Mobile data in USA

[RollingInTheDeepSouth]

Hi I'm really rubbish with stuff like this! We are renting a car in the USA in a few months, and would like to explore a bit. I would prefer to use Google maps for directions rather than a sat nav but I've never used data/roamed abroad before. How does this work without being ridiculously expensive? Do I buy a package in advance?? Thanks for any replies x

I am with EE and just added a roaming bolt-on to my package for the length of time I was there, think it was around £10. DH is with 02 and USA was included in his roam further allowance so no extra charge. Brst bet is to give your network provider a call and see what they offer

We have just been to Alaska and data roaming was very expensive. That’s EE. Didn’t buy in advance and didn’t need it much. I would rent a sat nav! Just easier!

Thanks so much for the replies, that makes sense I was confused reading about buying SIMs or enabling roaming etc! I will give our mobile provider a call and see what they can offer, or if not see how much the rental place charge for satnav. Thank you 😊 x

EE does a roaming calculator based on your plan snd countries. We had no signal for most of our trip so just did pay as you go. I expect a plan for roaming will be cheaper but sat nav isn’t extortionate for hire cars and gives better instructions in my view. Some can be a bit ? to use though.

I would just buy a cheap Sat nav when you get there. Issue with Google maps is when you’re somewhere really remote with a rubbish signal.

Ordering a US SIM card is really easy and the least expensive option if you will be using a lot of data.
I ordered them on Amazon.
An eSim is the other option where you don’t have a physical Sim.

When We did a 2 week road trip in 2019 I hired a mobile Wi-Fi device from a company called Teppy. It was brilliant and we could connect our phones and iPads easily and use them as sat back in the car. It was so good I bought my own device recently.

Teppy have been bought out by someone, I think they are now called Travel WiFi.

If you are not in a wi fi area that surely makes no difference to using your phone? I’m not wi fi savvy though.

Download the T Mobile app & buy a package which includes data if your phone provider is unhelpful. I think about $40?

You really want a package that allows calls too. A lot of people actually use phones as phones not whatsapp.

If you have an iPhone or certain androids you’d be able to download an esim, I used Airalo Esim in March in Florida and then an Airalo one again in Canada last week. I got a 5Gb one for Canada as we were there for 18 days and needed maps and of course SM uploads. I got my son 3gb but he used his quickly watching YouTube videos in the car. You’ll find Airalo on the App Store.

The last two occasions where we have rented a car it came with built-in GPS. You can also rent the GPS units from the office where you collect the car. Don’t call it a sat nav here, no one will have a clue what you’re talking about 😀

Thanks so much everyone for the replies, so helpful! I will have a look into all the options 😃 x