Landing in the USA: The Smart Way to Get Mobile Data Before You Even Board

You’ve arranged the flights, the hotel and the road trip! Then you arrive at a large airport, your phone doesn’t have a signal, and you realize you didn’t figure out how to get online. A lot of first time visitors experience this. A Holafly USA eSIM eliminates that issue before you even make it to your destination, which means you’ll be connected as soon as you arrive.

How it works, what you can expect throughout this big nation and how to be in it without paying too much.

The Real Cost of Winging It

Visitors to the U.S. are not paying low prices for mobile data. If you’re following along with your home plan, international roaming fees can quickly climb if you’re using maps, rideshare apps and video calls on a daily basis. There are some carriers that provide passes for travel each day, but these can cost more per day than a good lunch.

Another classic one is a local prepaid SIM. It does work, but you’ll have to go to the store, stand in the line, and use a plastic card you will soon forget about. Using only public wi-fi is also dangerous: airport and cafe wi-fi hotspots are slow and insecure.

How a Travel eSIM Rewrites the Routine

eSIM is a software-based SIM card that is embedded inside the phone. No additional items to place or transport. Purchase online, get a QR code via email and tap it into your phone. Your regular SIM card will remain in place, so you do not have to purchase a SIM card for calls and texts and can keep the same one as the eSIM does the data.

The steps are as follows:

1. Choose the number of days you will be in the USA.
2. Use the app to install the eSIM at home (automatic installation on iOS and iPadOS 17.4 or later) or use the QR code to install it at home. Requires Internet connection.
3. Turn it on once it lands and activate the data roaming on this line. When the eSIM is properly configured, you are connected without additional costs.

Prior to purchase, check your phone’s compatibility with eSIM and ensure it is carrier unlocked. Most of the newer iPhones, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixels do.

What Coverage Looks Like Across the States

It can be used throughout the 50 states on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks so you don’t have to change anything as you drive from one state to another. Strong connection in crowded areas like Times Square, Central Park or Hollywood with 5G in areas where it’s available, and 4G/LTE in other areas, subject to local network availability.

But America is large and the terrain shifts rapidly. Signals may be intermittent in certain areas, such as deserts, mountains and long highways outside of towns. In fact, some places in the Grand Canyon are well-known. For trips where you are going to national parks or a long drive, download off-line maps beforehand and have a general idea of how you want to route your trip.

What you’ll get with Holafly

A lot of travel plans have a hard and fast data volume. Holafly offers unlimited data for the whole period of your arrangement, which means you can stream, navigate and video call without following a data counter. A few additional notes:

1. Share up to 1GB/day with other devices via hotspot sharing. A 7 day plan is available and allows you up to 7 GB to share.
2. Always On: all eSIMs come with 1 GB per month of backup data in 150+ countries, whether you remove the eSIM or not.
3. Help is available 24/7 both by chat or e-mail, in case of any installation difficulties.
4. Back to 6 months of a refund in cases of cancellation, incompatibility or connection issues. Refunds are subject to a policy, so please inquire.
5. Contacts and chats remain just as they are, with the same WhatsApp number.

One caveat: It is a data plan only. It does not provide you with a U.S. phone number or regular calls and text messages. Call on WhatsApp, FaceTime or other internet based apps.

What Will It Cost?

The prices are based on the duration of your trip, and longer trips are cheaper daily. The listed prices are currently about $11.90 for 3 days, $27.50 for 7 days, $50.50 for 15 days and $73.90 for 30 days, and plans can run anywhere from 1 to 90 days. A person with a partner or family should have their own eSIM if travelling with a partner or family and having their own phone. Please refer to the product page for the latest price before purchasing.

A Quick Start-up Guide for a Smooth Start

• Install prior to flight. Do it at home on Wi-Fi to avoid shocks at the airport.
• Have the QR code on hand. If something goes wrong, print out or get a copy on another device.
• Once you have landed, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line.
• Don’t leave roaming on without checking with your primary carrier, or you could end up paying for it.
• Never reinstall or transfer it. The eSIM will only be installed once and will be lost if you change phone or delete it.
• Think about the route. If you’re travelling to Canada or Mexico too, then a North American regional plan might be easier than multiple eSIMs.

Buying From Abroad Is Fine

Purchase can be made outside of the United States. Online purchases in the country and the eSIM is sent by e-mail immediately to travelers from Canada, UK and other countries. The only limitation is that these eSIMs are meant for travel purposes, meaning that they won’t be used for day-to-day communications in your home country.

A Few Ways to Save

When you are on the road you can easily forget to include mobile data in your trip budget, but it could be one of the stealthiest expenses. Look at the roaming cost, local SIM and eSIM and don’t forget to factor in the time saved by eliminating store hunting. Match the length of the plan to your actual dates as the additional days will be wasted.

Final Thoughts

The best trips are those in which tech remains in the background. A Holafly USA eSIM frees you up from connection hassles in a matter of minutes before you leave, so you can get on the road. Confirm that your mobile phone is compatible, select the duration of the trip, install eSIM and have the best of it.