US / Canada Sim (Not eSIM) Options?

tunzafun001 on 05/05/2024 - 19:41

My parents are heading to Canada on Wednesday (for a week), then into the US for 2 weeks.

I recommend they get a Felix Mobile sim. But apparently they found it too confusing. pushing 80…. probably fair enough, it's not straight forward.

Discovered the old man wasted all day trying to find a sim option.

Any tips for a last minute sim?

They don't have an esim phone, and don't have any socials.

Lemon mobile had a good plan, but I don't think you can simply buy a Lemon Mobile sim locally (ie Woolies etc)?

Or should they just get an AT&T or similar sim when they arrive in Canada?

Cheers

Travel Travel SIM Card

Comments

  • djkelly69 on 05/05/2024 - 20:54

    Who is their phone with in Aus? Given how little time there is, might just have to roam and pay through the nose.

  • mdell95 on 05/05/2024 - 20:58

    i used US Mobile you can get the sims on Amazon.
    Uses Tmobiles network

  • freefall101 on 05/05/2024 - 21:16

    Freedom mobile in Canada has really good roaming plans to the US, look into them. Can buy a SIM in most cities (but I don't think in the airport, look at what the sim shop stocks these days, basically easy to buy sim machines in the airport).

    • tunzafun001 on 06/05/2024 - 13:00

      Ummm …does that mean you can or can't buy at Vancouver airport.

      • freefall101 on 06/05/2024 - 13:06

        I was half asleep when I wrote this sorry. I don’t think you can buy Freedom sims at the airport but I only know for Vancouver.

        The Sim Shop sells sims that aren’t Freedom ones at the airport.

  • scrimshaw on 05/05/2024 - 21:25

    You can get T-Mobile SIM cards from sellers on eBay, Amazon. Amazon is your best bet for fast expedited shipping, but read the reviews to make sure it works as advertised in both Canada and the USA.

    It's very easy to purchase SIMS locally when you get there — basically every supermarket, convenience / discount store or chemist will have prepaid sims for you to buy in all kinds of price ranges.

    Just note that phone plans in the US are a little different than plans in Au, some may feature unlimited data but they throttle your speeds to something like 256kbps after a certain threshold.

    • tunzafun001 on 05/05/2024 - 22:41

      Cheers. Yeah I think grabbing a sim while there is the way to go.

      Purely just as a map (data) backup - I installed relevant offline Here Maps on their phones, so should be good to go. So minimal data.
      As for local calls, pure backup.

      Do you know if most providers service both Canada (BC) and the US? or is that only T mobile?

      • scrimshaw on 05/05/2024 - 22:50

        T-Mobile is the only American provider that services both US / Canada. When you get a T-Mobile service SIM card make sure you check the inclusions and that it mentions Canada / Mexico coverage. T-Mobile's coverage in Canada is mostly provided by the Bell/Telus network. It is fairly decent coverage depending on where you are going in Canada, but when you're out in the sticks it's a diff story.

        However since they are landing in Canada first I'd look into getting a canadian SIM and see which of those includes US coverage.

  • tunzafun001 on 05/05/2024 - 23:02

    These Amaysim roaming packs seem pretty good for $25? They are on an Amaysim 365 day plan.

    https://www.amaysim.com.au/international/roaming

    50min calls, 30 texts, 2gb data

    *Just had a look and Canada sims seem expensive. I think a US sim might be better with a Canada add on (if Amaysim doesn't work out)…

    That being said, it might be a currency thing. Ie..US sounds cheaper..but the USD is almost double.

    • tunzafun001 on 06/05/2024 - 12:51

      Looks like if I call them using my 1000 int Boost mins, it will still chew up there 50 mins even just receiving calls?

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