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.