Mobile 'Phone for U.S,.A. and Canada.

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madmickx
madmickx

After searching through quite a few threads I cannot find an answer to this rather simple question.

We are travelling to the U.S. in May, arriving in Las Vegas, spending a week there then flying to Vancouver. From Vancouver we take a cruise up the Inside Passage for a week then return to Vancouver before taking a 2 week coach tour through various Canadian National Parks: Specifically Kelowna, Banff, Jasper, Sun Peaks, Looet and Whistler.

Because we will be driving from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon and, later, taking hire car up the Yukon Highway from Skagway we would like to have a mobile 'phone along in case of emergencies. We have a basic Australian mobile 'phone and having it unlocked would cost AUD$100 which is more than we paid to buy it so we are thinking about buying a cheap local 'phone on arrival.

Would it be possible to buy a cheap 'phone which would work in the U.S. and Canada or would we need to buy two separate ones? Also, how much are these "burn phones?"

We will be travelling with an I-Pad so this could be our emergency link back home and as we are not fanatical updaters of social media all we would need is something which can make calls and send and receive text messages locally.

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ianw6705
ianw6705

We (as Australians) have done all the sectors you have described (including renting a car in Skagway for the Klondike Highway into the Yukon).

We have just bought a 30 day SIM card for each of our North American trips ... they're pretty cheap (under $US25.00 from places like T-Mobile, ATT). Having said that, $100 to have your phone unlocked does sound rather excessive, but overall it might still be the best option, and it remains unlocked forever, and therefore for future trips.

Also the Klondike Highway is pretty remote ... it's not altogether certain that a SIM Card you purchase in LA or Las Vegas will work well up there. And we never buy the WiFi on cruises, it'is very expensive and often not very good. If we need to make contact, we wait until a shore excursion with WiFi available (where it's also often not very good).

The I-Pad is good for backing up your photos each day (assuming it has some sort of USB connection with your camera).

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ksneds
ksneds

As mentioned, a US SIM Card should work fine for emergencies, though you will need to buy a plan and/or minutes in addition to the card. And that's where things start get tricky -- especially in Canada, cell plan options are pitiful and very expensive as compared to Europe and elsewhere.

Read the contract carefully - it might be a good deal in the US, but have hideous roaming/data charges once you cross the border into Canada. Often you can get a Canada add-on (or vice versa) for a US plan that gives you cheaper minutes/data in the Canada.

Also, be aware the cell service /reception is far from universal in Canada. Other than in the townsites (Jasper, Banff and Lake Louise), cell service in Jasper, Banff and Yoho NPs is pretty much non-existent. I'm guess there's little reception on the Klondike Highway as well.

A coach tour isn't going to take you off the beaten path in the national parks, so as long as you're find with only being able to check text messages/e-mails in the morning and evenings, you'll be fine. And there are places with free WIFi in all the townsites - Parks Canada Centres, Tim Hortons, libraries, hotels etc. The Klondike Highway could be another story - not sure if there will be large cell reception holes/how large/where.

I agree that unlocking your phone is probably the best way to go - that way you can use it for future travels. I used an unlocked UK phone in Australia with an Aussie simcard. No problems at all.

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ianw6705
ianw6705

Yes, we use our (unlocked Optus with US Sim) phone very little on the road ... mainly to confirm, amend or cancel accomm bookings, and in that regard it pays for itself several times over. Also if you book Airbnb accomm, it's good to contact the host on arrival.

It takes only a few minutes to buy the SIM (which in all our cases came with a month or two prepaid service) and you get a new phone number, which you need to advise by email back to family and friends in Australia.

BTW The Klondike Highway is remote but far from empty ... if you did have a breakdown or rolled into a ditch, something will come along almost immediately.

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folklover
folklover

How many phone calls do you expect to be making? Do you really need to have a cell phone or would Skype and a wifi connection be sufficient? Wifi is far from universal but it's still pretty easy to find for free at coffee shops, restaurants, bars, campgrounds, motels, hostels, etc. When I travel that's all I use and if I need to make a phone call I just use Skype credit which allows you make telephone calls to landlines/mobile phones for inexpensive fees. Is it ideal? Probably not but I've never needed anything more. And the other posters are right about cell phone access in the more remote areas. You will probably have it in the towns but it could be hit or miss on the highways and in the remote areas.

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