US sim card/esim for upcoming travel

[finboy]

I am heading to Hawaii in October, normally I just go without a phone but I will be coordinating for a lot of people. TELUS want $400 for 2 phones to roam for the vacation, fuck that.

I am curious what everyone has been doing for pay as you go sims or e-sims to get by while on vacation in the us. airalo seems to be a popular one on Reddit.

[rage2]

Airalo is all that I use. Works, cheap enough, can set it all up before leaving. I’m sure I can arrive somewhere and hunt for cheaper priced sims, but that’s not worth my time to save $5 or $10.

[finboy]

Does airalo allow you to use your usual number or is it a new number I would just send out to people in advance?

[phreezee]

I went to a T-Mobile Store and signed up for pay as you go and re-use/re-fill when I go on trips. In Hawaii, all the sim cards from the ABC stores use T-Mobile as the network.

[ExtraSlow]

Is normal USA shit not good in Hawaii?

[benyl]

Airalo works where you turn off primary data but can still see calls coming in. Secondary line is data only.

Turn off roaming on primary line.

If you use my referral code, you get $3 off the first purchase. Basically $2 for 1GB for a week

Hey, have you tried an eSIM? Get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo. Use code BERNAR9616 when you sign up or apply it at checkout. https://ref.airalo.com/1VGb

[The_Rural_Juror]

I plan on trying out Google Fi

[pheoxs]

I’d just land and go to the nearest T-Mobile or AT&T store and go buy a prepaid sim. Can likely even find them in the airport or Walmart.

[taemo]

+1 on Airalo, used it a couple of times in the US, Oahu earlier this year with no issues.

As soon as we land, I turn off data off my Bell and turn Airalo on, worked great in Italy too.
You can also top it up if you are ending more data than anticipated.

[jacky4566]

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Airalo works where you turn off primary data but can still see calls coming in. Secondary line is data only.

Turn off roaming on primary line.

If you use my referral code, you get $3 off the first purchase. Basically $2 for 1GB for a week

Going to Italy next June defiantly going to try this out.

[HiSpec]

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I plan on trying out Google Fi

I was planning to go with Google Fi when I went to Hawaii earlier this year. But it seems like they only do monthly and not pre-paid.

[Xtrema]

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Does airalo allow you to use your usual number or is it a new number I would just send out to people in advance?

I always put travel SIM on a secondary device as wifi hotspot to share with the group. Enable wifi calling on your primary phone and primary line stay active thru it.

(At least it works last time I am thru Portugal and Spain).

Thanks for the Airalo tips tho, price seems decent and don't have to hunt/shop for cards.

[benyl]

I used to do that as well. But it gets hard when the group separates. So using a dual sim on each phone for $6 CAD is so much easier and if you are frugal with the 1GB you get for the week. Even $13CAD for 3GB for 30days is still cheaper than roam like home.

Also, thethering works for the rest of the family.

I haven’t tried wifi calling using the other sim, but I bet it works.

[s2k_boi]

Is Airalo only data or does that include calling if needed?

[rage2]

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Thanks for the Airalo tips tho, price seems decent and don't have to hunt/shop for cards.

This is the biggest reason its awesome. Everything is setup from home prior to the trip, just cycle thru the esims as you go place to place. No brainer for cruises.

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Is Airalo only data or does that include calling if needed?

Data only.

[The_Penguin]

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Airalo is all that I use. Works, cheap enough, can set it all up before leaving. I’m sure I can arrive somewhere and hunt for cheaper priced sims, but that’s not worth my time to save $5 or $10.

How's the speed?

[mr2mike]

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I was planning to go with Google Fi when I went to Hawaii earlier this year. But it seems like they only do monthly and not pre-paid.

This plus they want a US mailing address.
Using it internationally in Canada, they'll cut you off apparently.
This is according to their customer support when I was messaging them.

[rage2]

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How's the speed?

Couldn’t tell the difference from before I used esims and bought physical sims at the stores. End of the day it’s the same networks.

[The_Penguin]

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Couldn’t tell the difference from before I used esims and bought physical sims at the stores. End of the day it’s the same networks.

Thanks. Beats the hell out of Telus Roam like home. Most of my texting is with Apple people, and rarely get a phone call. Will try on next vacation.
Ok maybe 2nd next, looks like they don't do Bahamas, so Mexico in May.

[ExtraSlow]

Roam like home is garbage and expensive. Seven bucks a day is ridiculous.