Need a new smartphone quick! WWYD?

[eeyoresmom]

Right now we have the Verizon Family Share plan. 5 lines, 3 are smartphones, DH and I have regular phones.I may have to get a new phone TODAY. I wanted to wait until all contracts were up with the Verizon plan in Sept 2014 then go to all prepaid smartphones. Well, DH and I are taking a trip this week and I just found out our hotel charges $15 day for WIFI, plus we will not have internet access at all when we are not at the hotel (used to having one of the kids with us and THEY have smartphones). It's going to be a real pain not to have internet access readily available for the trip we have planned. I went to WalMat last month and the salesman actually tried to talk me into staying with the Verizon plan I have. I think he vastly misunderstood how much data DH and I use. We have WiFi at home and work. Only need it for looking up directions, reataurant menus, shopping comparisons maybe a few times a week (daily if we are on vacation). We never watch movies, videos or stream music. I am toatlly at a loss as to what to do. I have researched this so much I just get frustrated and give up! Should I just buy a good smartphone at Walmart amd go with their prepaid plans? The salesman there told me they don't have any real good phones UGH!

 

[swissfamilyrobinson]

Why don't you trade either your or your husband's phone with one of your kid's phones for the vacation?

 

[Theaberdeenkid]

I WAS a Verizon customer, you can call customer support at Verizon and they can tell you how much data you used the past few months and your most used. Unless you area heavy music or movie streamer you can go with a low data plan. Surprisingly as much as I use my phone for work (I'm in IT) and home my heaviest usage was 1.6gb.
I went to virgin Mobile, their base smartphone plan is $35 a month for unlimited data (4g after 2gb it drops to 3g), unlimited text and 300 minutes monthly.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Why don't you trade either your or your husband's phone with one of your kid's phones for the vacation?

great idea if they can handle it (the kid I mean, lol)

Id not rush and buy a new phone/plan just for a vacation..try the above suggestion,...thats what Id do in your shoes.
Good luck and have a great vacation....

 

[eeyoresmom]

two of the kids are in college and one doesn't live at home so that's not going to work.....thanks. I think I'll just have to suck up this situation and continue to hold out.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Buy used off ebay or craigslist.

 

[pixiewings71]

Do you have one of the kids' old phones laying around? Or do you have friends with Verizon who might have one you can use? I just gave my old phone to a friend because his broke, he had no problems activating it.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Do you have one of the kids' old phones laying around? Or do you have friends with Verizon who might have one you can use? I just gave my old phone to a friend because his broke, he had no problems activating it.

I don't have one to use. Can I buy a new smartphone and activate it with Verizon without it extending my contract? It would mean adding a phone with data so I doubt it.

 

[MrsPete]

With all due respect, this is the budget board, and you know this answer's coming:

You want a smart phone.
It would be convenient to have a smart phone for this trip.
You don't actually need a smart phone.

Ignore the few days you'll be on vacation, and and ask yourself the real question, "What phone would be best for my everyday life?"

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Ive had Virgin Mobile for over 10 years and have had very little complaints-

Im not a big talker but love my texting and web (though never remotely hit the barrier)

I pay 25 a month since ive had them forever but wouldnt hesitate at 35..

 

[RitaE]

Will you have a tablet or computer or something? If so you could probably get by with one of the Internet Hotspot devices.

For instance, the FreedomPop gives you 500MB a month free after you buy the device. There are other brands that offer similar plans.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/FreedomPop-Spot-Photon-Mobile-4G-Hotspot/27435006

 

[disney1990]

Do you have an IPad or a laptop? We have no smartphones. We take our laptop and go to someplace with free wifi - Starbucks, Chickfila, McDonalds. Why make a rush decision to buy a new smartphone?

 

[blessedby3]

I would also switch out phones with the kid who is still at home. Its just a short few days. I am also waiting out our contract to be finished so I can check into other more reasonable options. Our plan should be done in Nov 2013, but our dd changed out her phone later than DS and I and hers goes till May 2014...ugghhh! I am trying to hold out till then.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Will you have a tablet or computer or something? If so you could probably get by with one of the Internet Hotspot devices.

For instance, the FreedomPop gives you 500MB a month free after you buy the device. There are other brands that offer similar plans.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/FreedomPop-Spot-Photon-Mobile-4G-Hotspot/27435006

I'm going to look into this today. I need to figure out if its worth it (probably not) since I will be getting a smartphone in December. Thank you.

 

[wiigirl]

Buy used off ebay or craigslist.

 

[JB2K]

OP - If you NEVER watch movies/videos/stream music, the "Straight Talk" family of prepaid/no contract smartphones sold at Walmart (in the lime green packaging) are perfect for you. Plenty of web access, plus unlimited talk/text for about $45 a month.

If you see a phone you are interested in, know the network. If it says "CDMA-V" at the bottom of the package (and has a red U.S. map), Verizon is the carrier. Should it say "CDMA-S", that means Sprint carries the calls, while anything "GSM" is most likely T-Mobile.

Remember, if you deal with a wireless rep at Walmart, they are trained to put you on a contract, as that's a "win" for both the carriers and Walmart -- best to bypass those folks, altogether...

 

[JB2K]

I went to virgin Mobile, their base smartphone plan is $35 a month for unlimited data (4g after 2gb it drops to 3g), unlimited text and 300 minutes monthly.

Virgin Mobile user, here, too -- important for OP to keep in mind that Sprint carries all VM calls/text/web as VM is Sprint-owned.

While Sprint works great in/around big cities and the nation's interstate highway system, YMMV in small towns...

 

[eeyoresmom]

OP - If you NEVER watch movies/videos/stream music, the "Straight Talk" family of prepaid/no contract smartphones sold at Walmart (in the lime green packaging) are perfect for you. Plenty of web access, plus unlimited talk/text for about $45 a month.

If you see a phone you are interested in, know the network. If it says "CDMA-V" at the bottom of the package (and has a red U.S. map), Verizon is the carrier. Should it say "CDMA-S", that means Sprint carries the calls, while anything "GSM" is most likely T-Mobile.

Remember, if you deal with a wireless rep at Walmart, they are trained to put you on a contract, as that's a "win" for both the carriers and Walmart -- best to bypass those folks, altogether...

Thanks for this. That is exactly my situation.

 

[pixiewings71]

I don't have one to use. Can I buy a new smartphone and activate it with Verizon without it extending my contract? It would mean adding a phone with data so I doubt it.

Yes, you can do that but you would have to add the data plan. And yes, Verizon will add the data plan for you when you activate the smart phone. We considered doing this for DBF when his old phone broke so I did make sure it could be done.

 

[crazelion]

Okay I am offer different soulation. I would go on amazon.com they had smartphones for 19.95 . You do not have activate the phone for service at all. You can strictly use as simple and cheap as ipod touch. Also any android device you can download groove lite and use as wi-fi only phone. Yes can make phones calls for free.