Hello everyone!
I'm posting this on behalf of my mom who is going to be visiting Boston with a class of students for 3 weeks fairly soon.
She's got everything figured out except for cellphone usage which is why I'm posting now. Basically, she needs to be able to use her phone during the trip but has no idea what or how would be best as she doesn't have an international plan currently.
Any advice on cell/ Sim providers she could use and how to set it up quickly?
Thanks in advance!
I second this. I ended up staying with Fi afterwards. Works great for me.
What is the Google Fi speed overseas?
I believe Google picky backs off the local cell towers so internet speeds can vary. I can’t speak on exact numbers, but I used it throughout Amsterdam, London and Paris just fine. I was able to use my maps for navigation and stream videos off YouTube.
I can confirm it works pretty good in Boston. Not the best up in the mountains a few hours north though
According to wiki:
>Google Fi uses the T-Mobile network.
In the US, that is fine. Overseas, T-Mobile's speed was (is?) 2G and 3G, depending on the countries' local networks. Can be very slow for Google Maps. The speed can be upgraded for a cost. Is that the same for Google Fi?
I have Google Fi, my partner has T-Mobile. Not sure what the deal is but my service abroad has always been far better than theirs. This includes Western and Central Europe, Southeast Asia, and Central America.
T-Mobile's plans cover international data and texting for free, and charges for calls.
https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans/international-roaming-plans
Regardless of which provider or plan, installing WhatsApp will let her text and call internationally for free.
WhatsApp does sms? Does WhatsApp call out as well?
She should download an e-SIM with an app like Airalo. I use this anytime I travel internationally.
You don’t need physical SIM cards anymore. Tons of different plans, find the best one for your needs.
To switch (on an iPhone) after you install one, go to Settings > Cellular and select the e-SIM you want to use. It usually takes a minute or so before you can use it.
A lot of people buy SIMs from the airport or something, but that’s usually expensive. And annoying - especially if you have to fiddle with removing a phone case and finding a pin to pull the slot out, etc.
Airalo is great but is only data.
Call her provider. These days phones can usually just work in Europe in my experience, with a small fee. If you tell them you’re going they can let you know what options they have. Last time I think I paid $10/day for AT&T to just work normally in Prague. Way more convenient than finding a sim over there in the airport or something.
That is bad advice. $10/day is really expensive, especially for 3 weeks of travel. Those plans work on the assumption you don’t know better.
You can do $10/week in many cases.
You should never have to buy a SIM at the airport, or anywhere really. Instead, download an e-SIM, tons of different apps for it. Then just switch in your settings. Pretty much every phone made since 2018 is compatible with it. And most folks have phones that are less than 5 years old.
My iPhone 8 was manufactured pre-2018 and I'm not keen on downloading random apps, but I suppose this might work better for OP. You're right most people aren't using antique phones like me.
Most plans have reasonable international roaming. I would just have her add it to her current plan and forget the whole “get a new, local sim / e-sim” thing. If she’s older that will just confuse the hell out of her .
Unfortunately we can't add it to her plan as it's an older very cheap plan that doesn't exist anymore (on account of it being cheap and with a lot of data lol)...
She's in her 50s no problem with so it should be fine :)
She should talk to her French provider about roaming options.
Also, what kind of phone does she have? Budget models destined for Europe and Asia may not be compatible with US networks.
She's got a Samsung S20, any idea if it'll work?
It should be fine.
I believe this is made just for your situation! It used to be from Tmobile but it looks like they've rebranded it as Ultra Mobile.
https://www.ultramobile.com/tourist/?icid=WMM_TMNG_PPEULTRA_AU4DD3J38PK7L3C8617764
VISITING THE U.S.? STAY CONNECTED FOR JUST $30
The Tourist Plan from Ultra Mobile is a 3-week plan that includes:
Unlimited Domestic Talk
Unlimited Domestic and International Text
100 Minutes to 80+ International Destinations
Up to 3GB of 5G • 4G LTE Data
On the T-Mobile 5G Network
Data Speeds Reduce After 3GB But Data is Unlimited
You may use the Tourist Plan on your own phone. We provide the SIM card, service and new number.
With a recent phone look for an esim provider like https://www.ubigi.com ( these guys are french so might help with support ).
Sign up for Verizon’s 30 day test drive for free
Your post appears to be one of a number of commonly asked questions about the port city of Boston. Please check the sidebar for visitor information. Also, consider using the search function to see if this question or something similar has been asked on /r/boston in the past. It is best to do some research before posting tourism questions here, as posts are more likely to succeed if they include details such as your interests, which area you are staying in, and more specific questions. Please enjoy this map that we made just for you
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Your post appears to be one of a number of commonly asked questions about the port city of Boston. Please check the sidebar for visitor information. Ah Hi! Ive always wanted to respond to one of these, but I normally reach the post a few hours too late. I'll do my best to give you some good recommendations. So first things first, Boston is VERY walkable and easy to get around, especially if you take the T (what we call our subway). People on this subreddit love to shit on the T (and everything else honestly, very pessimistic group of people), but in actuality its great, especially by American standards. I would consider getting a day pass so you can ride it as much as you want, but I am not sure how much they cost/if it would be worth your while (a single ride is around $2.75 I believe?? Not really sure). With that being said, I would say one of the first places you should check out is the North End. It is a very Italian American neighborhood, and has a pretty strong European-esque feel to it. There are great Italian restaurants and shops everywhere. The touristy thing to do is to go to Mikes Pastry's for cannolis, but I (and I think most locals would agree) recommend Bovas instead. The whole neighborhood is super compact and dense, and it will be mad easy for you guys to walk around and check it out. Nearby the North End is Faniuel Hall/Quincy Market, which is probably the epicenter of Bostons historical/tourist scene. The food there might be a bit overpriced/overhyped, but I personally have to recommend the Boston Chipyard. Its a stand within Quincy Market that sells fresh, mini cookies. Ive been living here for five years (and visiting my entire life) and I STILL always go there whenever I am feeling sad and need a pick me up/just craving a cookie. I love it and its absolutely delicious. Id also suggest just strolling around Beacon Hill and the Back Bay neighborhood (particularly Commonwealth Avenue). The architecture there is beautiful, and both are very serene and picturesque, and really just great places to walk around and soak in the ambiance. Both neighborhoods have plenty of bars/restaurants/shops, so youll have plenty of other things to do besides walk around. They are super close to one another, and very conveniently located right in the heart of the city. Also gotta check out the Esplanade, its a cool park right along the Charles River, its super pretty and relaxing, and also right next to Back Bay/Beacon Hill, so really convenient to get to. One of my favorite places in the city. In terms of less touristy things to do, Id suggest going to the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. Its basically one giant park/tree zoo, and its filled with really beautiful trees and plants, and is just a lovely place to walk around. This is definitely one of the cooler places in Boston, and definitely not something that the average tourist does. Its right at the end of the Orange Line (Forrest Hills), so while it is kinda far out compared to the other places I have mentioned, it really is not that hard/complicated to get to. Great place to just vibe out and relax, and its one of my favorite places in the whole city. Obviously Boston/New England is known for its seafood, and it really is tremendous. There is a lot of debate about which place has the best clam chowder/lobster roll, and it ultimately comes down to preference, but I always recommend to visitors the Barking Crab. It is located right on the water in Bostons Seaport neighborhood, so again, very centrally located. I think the food there is delicious, and I think it offers the best ambience/overall dining experience. It does a good job of kinda replicating the traditional New England seafood shack, while still being more of a legit restaurant. Again, some people may shit on me for that answer, but at the end of the day, if you go, youre gonna have a good time/delicious meal. Other quintessential Boston things are the Freedom trail, Duck Boat Tour, harbor walk, and visiting Fenway (which it seems like you are already doing, although i highly recommend going to a game if you can, not sure if the Sox are in town this weekend). Cambridge is located right across the Charles River from Boston, and while it technically is its own city, it feels like it might as well be an extension of Boston. Both Central and Harvard squares are a lot of fun, with plenty of cool restaurants and stores to check out. One last non-touristy thing I recommend is visiting East Boston, or Eastie. Its really easy to get to on the Blue Line, and is just a really underrated neighborhood as a whole, and definitely is not the type of place a tourist would usually go to. It has some beautiful parks right on the water that have great views, as well as many really good Latin food spots. There is the ICA watershed, which is a really cool contemporary art museum located right in the Boston Shipyard. Also, there is an Australian meatpie place right there called KO Pies that my friends and I always go to when we are in the area. For all I know, it might not even hold a candle compared to the meatpie places you have back home, but the people working there will definitely get a kick out of serving a fellow Aussie. All in all, Boston is an incredible place with a unique sense of charm and distinct identity, and it takes a lot of pride in itself, which I love. It does a great job of blending the big city/small town feels, and in my opinion, is the best city on the East Coast. Please feel free to message me if you want any more specific recommendations. Enjoy your visit!!
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d0nutd0n t1_jdhceu7 wrote
I used Google Fi when traveling internationally. I just registered online, it’s a month to month plan, popped the sim in and I was good to go. I cancelled it once I got back to the states.