Using UK Mobile Phones in US

[shazmart]

Hi, I need a bit of advice. I have been thinking (it did hurt a little!) about how to keep in contact with my party when we split up in the parks.

Looking at the rates to use our UK phones over there are very expensive.

So my first thought was to buy cheap pay as you go mobile's whilst in the US. However, if we bought US Sim Cards to put in our UK phones (which are unlocked), would they work & would it be cheaper call/text rates as they would then be local?

If this would work, does anyone know what the best US network sim to buy & where from.

Hope I've explained myself ok.
Thanks

 

[orangetiggs]

wE WERE AHVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS we are going out for our wedding next sept. I went into carphone warehouse to ask about this and the problem is that all calls and texts come back to the uk even if youa re next door to each other. I looked into getting a cheap PAYG phone from walmart or somewhere like that

 

[dux783]

I'm not sure whether things have changed, but when I was over there 3 years ago, it was a pain trying to get a pay as you go simcard.
All of the stores I tried to get a sim card from told me that you had to order them, and they would be ready within 2 or 3 days.

If you'll be needing to speak to members of your group in the parks, walktie talkies are probably your best option. Cheap ones can be purchased over there from walmart, and obviously all "calls" will be free. Rentals are also available.

 

[wayneg]

I have heard others on here use phones like this from Walmart http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4809760

We just used our UK mobiles, only added about £10 onto the bill over the 3 week holiday. Depends how much you will use them

Dux, have you tried the Walkie Talkies? the ones we tried were useless

 

[DISWolves]

have you tried the Walkie Talkies? the ones we tried were useless

We got a set from Walmart complete with charger, for about $18 - Quoted range 8km
Wife was on Main St station, I made a clear call from the fast pass machine over at Splash Mountain

 

[dux783]

Yeah, the ones we bought sound similar to DISWolves ones. Didn't have a problem with them. We were using them in our different cars, in the parks, in Wal Mart, wherever really

 

[mikki.young]

I bought a tracfone from walmart this last trip and I am converted. It made life so much easier!

 

[BiGGy]

ive just purchased a couple of sim cards off ebay to put into our phones while we are there. dont know how it will work out until easter next year.cost me £15 each
advertised as :
FLORIDA USA AMERICA T-MOBILE SIM CARD + $30 US CREDITS+20 FREE MINUTES TO CALL BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY
This offer will only applies to customers from these countries (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, & Spain). If you are in other countries, please email us.

This Sim Card Credits expires in 40-60 days if not topped up or refill. The Sim Card expires in 130-150 days if not used.
EVERY SIM CARD WILL BE ACTIVAVED BY US WITH A RANDOM PHONE NUMBER OUT OF FLORIDA.
were very helpfull when i sent them an email asking about them

dont know if anyone has used these before i would be interested
rgds
BiGGy

 

[paulh]

We just used our UK mobiles, only added about £10 onto the bill over the 3 week holiday. Depends how much you will use them

Wayne i`am shocked you spent some money thats not like you
Paulh

 

[wayneg]

Wayne i`am shocked you spent some money thats not like you
Paulh

Business pays the mobiles

 

[Jakey Rowling]

I've used tracphones in July from Walmart at $15, worked out OK, no problems, used them so little so a good buy, only used them for internal calls.
I've also bought T-Mobile sim cards from ebay for around $30 and they went into my triband phone OK with a similar amount of credit. ( I assume you have a triband unlocked phone)

Really depends on how much you use them, the ebay route is best for heavier usage, Walmart for the odd phone call.

I'd have no problems in using either again.

 

[shazmart]

Thanks so much for your reply, all very helpful.

Looks like we will probably go down the tracfone route as not planning to use it too much.