Phone Calls & Internet in Florida, USA
Actually, you don’t necessarily want to be reachable or disturbed while on vacation. But you also don’t want to be completely cut off from the outside world. Florido gives you tips on how to best make phone calls in case of need and, of course, how to access your Florida Scout via internet.
Mobile with Phone & Internet in Florida
Basically, you don’t necessarily need a phone card and certainly not expensive roaming charges to be “mobile” in the USA. Almost every shop, restaurant, public facility, airport, and hotels as well as vacation homes offer free Wi-Fi. Nevertheless, it can sometimes be important to be able to make a quick phone call or be reachable at any time.
If, as on a boat or in remote areas, no Wi-Fi is available, a prepaid card can be a great relief. It’s very easy to equip yourself with a local SIM card on site, which is now also available as an eSIM. You can get these in large supermarkets, pharmacy chains like Walgreens or CVS, in convenience stores like 7-Eleven, and of course in the specialty stores of network operators.
Prices vary depending on the provider and data volume. For example, T-Mobile offers a 30-day plan with 10 GB of data for 40 USD or unlimited data for 50 USD. For as little as 10 USD, you can get a SIM card that must be registered online before use. After that, you’ll receive the phone number via SMS. If you want to be on the safe side or don’t want to waste time during your vacation, you can also equip yourself with a US SIM card in Germany for slightly higher costs. Some providers allow pre-activation, so the card is ready for use immediately upon arrival.
Landline Same as Mobile Area Code
In the USA, there are no separate area codes for mobile networks, but landline numbers. There is no price difference between mobile or landline calls. With prepaid cards, you also pay for incoming calls if there is no flat rate. An annoyance is that new phone numbers often receive advertising calls. You should not accept these, however, the remaining credit can shrink slightly due to spam calls.
Dual SIM and eSIM as Alternatives
Modern smartphones often support dual SIM or eSIM functions. This means you can keep your German number and use a US number at the same time. This saves changing the physical SIM card and allows for more flexible use of data and telephony abroad.
Don’t Forget Adapters
In the USA, the mains voltage is 120 volts with a frequency of 60 Hz, while in Europe 230 volts at 50 Hz is common. Most modern electronic devices are designed for this voltage range, but you should check this before your trip. A travel plug adapter for the type A and B sockets common in the USA is required. If you forget it, you can find suitable adapters in the same shops where prepaid cards are sold.
Our Experience with Internet in Florida
We always made calls with WhatsApp under Wi-Fi. We still bought a prepaid card for boat trips. We never used up the credit, but it was reassuring to know that we could be reached and mobile in case of emergency.