Why do you need a cell phone away from home?
Aug 27, 2013, 7:51 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
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Posts: 19,781
There are some international plans on US carriers which are much thriftier, but in general they get very expensive.
Aug 27, 2013, 9:21 pm
#47
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Local SIM card and an unlocked device.
My iPhone wasn't unlocked so I used Mifi.
But I'm going to look to get a tablet with LTE. I think the battery life will be better, even in hotspot mode.
My iPhone wasn't unlocked so I used Mifi.
But I'm going to look to get a tablet with LTE. I think the battery life will be better, even in hotspot mode.
Aug 29, 2013, 3:00 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
Internationally, some carriers will sell you a data add-on that you can use internationally, but it's rarely a lot of data (500 MB seems like the most you can buy, and maybe not even that much).
I recommend using a local SIM with a local data plan. That's generally the best deal.
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Aug 31, 2013, 12:23 am
#50
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA & IHG Plat, SWAlist, Frontier 100k, Marriott Titan, IHG-Hilton-Hyatt-Wynd Gold, Nat EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 445
You don't if you want to get away from it all. But if you want to be able to call someone in the country you are in easily, or have a way for family to reach you, both through phone calls, texts, or emails, and social sites you should have one. Even if you don't use it for data(you can use WiFi spots for this). I bought a SIM this Summer for use in the UK and Ireland and had a great experience, I was able to call back to the statues, others could call me, and I had my email available at all times.
-Patrick
-Patrick