Mobile confusion!

[Aust]

I'd like to have a mobile phone to use for my trip in January, but I'm so confused about the best/easiest way to go about it! Do I use my phone with international roaming/get some kind of travel SIM card before I leave/get a SIM card when I arrive/etc etc??

We're going straight from LAX to HoJo and don't plan on doing any shopping outside of DL. So what would be the best option to have everything set up ready to go from home?

Thanks in advance for any help, I'm hopeless with this type of stuff.

 

[Caroline NZ]

Hi,
We took our phones from home and purchased Sim cards once we were over there.We got 14 day prepaid ones that were around US$15 each. We got them from the AT&T shop at the "Block at Orange" We had a car to get there but I am guessing it wiill be on a bus route. This was a way cheaper option that International roaming for us. We only wanted them for using to call each other in the US ( and maybe a few other local calls for Pizza etc).

 

[shushh]

We are also planning to get pre-paid sims. Some pre-paid pay-as-you-go phones are cheap and come with 20 min free air time ($9). We also only need them for emegencies/meet up etc. There a few places that ship free if your hotel receives packages for guests. At the moment, my plan is to buy online and get them to ship it to the hotel in preparation for my arrival!

 

[BecBennett]

Get a prepaid sim when you're over there. We caught taxis to both Target and the block, and from memory neither fare was expensive.

 

[heidispidi]

Aust, I think we are best off both taking our phones and buying pre-paid sims there, or buying a cheap phone/pre-paid sim combo. Even if I have to go by myself in a taxi while you and Jaymi do Disney! Maybe they sell them at the airport? If anyone is swinging by LAX, can you let me know? LOL thanks!

 

[BecBennett]

They probably do, but you'd pay a premium for them, trust me, Target is just down the road - little bit futher then walking distance - or there's gardenwalk, but I haven't been there, so I don't know what's there.

It shouldn't take long, especially if you're just after a sim to make calls, I'm looking for one that also has data, now that's a headache!!

 

[Snickals]

I bought a trael sim (http://www.travelsim.net.au) and am putting it in the phone I have now (just had to get it unlocked) when I get over there...this is my first international trip so am hoping it works out.

 

[heidispidi]

What do you mean by getting it unlocked? (Sorry for the questions, but last time I went overseas, I don't think anyone had mobiles LOL).

 

[Snickals]

My phone (which is a prepaid already) was locked to Telstra so wouldn't work with any other sim card...took it to the telstra shop and they unlocked it for $27something and I can now put any sim card in