I recently had a three week trip to the States and wanted to take my iPhone 4s with me. Getting a local SIM would let me keep in touch with home using Skype as well as have access to the net and location services. I wasn't too bothered about being able to make calls but it would be useful for calling ahead and confirming our accommodation.
After a bit of research I ended up with the choice of AT&T or T-Mobile who both use the rest-of-the-world standard GSM system. I was in New York and would be touring around New England, up into Northern Vermont and across to Maine before working my way back down the coast to New York so I needed a service with decent coverage outside the main metro areas.
After a visit to to Grand Central Station, we went first to the T-Mobile store on Lexington Avenue. Yes they could give me a pre-paid plan for $50 with voice and data but the guy insisted that I had to go to the Apple Store to get the phone activated. I knew this was rubbish as it could be done with any wireless connection so we went down Lexington to the AT&T store where the service was excellent. A guy called Gerard activated my phone with the wireless hotspot from his phone and added some software and an additional profile to enable the phone to connect to the AT&T network (apparently it works slightly differently over there). Within a minute I was connected up and ready to go. I signed up for a $25 voice plan which gave me something like 250 minutes plus 2GB of data for $50. Slightly more expensive than T-Mobile but working in minutes.
I have to say that I never had a single problem with phone reception all the way around New England. The only problem I had was near the Canadian border where I received a message from Rogers Telecom telling me that data was charged at $12 per MB. I took the SIM out until I was out of range!
On returning to Australia, I deleted the AT&T profile, put the Optus SIM back in and was back on the Optus network without a hitch.
So, I would certainly recommend AT&T for coverage (in New England) and service.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
Tripadvisor - 10/10
We spent a long time researching the trip and looking for accommodation. We'd thought about travelling and stopping on a whim when we found somewhere we liked, but in the end decided to pre-book everything. This turned out to be a particularly good idea for the last week which is one of the biggest vacation weeks in the States.
We used Tripadvisor for advise on hotels and B&Bs and their recommendations were spot on. We did book one Inn based on a recommendation in a Fodor's Guide which was good but not up to the standard of the Tripadvisor recommendations. Each of the recommendations had plenty of reviews so we were confident that they were accurate. I'd have been a bit more careful if they'd only had a couple of reviews.
While we were travelling, we also used it to check restaurants and again, the reviews were accurate and helpful in choosing somewhere to eat.
So, if you're booking a holiday, I'd recommend checking Tripadvisor first.
We used Tripadvisor for advise on hotels and B&Bs and their recommendations were spot on. We did book one Inn based on a recommendation in a Fodor's Guide which was good but not up to the standard of the Tripadvisor recommendations. Each of the recommendations had plenty of reviews so we were confident that they were accurate. I'd have been a bit more careful if they'd only had a couple of reviews.
While we were travelling, we also used it to check restaurants and again, the reviews were accurate and helpful in choosing somewhere to eat.
So, if you're booking a holiday, I'd recommend checking Tripadvisor first.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Casino Night
One of the services offered by the hotel in Norwich was a shuttle bus to the nearby casino, the Mohegan Sun, on the Mohegan Indian Reservation. The aim was to have a look around and get something to eat.
The casino was huge with upscale shops, restaurant, hotel and a sports/entertainment arena. In addition, in the middle of a circular gaming floor, was another entertainment area. That night, Javier Colon was performing. I'd not heard of him but he had a great voice - not surprising as he won America's version of The Voice last year.
The casino was huge with upscale shops, restaurant, hotel and a sports/entertainment arena. In addition, in the middle of a circular gaming floor, was another entertainment area. That night, Javier Colon was performing. I'd not heard of him but he had a great voice - not surprising as he won America's version of The Voice last year.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Massachusetts to Connecticut via Rhode Island
We made our usual 9.30 start after the usual massive breakfast that the B&Bs offer (it saves buying lunch as they sustain you all day!).
It was mostly freeway over the Cape Cod Canal (I'd never heard of it but it's the major traffic bottleneck to the Cape with only two bridges) through Massachusetts but once we hit Rhode Island we reverted to standard roads.
We'd been advised to stop in Newport RI and to head for the well-signposted visitor centre. As we neared the town centre, we wondered why every open space had a hand-written sign offering all day parking for $15-20.
We found the visitor information centre and parked behind it. It was 86 degrees.
Inside, we found out why parking was at a premium - it was the final day of the 2012 America's Cup. I had no idea it was on.
We decided to have a walk along the harbour before heading down Belleville Avenue to see the summer mansions built by the rich in the late 19th - early 20th centuries.
I don't think I've ever seen so many boats in one place. We had a look around and had a cooling drink before heading back to the car and going to see the mansions.
A lot of them are now open to the public but we just had a look at a few from the street.
Then back to the car, over the Claiborne Pell Suspension Bridge ($4) over the Sound, a drive down to Narangasett to have a look (the beach was packed) and on to Norwich Connecticut. The only surprise was that we didn't see a sign informing us we'd crossed into a new state.
It was mostly freeway over the Cape Cod Canal (I'd never heard of it but it's the major traffic bottleneck to the Cape with only two bridges) through Massachusetts but once we hit Rhode Island we reverted to standard roads.
We'd been advised to stop in Newport RI and to head for the well-signposted visitor centre. As we neared the town centre, we wondered why every open space had a hand-written sign offering all day parking for $15-20.
We found the visitor information centre and parked behind it. It was 86 degrees.
Inside, we found out why parking was at a premium - it was the final day of the 2012 America's Cup. I had no idea it was on.
We decided to have a walk along the harbour before heading down Belleville Avenue to see the summer mansions built by the rich in the late 19th - early 20th centuries.
I don't think I've ever seen so many boats in one place. We had a look around and had a cooling drink before heading back to the car and going to see the mansions.
A lot of them are now open to the public but we just had a look at a few from the street.
Then back to the car, over the Claiborne Pell Suspension Bridge ($4) over the Sound, a drive down to Narangasett to have a look (the beach was packed) and on to Norwich Connecticut. The only surprise was that we didn't see a sign informing us we'd crossed into a new state.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Island Touring
It was another hot day on Cape Cod. The temperature was in the eighties and we spent the day on Martha's Vineyard.
The ferry from Falmouth dropped us in Oak Bluffs where we were immediately besieged with people touting tours, bike, scooter and car hire.
I was a bit uncertain about hiring a scooter and double-checked - yes it was safe, there are no KFCs on the island. It was still pretty expensive so we ended up hiring a Mini Cooper Cabriolet for not a lot more.
The scooters didn't have a lot of power, we got held up several times as cars queued up behind a slow moving scooter.
We got down to the opposite end of the island to see the lighthouse at Gays Head and they were setting up for a wedding there. What a perfect day for it.
After touring round the island, we got the 5.30 ferry back to Falmouth, and back at the B&B had a shower then sat out I the garden with a cold beer as the sun went down. We'd bought a 4-pack of Dubbel from the Allegash Brewery in Portland so had a couple of those.
The ferry from Falmouth dropped us in Oak Bluffs where we were immediately besieged with people touting tours, bike, scooter and car hire.
I was a bit uncertain about hiring a scooter and double-checked - yes it was safe, there are no KFCs on the island. It was still pretty expensive so we ended up hiring a Mini Cooper Cabriolet for not a lot more.
The scooters didn't have a lot of power, we got held up several times as cars queued up behind a slow moving scooter.
We got down to the opposite end of the island to see the lighthouse at Gays Head and they were setting up for a wedding there. What a perfect day for it.
After touring round the island, we got the 5.30 ferry back to Falmouth, and back at the B&B had a shower then sat out I the garden with a cold beer as the sun went down. We'd bought a 4-pack of Dubbel from the Allegash Brewery in Portland so had a couple of those.
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