teriyaki

So i'm heading down to Vegas for 4 days, and cell phone usage might be pretty handy when i'm down there. Coming from Canada, the rates for roaming calls and texts are insane.

So far, i'm thinking of buying the t-mobile sim card and hopping on their pay/day plan. How easy is it to acquire one of these sim cards? Any t-mobile booths at the airport?

Aside from the t-mobile option i've heard about, any other ways to beat the roaming fee?

millere2

Ok, just tell the truth, you don't want your husband or wife to see those late night phone calls to the escort services!?

Gogie

I'm in the same boat - heading to Vegas and looking at cellphone options. I've decided to go with Roam Mobility. They seem to have pretty good rates. You can buy their sim card for 19.95 (either via the internet with free shipping or at a local seller if there's one in your area). For around $16 you can get unlimited North American calling and texting and 400 MB of data for four days. $28 gets you 7 days unlimited text and calling plus 700 MB of data. They have 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 day packages that you can mix and match to come up with any period of time you need (I'll probably buy a 3-day and a 7-day plan for the 10 days I'll be in Vegas). My son used them last month in Vegas and he was very pleased with their service. Finally, all costs are in Canadian $.

Edit: If you only want talk and text it's cheaper - 4 days unlimited would cost $12.

gengar

The only wireless phone "store" I know of at McCarran is pre-security in T1, upstairs on that big "bridge" between the C/D gate security and the check-in area. It's right next to the walkway that goes to the PreCheck/elite/F line for D gates. But they're an independent shop IIRC - and quite small, even calling it a kiosk might be generous - so I don't know if they sell the T-Mobile prepaid sim cards.

Fashion Show Mall (just north of Spring Mountain on the Strip) has a ton of wireless kiosks; you could check if there is a T-Mobile store as well.

You could even try 7-11 as they sell cheap phones with T-Mobile sims in them, and then you can just toss the phone and keep the card. There is a 7-11 at Hawaiian Marketplace just south of Harmon on the Strip. Call first to see what they've got before making your way over, though.

Letitride3c

T-Mo's prepaid plan has (had ?) a $2 per day unlimited voice call & SMS plan with a Sim card ($10 or free online ordered) and $3 per day with unlimited 3G+ data. It might or might not be offered to new prepaid customer - I have this backup prepaid line for years.

Just bring an unlocked quadband GSM phone if it's primary for voice & SMS - smartphone setup are always a bit tricky unless you geek skills are good or support @ T-Mo can help.

There is a retail Microsoft store inside Fashion Show Mall and they carry T-Mo products, plus there is a big retail agent, Celluar SuperStore or something along that line downstairs - along with those kisok. Before driving over (or walking, he he) call ahead to confirm that they carry & sell the Sims that you need (micro/nano, etc.)

Otherwise, if you have a rental car, take Spring Mountain Blvd. across to the other side of the Freeway (I-15) and up about 10 blocks, you will be in LV's Chinatown section, there's a # of independent shops in that area that you can try. Otherwise, find one of the Office Depot, Walmart or Best Buy as they have the choices & also sell refills. Have not seen cheapo phones at 7-11 last month when we're in Sin City, but they do sell most major refill cards like the Walgreen pharmacies, etc.

AT&T Gophone (prepaid) doesn't offer a daily plan, unlike T-Mo but most believe that they have better towers & coverage - for Vegas in-town use, there are no difference as I also have their signals on my device. You only need "covert" coverage for a few days or a week and a cheap plan deal - reseller plans are a bit cheaper but why spend your valuable time all over town looking for it & try to set it up. You are spending enough to go there, stay & enjoy - a buffet dinner will set you back $50 p/p anyway.

Edit: I found the link to T-Mo prepaid/sim card only option - this should get you started on the old PAYG option, by the minutes or day, and monthly flat rate - http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/p...ard#close-cart

And, you should refer to this thread in the Technology forum with FT' ers discussed & recommended various options & alternatives to the 2 major GSM mobile providers. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...rds-usa-8.html

Have fun & dress for warm/hot weather - it's nice & dry, not humid, thank goddness.

Jay71

I use a T-Mobile and Google Voice solution when I travel to the States.

My buddy gave me his T-Mobile sim from a pay and talk phone he had purchased from Walmart. Once I set it up online and had a US number, I was able register on Google Voice.

I use the $3 a day plan for calling within the US and for data (which also works fine for tethering your tablet). I use Google voice to call & SMS back to Canada with no additional charges (other than within the $3/day).

bobu

I use something called Freedompop. It gives me free 1Gig data a month which allows me all the texting/calling I need for my trip. However, you do need to rent their device which is fully refundable.