Best way to handle trip to US

[Rascal]

Can someone tell me the most cost effective way to handle an extended trip to the USA? Last year we were there for almost three months, and we paid our regular monthly bill as well as an additional $40 per month for service. We don't want to do that again!

If you have a plan with PM, can you put it on hold or just cancel and start up again when you return? But would you be able to get the same plan? Should be buy a SIM card while we are there (we've heard that is cheaper). We want to have talk and text while there. Data would be good too, but we can use WiFi. Any opinions or insight?

[lemew07]

Hi, since I have had unlocked phones in the last 6 years or so I check who in the states has the best deal at the time of my visit. Pop in a sim card and Bob's your uncle. When I first started you could put your mobile service on hold for $10.00 a month but all carriers do not offer plan suspesion.

[Mugsy]

One thing for sure ... If you're going to the mid west, don't even think about paying for roaming ... Forget PM "coverage map"; It simply doesn't work. Minnesota through Montana, I literally had to stop at MacDonald's to use their WiFi for google maps because the $30&10 day roaming data did NOT work AT ALL. Not quite so bad with talk &text but wide swaths of no coverage on that either. And there's no refund and, certainly,  no customer service to even discuss malfunctions and possible work arounds.

That said, if you'd like to keep your #,  I don't think I would trust the 90 day suspension; who are you going to call if your old phone # gets given away after, say, 37 days? No customer service to help at PM! I think I would simply downgrade to $10/month which on autopay is $8/. Not sure but, I think you might even still receive texts

[ShawnC13 · Accepted solution]

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@Rascal wrote:

Can someone tell me the most cost effective way to handle an extended trip to the USA? Last year we were there for almost three months, and we paid our regular monthly bill as well as an additional $40 per month for service. We don't want to do that again!

If you have a plan with PM, can you put it on hold or just cancel and start up again when you return? But would you be able to get the same plan? Should be buy a SIM card while we are there (we've heard that is cheaper). We want to have talk and text while there. Data would be good too, but we can use WiFi. Any opinions or insight?

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Any extended stay in the US it is better to get a SIM there as we only have 10 day plans here.  As for what to do with your plan.  I would disable autopay and let your plan get suspended.  You have 90 days before you lose your number and account so if you are back within that time all is good.  If you are gone longer then you would need to renew your plan sometime during your time away.  If your plan is one that is an in market plan (not some special Promo that is no longer offered) I would future date a planc change  to the $10 plan.  After that renewal disable autopay then and you would have an additional 90 days after that 30 day cycle ended.

[Dunkgirl]

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@Rascal wrote:

Can someone tell me the most cost effective way to handle an extended trip to the USA? Last year we were there for almost three months, and we paid our regular monthly bill as well as an additional $40 per month for service. We don't want to do that again!

If you have a plan with PM, can you put it on hold or just cancel and start up again when you return? But would you be able to get the same plan? Should be buy a SIM card while we are there (we've heard that is cheaper). We want to have talk and text while there. Data would be good too, but we can use WiFi. Any opinions or insight?

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Let it be suspended by itself due to non payment, you get 90 days before your account is deleted once it gets suspended (so make sure to re-activate at least 10 days before that to give mods a change to replay / time for error)

If you can use wifi then just use free voip service and  or get a pre-paid sim card from another company while in USA

 It is also possible to leave your account in good standing with credit / enough balance in your account and use only voip when you are at wifi and if you ever need to make calls when not on wifi dial 611 then buy the 10 day add on, only for that moment you need it but its very inconvenience