Buying a SIM card in USA?

[AmazeAmazeAmaze]

I’m off to the USA early next year for almost 3 weeks. I’ve previously had the Three ‘Feel at Home’ plan that allowed me to use my existing plan abroad but now they’ve scrapped that scheme.

They want £5 A DAY to use my plan which, over 20 days is £100. I was thinking of buying a US Sim when I arrive - obviously I know the number will be different but I mainly want the data allowance so I can FaceTime home. Will this work? Im not sure if my phone is locked to Three.

Can you not get a 3 pay as you go SIM? I have a phone with dual SIM, so when we went to the US, bought a £10 one and it worked fine in the USA. Ran data off SIM 2 and was contactable via SIM 1.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07RLQ3WFT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

you can get something like this before you go, it worked perfectly for me in canada and mexico

You can call your provider and get the phone unlocked if necessary. Although I'm personally in favor of dual SIM phones and never buy as part of a contract.

Won't you have access to WiFi for facetime etc? Sorry if I'm stating the obvious

You should also check your phone will actually work at all there at all, I think they have a different set of chips in the phones, some EU models have them and some don't.

You really want to be able to make phone calls, trust me, it's such a pain not to have a regular phone. That amazon deal looks alright. Some info here.

Used to be that USA SIMs were not compatible with European phones. Heck if I know now (have to solve this problem soon, though).

Lotta info here:
www.traveltomtom.net/destinations/north-america/usa/best-prepaid-usa-sim-cards

But I am fancying that Amazon deal as first choice.

Depending on how new/what model your phone is, you may be able to get an e-sim rather than a physical sim; we did this in the USA in April and it worked perfectly, I’ve also used it in Europe this summer.

You basically download an app (we use one called Airalo) and buy your esim through it, there is a step by step sequence to activate it then when you get to your destination, set your phone to use that as your primary sim rather than your usual provider. When you get home, just switch back to sim 1 in your settings.

I paid 21 US dollars for 5gb data that lasted 30 days (this was the most expensive option, you can pay less if you need less data or for less time).

my phone is too old for Airalo.
Am thinking to get my travelling companion the £15 THREE deal.
Also I think I'll be visiting Target right after landing.