Best US SIM for short visit

[kript]

Hey Folks,

Visiting the US (Seattle) for work in a couple of weeks. Work will pickup expenses, but the roaming charges on my mobile will be horrendous if I try and do any data. Any recommendation for an US pay as you go type SIM for a week? Preferably one that I can pickup near Pike Place Market, since I won't be driving (or have the time to rent a bike til saturday).

Mostly needed for navigation. I'm going to download the Open Street Map app for my tablet, but would like a backup..

[Daley]

T-Mobile or Cricket (AT&T) will probably be your best option for the money given your stated requirements. Expect to pay around $40, but it'll give you unlimited talk, text and at least 500MB of 3G data. Better could be had for less with some more advanced pre-planning, but it requires time and mail order to deal with the MVNOs in the guide that I recommend.

[daverobev]

D'you have an address? I got Lycamobile SIMs on ebay, if you could get them delivered beforehand, put $10 credit on..

[kript]

D'you have an address? I got Lycamobile SIMs on ebay, if you could get them delivered beforehand, put $10 credit on..

That's a good idea, thanks. Looked into Lycamobile, but they seem expensive for data only, as it turns out there is a T-Mobile store 2 mins walk from my hotel.  Who do a $10/1GB/7 day deal or $20 for 3GB for a month. Much more what I had in mind!

In the UK you can purchase a SIM and activate it in the shop. Is that the case in the US?

[Daley]

In the UK you can purchase a SIM and activate it in the shop. Is that the case in the US?

Yes.

The only problem I can foresee is your device. If you're trying to get a data only plan for your phone, you're gonna get harassed. They typically restrict data only plans to tablets and modems based on the IMEI of the device at activation. This isn't to say you couldn't transplant the SIM into a phone after activation if you had a modem or tablet with GSM modem embedded with you... but both T-Mobile and AT&T do that here. You can try, but I would be surprised if they give it to you. Expect to get tagged for at least $40 if you have to tether to your phone and can't stick the SIM directly into the tablet.

[kript]

Cheers I.P.!

Actually, I was intending to get the SIM for my tablet, not my phone (which is a 2G only Nokia), as I can then use VOIP & Skype in extremis.

[Sid Hoffman]

Last time I set up a new T-Mobile phone I was charged a separate activation fee, so that's something to perhaps look out for.  Then again, that was to add a line to a family plan, not activating a single prepaid line.  They could potentially charge you for the SIM, activation, and the 1-month access.  T-Mobile's main MVNO is https://gosmartmobile.com/ so if you use their website, you could probably get one of those.  I see it showing at least 10 shops in Seattle alone, not counting suburbs.  GoSmartMobile starts at $25 for unlimited Talk/Text/Facebook (yes, that's a real thing) access, and is $35 for unlimited talk/text/data with the first 1GB at 3G speeds.  $40 gets you 6GB of data at 3G speeds.  They might waive activation but it's still likely they will charge you for the SIM, or give you a "free" SIM but charge activation.

[Doubleh]

Another alternative if you're coming from UK, as it sounds you are, is to get a 3 payg sim and use their "feel at home" offer to use your UK allowance in USA. I'm currently in the Seattle area using this approach, it roams on t-mobile and coverage has been fine so far for me.

You can request a sim online and they'll post it to you the next day. You then add £15 credit and use it to buy the £15 add on. This gives you unlimited data, 300 mins calls and some ridiculous number of texts. Once in the USA you can use your data (capped at 25gb per month overseas) and use your minutes to call / text UK. Only issue is that you can't use the minutes to call usa, so I loaded an extra £5 credit to cover that. Alternatively if you have Google voice you can use that to make free calls to usa numbers using your data allowance.

[dang1]

sim needs to be mailed to you, but at&t mvno airvoice payg working great for me