Roaming in the US

aisling0800 · 14-01-2022 9:08pm #1

I'm planning on travelling to Los Angeles in the summer. I wanted to use the GPS on my Android smartphone but remembered those horrible roaming charges. I know the EU got rid of them so roaming in another EU country is like domestic roaming however what about the U.S.?

I'm also planning on using the 'Vodafone X' plan if that makes any difference. Would I incur further charges since it's already been paid for a month?

Atlantic Dawn · 14-01-2022 9:13pm

Vodafone Red Roaming gives you 200mb a day in US for €2.99 a day, this would not last long on Google Maps in a car. Are you going to be travelling by car or do you just need city maps? You can download the entire map of the area you want and your phone can view it offline without needing data...

https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6291838?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid

ted1 · 14-01-2022 9:16pm

Get a local SIM. If your phone does not take 2 Sims. Buy a cheap one that you can use as a hotspot and turn roaming off.

northknife · 18-01-2022 3:29pm

Was there a couple of years ago for couple of weeks and used Red Pocket mobile.

Was about $10/month

aisling0800 · 18-01-2022 6:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118495297#Comment_118495297

Is it like T-Mobile? Did you purchase it here on in the States?

Glaceon · 18-01-2022 6:44pm

I still have one of the legacy Vodafone plans that gives me “like home” roaming in the US for €2.99 per day, including data. I just used it over Christmas. 200MB isn’t much use!

northknife · 19-01-2022 10:55am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118496374#Comment_118496374

Got it delivered to the address I was in for first few days. If that's not possible for you try and see if they will deliver it here. Otherwise just try phone shop over there and see what offers they have when you explain your situation.

aisling0800 · 19-01-2022 3:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118498904#Comment_118498904

And did the plan allow you to roam with Google Maps turned on?

northknife · 19-01-2022 8:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118500672#Comment_118500672

Didn't use the data much, just calls and texts. It's gone up a bit since. Here is the link :

https://www.redpocket.com/plans

Charles Babbage · 22-01-2022 3:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118496409#Comment_118496409

200MB is no use for video streaming or the like, but will send a lot of Whatsapps. Even Google maps, if you download the maps in advance on wifi, does not use that much and you should download the maps anyway as you may not have a signal.

Charles Babbage · 22-01-2022 4:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118517609#Comment_118517609

Apparently, Google maps on Android uses about 5MB per hour driving if maps are downloaded.

https://ting.com/blog/how-much-data-does-google-maps-use/

I used Google maps in California downloaded easily within the 200MB/day.

And in the US you do go to national parks etc,and there will not be signal. Even there is a signal will your phone and your mobile provider receive it?

aisling0800 · 22-01-2022 4:28pm

Can Google Maps work without credit for mobile data so long as you download the maps?

How does that actually work?

Charles Babbage · 22-01-2022 5:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118517746#Comment_118517746

Yes, it will work, it will show your position and provide routes, especially if the route has been entered in advance. But it does not have real time traffic information to update your arrival time.

Try it. Download Ireland and turn off the data.

Before going on hols always download the relevant maps!

Roaming in the US

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