mobile phone help for USA use / are there sim cards for this

[mackay_j]

Hi, Can anyone help direct us in the best use of mobiles while in dsney.

We will probably allow our 2 grils to go into the parks together without us in an evening, but in order for me to relax while they are there, I would want to ensure that they are able to contact us easily (esp as eldest is diabetic and the heat may go for her a little). Also they will occasionaly be coming back quite late as some of their friends have jobs in dinsey this summer and the eldest may be meeting up with them at night. Thus we want to meet them off the bus/boat at OKW so they are not walking back to the room on their own. What is the best way to go about this, is there a roaming sim or a USA sim (if so where do you get these) that we could put into our phones, or should we buy cheep usa pay as you go mobiles.

Thanks for any help

 

[BethEJo]

When I worked out there last summer, the whole lot of us ICPers just seemed to get cheap PAYG phones from Walmart.

We definitely paid less than $20 for the phone, and then just bought whatever top up we wanted. Obviously a very basic phone, but they did the job
Before I headed out there, I had a little look on the Walmart website just to see what was around. I'm sure you'll find something. I went with AT&T in the end, for no other reason than it was cheap and I just wanted to get out of Walmart!!

I know you can also buy 'travel' sims or something like that before you go. I've seen travel companies trying to sell them, but don't know much about them I'm afraid. I just found getting a cheap US phone easier.

HTH

 

[Elise79]

I agree with Beth - you best bet will be a cheap PAYG phone. You can get AT&T ones for $15-$20 with $15 credit - should be plenty for just calling texting. If you get it at Best Buy they will set it all up for you. There is a 10c/minute plan that would probably be best.

Also if you have internet access you can add a text message pack from your credit online (I think 200 messages is $5) and remember in the US you pay to send and receive texts.

They are basic phones but saves the worry of losing an expensive one.

 

[mackay_j]

thanks from an mum who just probably an over worrier( eldest lives on her own at uni and will laugh her head off when I say she needs a phone to contact me while on hols )- we will just buy on the first day we arrive, at least I will rest easy knowing that they aren't walking about OKW on their own late at night. Not sure where they are going to go as neither the girls working there or my eldest will be 21 yet so they might find that its the parks or bed anyway

 

[Vixster]

I am taking my phone but putting a pay as go sim in it topped up with certain amount From Vodafone So you could do 2 phones like that they have the tariffs for using abroad in all the phone shops

 

[Kath2003]

I agree - a PAYG Sim loaded up should be plenty if only for use in emergencies or to send a meeting time. Texts run about 40p on those, and you should be able to receive them for free on your phone.