Best way to be able to use mobile in USA

[LonghaulLaura]

Going to NYC for a week at Easter and want to know the best way to be able to use our phones out there without going bankrupt! We are a family of 4 but only 3 of us will need phones. We all have Iphone SEs and are on GiffGaff so no contracts.

We don't envisage needing to use the phone much for actual calls except for making reservations at restaurants and attractions. But I would like for us to be able to communciate if we split up and do different things. I would also want to use Apps for maps, restaurant guides etc. so need some data package I guess? Won't be calling home at all. Where possible we will use wi-fi but there may be times when we need to use 3G/4G. Can anyone advise on the best, most economical way to do this?

Bump

Buy yourselves pay as you go SIM cards from Three, top up, and enjoy "Feel at Home" minutes, texts and internet/data no extra cost than if you were at home. Either 15 or 20 quid top gets you free unlimited data - priceless!

www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/us-roaming#three

Thanks OMGTwins for the link and advice. I’ve found this on Three that offers 30Gb of data and unlimited texts/calls. It can be used in the USA I think but annoyingly I can’t see the full terms and conditions of the ‘feel at home’ deal because the link just takes me to a blank page. I’ll have to find a Three shop and talk to someone directly but it looks promising.

I came to suggest a three PAYG sim. I'm not sure of the full T&C's myself so definitely have a chat in a three shop or with someone in the know, but I think you can use your data allowance just as you would when in UK.
Calls and texts back to the UK will also just come from you allowance as normal, but call and texts to another country, including the country you are in at that point, will be changed at an international rate.

So if a few of you are travelling and you want to be able to contact each other if you are separated throughout the day or whatever, then use the data to Whatsapp rather than text/call as standard, but anyone Back Home you can contact just as normal

OP & her party "won't be calling home at all", so the 3-deal isn't especially good for her group. They need cheapest phone coverage while in the USA. When I had to do this 6 months ago, I bought a prepaid cell (for about $80) with maybe $40 credit on it, good for 30 days.

You can pick up prepaid cell simm cards in lots of places. Cricket, Verizon, those are some of the networks, check what's recommended where you're going. Type prepaid sim into amazon.com.

See example here.

Just an update on this. Less than a week to go and have purchased the Three Sim card for £25 that gives a great data deal for overseas use in USA. My partner put his in his Iphone SE and all is hunky dory. DId the same with mine and it says the phone is locked to the O2 Network. Both phones were purchased unlocked with the specific intention of not having a phone contract and going onto GIff Gaff which is what happened.

It would appear (from advice on the Giff Gaff forum) that the only way round it is to buy a PAYG O2 SIM for £15, not use the phone for calls/voicemails so that the £15 credit stays on the phone (up to 72 hours!) which will then be used to pay the £15 'charge' for unlocking the phone from O2 and then being able to put the Three Sim in for use in the States.

I'm completely baffled as to why I am locked into O2 when I haven't had any dealings with them and basically have to sign up with them to sign off from them? I am going to post this in a few areas as I want the maximum chance of getting some advice on this!

There’s WiFi virtually everywhere in major US cities. Almost every store/coffee shop/restaurant has guest WiFi, I’d just use that.
No help with the strange O2 situation, sorry!

I know the WIFI coverage tends to be excellent I just wanted to be covered for situations when it isn't. I am going to be out and about checking restaurants on Open Table and referring to Google maps and just want to be sure I always have coverage. I also want to be able to communicate with my partner and kids if we split up and wanted to be able to call/Whatsap/Facetime without running up huge bills. Bit of a belt and braces thing I know but for £25 I thought it was a good deal. This complication is making it seem like less of a good idea!!