yea...I don't think we're too keen on having to rely on the possibility of free wifi hotspots to look up things on the go.
Road Tripping in the USA!
- Thread starter [TW]Fox
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yea...I don't think we're too keen on having to rely on the possibility of free wifi hotspots to look up things on the go.
I agree with Fox, if you're planning to do the Canyon in a day (South Rim), flying is the only choice.
Regarding data, I used a Three SIM bolt-on (looks the price has gone up a little), unlimited data (at the time), no issues for me when I wanted to use it on the road. Of course the signal drops occasionally, but I can't recall any time it was urgent to have it and I didn't.
Regarding data, I used a Three SIM bolt-on (looks the price has gone up a little), unlimited data (at the time), no issues for me when I wanted to use it on the road. Of course the signal drops occasionally, but I can't recall any time it was urgent to have it and I didn't.
Three's Feel At Home is absolutely dire in my experience with basically Edge speeds everywhere and at any time. Definitely not doing that again.
That would be fun. I did embark on a PPL so I am of course now F22 Raptor pilot level skills now, honest.
Maverick has the ball, I know all the lingo.
When I used to be on 3 it was £5 add on for unlimited data! My SIM only contract was £6.80 a month, meaning unlimited data for effectively £11.80!!
Their cheapest plan now is £8
I concur, it's proper balls.
You won't be able to use your Z5 on Verizon as it doesn't support CDMA. It'll work on AT&T and T-Mobile though.
T-Mobile do a 3 week SIM for tourists with 2GB of LTE data that's $30 - http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-international-tourist-plan but their coverage (especially in rural areas) is pretty bad. AT&T GoPhone is $45 for 3GB or $60 for 6GB.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
I had absolutely no issues with it and never have had which is odd given how many people moan. I wouldn't tolerate poor data and would have purchased a local sim had I found it poor.
I did, however, notice hat T-Mobile sucked so I always had AT&T manually selected. Perhaps this is the issue?
The reason people find Feel At Home to be crap I've found is when it pushes you onto the T-Mobile network. If I manually select AT&T the service just feels like I'm using a normal 3G connection in the UK. If I'm automatically pushed onto T-Mobile I get Edge or super slow speeds.
Edit: Fox got in there before me, I've used my 3 FAH SIM in the USA for 5 weeks in the last 2 months and had no problems when AT&T was selected. This was across about 5-6 different states on both coasts.
Edit2: Just checked, used my phone across 12 states (I think) - 4 west coast and 8 east coast. Whilst locked to AT&T it just felt like a normal 3G UK contract. Occasionally I had no signal, but nobody did as it was an area with no coverage at all and that's part of the parcel when doing long drives in the US. At no point did I ever feel like I needed a faster connection or more data for my trips.
Edit: Fox got in there before me, I've used my 3 FAH SIM in the USA for 5 weeks in the last 2 months and had no problems when AT&T was selected. This was across about 5-6 different states on both coasts.
Edit2: Just checked, used my phone across 12 states (I think) - 4 west coast and 8 east coast. Whilst locked to AT&T it just felt like a normal 3G UK contract. Occasionally I had no signal, but nobody did as it was an area with no coverage at all and that's part of the parcel when doing long drives in the US. At no point did I ever feel like I needed a faster connection or more data for my trips.
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hmmm very interesting - I wonder if that could be the issue.
So just to be clear, if one manually selects AT&T and is driving between Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco and back (i.e. going through places like Yosemite) then the signal should be 3g most of the time (in your experiences of course)?
I did that trip a few years ago, and was in LA, and LV less than 3 weeks ago and had no problems. I doubt you'll get any internet signal with any company in Yosemite, same with Death Valley.
San Fran will be fine, as will the drive from SF to LA.
So off to Boston on Tuesday, very 11th hour as we were on and off about going but it has really worked out rather well as the flight options, being so close to heading off have opened up and allowed me to spend my air miles. So I have managed to bag 2 x Upper Class seats there and back for £900 total price, using 160,000 of my air miles! Sometimes it works out, now to book a car 
So off to Boston on Tuesday, very 11th hour as we were on and off about going but it has really worked out rather well as the flight options, being so close to heading off have opened up and allowed me to spend my air miles. So I have managed to bag 2 x Upper Class seats there and back for £900 total price, using 160,000 of my air miles! Sometimes it works out, now to book a car
Depending on where you are staying and what you're planning on doing in Boston I'd suggest not getting a car. We were there earlier in the year and a car would have been a complete nightmare. The public transport is actually fine for the centre and parking is a nightmare. The whole area is very much built around public transport and walking around. We were based near Fenway and flew into BOS and would have had 0 use for a car the entire trip.
I have been before and we stay at the Lenox for it's perfect back bay location, where all the funky shops and dining locations are. Last time I drove into the centre and parked 1 block down (read 50 yards from the Lenox) for around $30 a day, so superb. We have a challenge as my normal go to renter Alamo are sold out, so looking like we will need to Hertz/Avis it, which are often a pain in the backside come collection time, but beggars can't be choosers. There is little in it from booking at the airport when we arrive, dropping back when we go, or leaving it a few days and collecting from down town Boston on the Friday, with a drop back at Logan when we leave.
We have booked the Lenox from the Tuesday to Friday at which point we plan to go driving. We are considering options which include driving to upstate NY to take in the Watkins Glen NASCAR race on the Sunday then into Canada to stay with my cousin in Ontario followed by some city touring into Ottawa and Montreal, or forgetting that and heading up to Maine to do some more relaxing boutique hotels along the coast, which right now is looking favourite.
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Looking at the route's going to SF from Monterey. Is there a route that's much better than others? We're doing the PCH from LA to Monterey (stopping at Pismo) so I was just thinking of going through San Jose then not sure about the 101 or 280, I was thinking 280 but not sure.
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Take 84 from Palo Alto to the coast, then pick up Highway 1 there.
So don't buy glasses in America. I had to have an eye test and new glasses and though the eye test went well the quality of the lenses seems crap and for $690 that's annoying. Oh well that's what you pay insurance for....
Just driven from Boston into the woods of Vermont and have found a nice boutique hotel in the woodlands around Stowe. Here for 2 nights then off to Maine for a couple of nights and then who knows where. Back on Friday week, Ford Focus is nice for what it is, but the engine is really poor and Budget/Avis were a pain today. Waited nearly 45 minutes to get my car and I HATE waiting.
Just driven from Boston into the woods of Vermont and have found a nice boutique hotel in the woodlands around Stowe. Here for 2 nights then off to Maine for a couple of nights and then who knows where. Back on Friday week, Ford Focus is nice for what it is, but the engine is really poor and Budget/Avis were a pain today. Waited nearly 45 minutes to get my car and I HATE waiting.
Where did you go? LensCrafters?
I'm planning on driving around New England in a few weeks, via upstate NY then up to Acadia National Park. Nothing really planned yet though, I should get on it!