Travel guide
Best Internet for Tourists in the USA
A clear pick for most UK trips to the USA: what to choose for New York, Florida and road trips - and how to set it up before you land.
For most UK tourists, the best internet option in the USA is a prepaid travel eSIM. It is the fastest to set up, keeps spend predictable, and works well for city breaks, theme parks, and business travel.
Recommended: prepaid eSIM
- Instant setup: install on WiFi before flying; connect on landing.
- Predictable spend: prepaid data avoids day-pass accumulation.
- Hotspot: useful for laptops and sharing with family (device-dependent).
- Keep your UK number: keep your main SIM for SMS/OTP and calls.
When to consider other options
- Roaming: OK for 1-2 days when convenience beats cost.
- Local SIM: OK for long stays where you want a US number (requires store visit).
- WiFi only: OK if you never leave your hotel and do not rely on rideshares/navigation.
Setup tips that prevent issues
- Install the eSIM before the flight while you are on WiFi.
- Set the eSIM as the data line and enable data roaming for that eSIM profile.
- Keep your primary SIM for calls/SMS and avoid turning off your UK line if you need OTP codes.
How much data do you need in the USA?
- Light: maps + messaging → ~1–3 GB/week.
- Typical holiday: maps + socials + bookings + photos → ~3–10 GB for 7–14 days.
- Hotspot / work: tethering + video calls → 10 GB+ (or a fair-use plan).
Theme park tip: queue apps and photo uploads can spike usage. Keep app updates and cloud backups on Wi‑Fi only.
Two-minute phone setup to avoid bill shock
- Keep your UK SIM active for calls/SMS, but disable mobile data on that line.
- Use the eSIM as your data line; enable data roaming for that eSIM profile if required.
- Disable app updates and cloud photo backups on mobile data.
- Download offline maps for the airport–hotel route and your road-trip segments.
Road trips and national parks: plan for dead zones
Mobile coverage is strong in major US cities, but it is not continuous on long highway stretches and in many national parks. If you will be driving, treat offline access as part of your setup rather than a last‑minute fix.
- Save your hotel address and key stops (parks, trailheads, stations) as favourites.
- Download offline map areas for the regions you will visit.
- Keep a power bank in the car: navigation + hotspot drains battery quickly.
If the eSIM does not connect
- Toggle airplane mode and reboot once.
- Confirm the eSIM is selected for mobile data.
- Try manual network selection (pick another partner network).
- Double-check APN settings from the activation email.