• packages of 1GB for 7 days costing 4.50USD, 3GB for 30 days costing 11.00USD, 10GB data for 30 days costing 26.00USD

have no affiliation to them, came across them and reviews are solid, prices look better than going direct to US telcos with extortionate prices

finbarrk

I got a T Mobile SIM when I was there a couple of years ago. It worked fine in my unlocked iphone.

The Black Oil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118886987#Comment_118886987

Did it come up in Bargain Alerts? I've a Pixel 4a. Haven't taken it abroad yet. Crossing off my list of things to get ready. Found these links a while ago when researching.

https://www.getnomad.app/shop/plan/united-states-esim/30DAY-5GB-id-b340

https://esim.holafly.com/data-plans/esim-for-usa/

The Black Oil

Yo @BArra

How did you find activating Airalo? I'm Android 12, flying out next week and unsure if I've set it up right. On my desktop browser it shows this and the app is the same too. I think I've done the APN and so on correctly, I've been on to their support. A little unconfident that it'll work when I arrive.

BArra

I'm not setup yet, due out there on 1st May so will have to see then

lynchie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118958183#Comment_118958183

Activating is somewhat straight forward once you buy the esim. You are presented with a qr code to download the esim. This needs a network connection to work. I think this could be done prior to leaving Ireland. However to scan the qr code on your phone I had to get my wife to take a pic of mine so I could scan it with my phone. Once downloaded it's just a matter of setting the new sim as the default for data and enabling it. Turn on roaming on the new sim and it should work. Sometimes I need to manually select the network and switch between at&t and TMobile depending on the city I'm in.

Im on my third sim and haven't had any issues yet.

finbarrk

Can the Airalo E SIM be installed before arriving in the USA? Or is it meant to be done after arriving there anyone? Thanks. Your discount code worked Barry.

The Black Oil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118959113#Comment_118959113

Got the QR code alright. That's a good idea about another phone just in case. Airalo support said:

The eSIM package will show as "active" when the eSIM installed on your device connects to one of the allowed networks, only upon arrival at your destination. When you arrive in the US, the eSIM will search for one of the two networks allowed (AT&T or T-Mobile) and the package status will change from "Not activated" to "Active."

That aside, I'm slightly concerned that once I knock off the US data, it'll fall back on my Irish SIM which I don't want to connect to whilst I'm in the US. It seemed to be doing that at the moment when I was playing things, we'll see. Guess I can turn off roaming when I don't need it, then turn off the Airalo SIM and hopefully it won't automatically go to my Vodafone data.

youcancallmeal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118959502#Comment_118959502

Don't know what device you are using but just looking at the settings on Samsung s21 and I can turn on/off data roaming per sim. Also under sim card manager there is a setting called 'Auto data switching', with that turned off it won't automatically switch from one sims data to another if there is loss of connection

whippet

My sim at the moment is already an e-sim so I'll need to pick up a physical sim when I arrive in June. From looking online T-Mobile seems to be the best bet .. and there is a physical store beside the hotel I stay in on the first night.

However - trying to navigate their website to find what pre-pay sim only packages they have isn't really clear. Has anyone had any experience of using them?

The Black Oil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118959607#Comment_118959607

Pixel 4a. Not sure I've a SIM card manager, although there are articles from last year talking about Pixel owners having issues with SIM managers. If I turn off the eSIM it seems to fall back on mobile data by default. I've vodafone IE set to 'mobile data won't auto-connect', but that doesn't really address it. Don't think I've the option you've mentioned. I'll keep looking around.

Nigel Fairservice

I bought an Airalo 1GB Irish esim and tested it out here in before I left. Service was a bit patchy but acceptable. I used Airalo when I went to Georgia (the country, not the state) recently and it didn't work very well at all. I ended up just buying a sim card.

The Black Oil

Google Fi might be another option. https://fi.google.com/about/plans/

The Black Oil

In the US. I have no Vodafone signal at all i.e. no service and nothing from Airalo either.

mada999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118985587#Comment_118985587

was in NV a few weeks ago... had Vodafone signal for calls and texts ... I went and got an AT&T prepaid sim...paid $30 to top it up and it didnt work.. walked into T-Mobile store and the guy got me up and running, he said he wouldnt charge me if it didnt work... so i'd recommend T-Mobile... cost me $50 in total.. 10 for sim and then 40 top up (10G data) ... as i was only there for a few days

cuttingtimber22

If you are with Vodafone they have red roaming for 4 euro a day https://n.vodafone.ie/support/mobile/travelling-abroad.html#redroaming

“RED Roaming on Vodafone Unlimited offers customers our best value roaming and from just €3.99 per day you can get unlimited calls and texts home and within the country you are visiting plus 500MB data. It is available on Vodafone and preferred partner networks. No need to manually select a network, we will automatically select it for you.

In addition, customers who have domestic international minutes included in their plan can also use these when abroad with RED Roaming.

Vodafone Unlimited customers are automatically opted in to RED Roaming.”

mada999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118985727#Comment_118985727

i actually did look into this but... wasnt really worth it for me as i wanted data more than anything else... 500mb allowance per day is shocking or maybe I read it incorrectly

Overheal

Honestly if I was going for a couple weeks, I'd probably just buy a so-called burner phone, those real cheapo ones they sell in plastic. If you have a good carrier for a phone you really like though I would get on technical support for them (Ask for TECHNICAL SUPPORT, use the exact phrase or 90% of the time you're directed to entry-stage CSR reps) and see who they work with in the States and what your options are for using your preferred device. But you know what they say about Valuables and traveling, so for the fuss you may want to think if its worth the hassle. Maybe if I needed my superphone to hook up to 4K projectors for business meetings yeah. T-Mobile still have phones with SIMs in them, so if you have an unlocked, SIM smartphone it should work with a T-Mobile card but you'd have to refer to them for prepay or no-contract rates. You may be looking at 2nd tier providers like Cricket or Mint, they don't own the Towers but it's basically as good for your purposes.

cuttingtimber22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118985737#Comment_118985737

It is grand for casual browsing, emails and using maps. Prob WhatsApp voice calls also. Will not work for video calls.

The Black Oil

My work phone is fine, has service (also Vodafone). But I'm not going to start looking at data on it.

Have emailed Airalo support re my own phone, tempted to delete the esim. Have a few hours until the next flight.

youcancallmeal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118985983#Comment_118985983

What phone do you have? Maybe the airalo only works with certain bands that your phone doesn't have?

lynchie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118985983#Comment_118985983

Make sure you don't select automatically select network on the webbing esim, select manual and either pick the at&t or TMobile 4g networks that appear. I did have an issue once where after selecting manual it said no networks found, but left it a few minutes and went back in and refreshed and it started scanning networks.

The Black Oil

Pixel 4a. They seemed to think I had added the e-sim to my Vodafone SIM, so they gave further instructions and I've changed that so that's no longer the case.

Turned off my phone, removed the Vodafone SIM and restarted and I'm now getting a T-Mobile network phone signal. The clock is correct and and some old texts from yesterday came through. Partial progress. I was previously getting 'no networks found'.

But when I try and select T-Mobile for Airalo it's not playing ball. I've restarted. When I try and change the Vodafone SIM to work with AT&T as alternative route in it says 'selected network unavailable'.

Running a marathon on Sunday, trying to learn a new city and then going to Colorado and hiring a car next week. Need something to work. Appreciate the posts, thank you.

The Black Oil

Test post from LTE/Airalo connection.

lynchie

Strange behaviour. Have a pixel 5 myself with 3 as my main sim and didn't get any of those issues you had.

The Black Oil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118995002#Comment_118995002

It was a bit of a faff. My email thread with Airalo has 19 messages or so. It seemed to be about the fourth or fifth time (each time) in playing around with things that made something work, even so when it did it felt like fluke. So far the signal and plan are fine, but I'd be hesitant to use them again due to the fiddling around it took.

Of course, I'm getting a fair few ads for Google Fi on YouTube.

BArra

I setup airalo before boarding at Dublin, was working away just fine upon arrival into the US, happy enough with it so far wad easy enough to setup on my Samsung esim option

use referral code BARRY9566 for 3 dollars off for me and you

finbarrk

The Airalo app worked perfect for me in NY last weekend.

maestroamado

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058240269/best-prepaid-data-plan-for-few-weeks-in-usa

Can i ask is the idea that we buy a separate sim for the destaination and use for data during the trip... i plan to go to the Americas later this year and want to get info foir trip...

Thanks...

The Black Oil

Picked out my rental car yesterday and have been using Airalo for Google Maps. All grand, so far.

Edit: went to the supermarket shortly after 7am this morning, came out of the shop and had no signal. Restarting the phone didn't work so had a use Vodafone. All working ok again at my Airbnb.

Irish Kev

I was away 2 weeks ago and used esim from Airalo. I bought the 3GB for $11. It worked flawlessly on my Iphone

My irish provider is 48, so no data coverage and while I was told the phone would work for calls/sms's it did not. Also being experiencing issues with them in the UK of late

I will use them again. I might even use them for Spain if 48 continue to have roaming issues

If you want a discount of $3 use code KEVIN6155

The Black Oil

Landed back in Ireland today. No Vodafone signal of any kind. Restarted a number of times, deleted the Airalo SIM, no joy. Called my family member/lift from my work phone and asked them to bring a safety pin. Took the SIM out, put it back in, restarted and back in business. Ridiculous, really. I was straight off the plane and into an in person event and needed a phone and data signal. Yes, could have done hotspot, but...

finbarrk

I got my monthly bill from three yesterday and I see I was charged €28 for roaming for a 4 day trip. I had been using the Airalo data thing for the 4 days I was there. I wonder how did I get charged for the roaming then?

Atlantic Dawn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119111030#Comment_119111030

Was the bill for data or voice calls?

finbarrk

It just said roaming.

Micky 32

So basically you download the sim and turn data roaming off on your main sim? . Then the phone automatically uses the data from the esim while you can still receive calls and texts from your main sim?

BArra

yes, it prompts for which sim to use for data, calls

Micky 32

A bit off topic, when I’m in the states my phone ( Vodafone) usually defaults to AT&T roaming. When i was there a few weeks ago it now defaults to T-Mobile. AT&T has turned off 3G and doesn’t support VOLTE roaming. You can only use AT&T for data.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119177168#Comment_119177168

Yes, just be careful what your Irish network charges you for calls and texts, they will charge for receiving calls and listening to voicemail.

Three of us used Airalo eSIMs for a trip to Orlando, it worked great. My wife had problems getting her original Gomo SIM working when we returned (Pixel 3a) but a reset of the wifi and network settings got it back working

whippet

I picked up a 50GB t-mobile prepaid sim in San Fran this week - got it for $40 + $10 for the SIM.

I’m on Vodafone and that is an e-sim so it was just as simple as picking up a physical sim to dual sim.

Vodafone for some reason defaulted to AT&T for roaming and I wanted the T-Mobile SIM only for data. I couldn’t make or receive calls until I manually set the carrier for voice to T-Mobile on roaming.