Sim for US Road Trip

[Saleen836]

As title, (fingers crossed, come on Biden sort it out) I am off to Florida on Nov 24 for a couple of weeks, is it worth getting a sim for data for google maps, if so which one?



I have the 'Navmii USA' app which downloads and stores maps on your phone so no need to use data,is it any good as never used it?

[Kateg28]

We went to California at the end of 2019 on a bit of a road trip and I hired a portable wifi from Tep wireless. It was very well organised, arrived a day or two before the trip and I dropped it off in arrivals upon return. It could connect 5 devices and was faultless, I would definitely use them again instead of the hassle with a sim.

I think it was about £80 in total.

[Tyre Smoke]

I used Copilot in the states. Downloads the maps to your phone so no data usage.

[mikef]

Saleen836 said:

I have the 'Navmii USA' app which downloads and stores maps on your phone so no need to use data,is it any good as never used it?

I used to use this all the time - make sure to download the state(s) you need before travel. You’ll probably want Apple Maps or Google Maps for local navigation, so still need a data connection, but NavMii will reduce your data usage

[shtu]

A few years back, I would use a Three payg SIM, which allowed US data roaming.

Worth checking if that's still the case, as it was about the cheapest way I could find, and very handy to have data service from the minute you land.

[RammyMP]

shtu said:

A few years back, I would use a Three payg SIM, which allowed US data roaming.

Worth checking if that's still the case, as it was about the cheapest way I could find, and very handy to have data service from the minute you land.

Three are stopping roaming with new contracts.

[Zeek]

Google maps lets you download for offline use

[shtu]

RammyMP said:

Three are stopping roaming with new contracts.

Bugger. I did wonder - used to be a really good option. £10 topup was more than enough to have data through a NYC long weekend

[bad company]

shtu said:

A few years back, I would use a Three payg SIM, which allowed US data roaming.

Worth checking if that's still the case, as it was about the cheapest way I could find.

Greetings from Florida. Three still working here for now:-

http://www.three.co.uk/go-roam

[toohuge]

I usually get an AT&T when I go over for the same reasons you do.

They do a pay as you go sim, $30 / month of 5GB high speed data, if you use of that, it slows down, but you still have data service.

I've used the three roaming as well, that works ok, but the charges can be huge if you go over.

AT&T sim cards can be purchased in walmart / bestbuy etc.

[WarrenB]

I got myself one of these when I went last year. Not just handy for Google Maps/Waze for getting around, but also for WhatsApp messaging/calls.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B079RZ2NM7/ref...

[silobass]

I've used Navmii for a couple of trips to the US and never had a problem with it.

[Silverage]

3 roaming lives on for PAYG SIMs. That’s what I’m planning to use when we go next June. £10 for 12gb.

[bad company]

WarrenB said:

I got myself one of these when I went last year. Not just handy for Google Maps/Waze for getting around, but also for WhatsApp messaging/calls.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B079RZ2NM7/ref...

Trouble is I’d then need a 2nd phone or lose connection to my U.K. number.

[WarrenB]

bad company said:

WarrenB said:

I got myself one of these when I went last year. Not just handy for Google Maps/Waze for getting around, but also for WhatsApp messaging/calls.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B079RZ2NM7/ref...

Trouble is I’d then need a 2nd phone or lose connection to my U.K. number.

That's true, although I believe that'd only be for texts/iMessage/calls. Not 100% though, I used WhatsApp for pretty much everything whilst I was there which still used my UK number and worked as normal.

[thatsprettyshady]

if you have a phone with e-sim compatibility (all recent iPhones, probably Android too) then you can sign up for T-Mobile and pay $50/month for unlimited data and call sim which is virtual, mena9ng you can use your UK sim and US sim all at once which is handy.

[Radec]

If it is just for Sat Nav function then you can rent one from here like a Tom Tom/Garmin with US maps on already, I've done it the few times I've been to Florida.
Lots of sites especially on eBay from about £12 up for 2 weeks rental.

Saves your phone battery as well for when you get to your destinations

[bad company]

Radec said:

If it is just for Sat Nav function then you can rent one from here like a Tom Tom/Garmin with US maps on already, I've done it the few times I've been to Florida.
Lots of sites especially on eBay from about £12 up for 2 weeks rental.

Saves your phone battery as well for when you get to your destinations

I plug the phone into the car & use Waze.

[Saleen836]

Thanks for the replies, '3' is no longer any good (unless an existing customer)....


Will just use Navmii or Google maps offline

[Silverage]

Saleen836 said:

Thanks for the replies, '3' is no longer any good (unless an existing customer)....


Will just use Navmii or Google maps offline

3 will no longer work when on contract, but the pay as you go SIMs pre-loaded with data still work fine.