pre-paid phones?

[KIRAN]

I'm visiting LV from the UK.
Did it once before and it cost me a fortune in calling hosts and texting etc..also, they didn't want to call me on a UK phone number.

So, I'm thinking this time, I'll purchase a pre-paid chip for the week.

Anyone done this before?

[WiscoBrad]

I used to do that when I would go to Japan. Turned out over there it was cheaper for me to buy a 'prepaid' cell phone since I was over there 6 to 8 times a year. In the UK/France/Holland/Belgium/Germany/Luxembourg/etc I just used my work blackberry. I don't think that a US sim card would cost all that much for the week though. Who is your Carrier? Voda? Orange? They could probably get you straight before you even leave the UK =)

[elbeto_plus]

Will not a problem for me, my nextel works at US

[fordan]

I'm visiting LV from the UK.
Did it once before and it cost me a fortune in calling hosts and texting etc..also, they didn't want to call me on a UK phone number.

So, I'm thinking this time, I'll purchase a pre-paid chip for the week.

Anyone done this before?

I do it when I travel to Spain and the like.

Couple caveats:

1) Your phone has to be unlocked and able to take 3rd party SIM cards.

2) The US uses different GSM frequencies than the rest of the world (850&1900Mhz vs 900&1800Mhz). Cheaper phones might only support Europe or the US, not both. If you used your phone here in the past, probably not an issue.

3) Also unlike the rest of the world, the US charges for both incoming and outgoing calls and texts.

I usually use http://www.prepaidgsm.net/ to find prepaid carriers when I travel. The US has AT&T and T-Mobile as nationwide GSM providers and a bunch of virtual carriers that use their networks to provide service.

If you care about data, T-Mobile does it's 3G network on yet different frequencies (1700&2100Mhz), so you'll be stuck with the much slower Edge speeds if your phone doesn't support it (and it probably doesn't; I think only phones made for T-Mobile USA do. I know the iPhone doesn't.)

[Drew]

I've only done it traveling outside the US lol. I always wondered the same about internationals coming here because it seems prepaid sims are at any convenient store/phone store abroad, but I have no clue where to get them here. We do have a ton of prepaid Phones though at our stores here though. I had to get one in May when my phone died at WR. It was like 30-50 bucks if i remember right for a basic one

[Guest]

I love when international guests get a pre-paid phone. they are available almost anywhere and cuts down the stress when booking reservations.

[kie]

I bought a cheap phone from Walgreens for my last trip, was around 30 dollars with 10 credit. I'd definitely recommend it, made my trip so much easier.

[bhart]

I usually just email people with international numbers. Almost all cellphones receive instant emails these days & keeps bills low

[DaniJ715]

I do it when I go abroad and it is so much easier. I do know that you can get fairly cheap ones stateside. I think I saw one as cheap as $10 for the basic calling and texting and then to get airtime the lowest airtime is around $20. With a phone as cheap as that, no worries on if it gets destroyed with an unexpected dip/push in the pool. That's what happened to me once while on vacation and I was phoneless and ended up getting a cheap replacement since my phone company seems to now only deliver my replacement phone rather than giving a new one at the store lol.