Mobile Phones

[manderine]

Does anyone know how much it costs to buy a pay a you go phone in Orlando? I feel that it is an essential for emergencies when driving around. In previous years my husband has rented a tri band phone from a phone shop in Gatwick (so expensive he wont tell me how much it cost!!).

Can you buy top up vouchers?

What about buying a triband phone over there?

:thewave:

 

[Funky_dino]

Hello after seeing how mobile phones seem to operate over there i think you would be better off buying a triband phone here as there is no gaurentee that it is going to be backwards compatible with the network in this country. I think you would probably have to ask someone in a phone store to be 100% certain before you take my word.

 

[patdavies]

I think your best bet is to get a PAYG mobile over there just to use over there. Don't bother getting a triband to use in both countries. FWIW, UK triband cannot access all US services and therefore tends to suffer some coverage problems. If you buy a triband in US, you will have to register it in the US although your main use will be UK. So all your UK calls will be expensive 'roaming' calls

Try www.tracfone.com

They can be obtained in Walmart and others. Register the mobile; use it during your trip and let it lapse. When you go back next year, re-register it.

My brother is going to West US in the summer and will get one for while he is there. I will take it in September on our trip.

You could always loan/sell it to somebody going out after you.

 

[matty624]

Originally posted by patdavies
I think your best bet is to get a PAYG mobile over there just to use over there. Don't bother getting a triband to use in both countries. FWIW, UK triband cannot access all US services and therefore tends to suffer some coverage problems. If you buy a triband in US, you will have to register it in the US although your main use will be UK. So all your UK calls will be expensive 'roaming' calls

Try www.tracfone.com

They can be obtained in Walmart and others. Register the mobile; use it during your trip and let it lapse. When you go back next year, re-register it.

We bought two trac phones last year, and will be using them again in a week or so. They cost $50 each with some free air time. Although they are a bit brick like (not nearly as small and hi-tech as the ones in the UK), they are only going to cost us about $18 each to get 60 (might be 90, not sure) minutes air time, plenty of time for us.
Ian

 

[manderine]

Thanks all for the excellent advice. Reckon I'll go th PAYG route. Seems more practical and cheaper!

:thewave: