A summer with grandchildren in Texas, a semester visiting a partner in Boston, a season of work at a ski resort in Colorado: some trips to the US are measured in months, not days. Renewing a phone plan every 30 days for that long is one more thing to remember. A three month prepaid phone plan or a six month bundle lets you pay once at the start of your stay and stop thinking about renewal dates until it is almost time to fly home.
Questions to Ask Before You Choose
- How long are you staying? Three month bundles suit a single season. Six month bundles suit a semester, a long family visit or a winter escape from colder weather.
- How do you use your phone at home? Your monthly data use at home is the best guide to what you will use in the US. Check it in your phone settings before you pick a tier.
- Will you share your connection? If a laptop or tablet will join through your phone, pick a tier with room to spare.
- Who will you call? Every bundle here includes unlimited nationwide talk and text and calls and texts to 100 countries, so staying in touch with home is covered on every tier.
What Paying Up Front Costs
Here are the five data tiers on both terms, with the standard bundle price and the current promo price, which is what you pay today for the whole period.
| Data per month | 3 months, standard | 3 months, now | 6 months, standard | 6 months, now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8GB | $69 | $21 | $138 | $78 |
| 15GB | $87 | $30 | $174 | $96 |
| 18GB | $99 | $30 | $198 | $120 |
| 25GB | $117 | $45 | $234 | $132 |
| Unlimited Plus | $147 | $45 | $294 | $168 |
A few patterns stand out. On the three month term, 15GB and 18GB currently cost the same $30, so the larger allowance is the natural choice. In the same way, 25GB and Unlimited Plus both cost $45, which makes unlimited data the easy pick for anyone leaning towards the bigger tiers. On the six month term, the promo prices are lower than the standard ones on every tier, but the gap between tiers is wider, so it pays to choose carefully. Paying for the full stay up front also means a 6 month prepaid plan will never lapse because a top-up was forgotten.
Five Bundles Worth a Closer Look
Using the table above, these are the extended stay phone plans that offer the most for each type of visit.
18GB for three months, now $30. The standout for a single season. At $10 a month in effect, it gives a visitor room for maps, video calls home and everyday streaming. It is the sensible default for a summer with family.
Unlimited Plus for three months, now $45. For $15 a month in effect, unlimited data removes any need to count gigabytes during a busy season of sightseeing or seasonal work.
15GB for six months, now $96. A comfortable middle ground for a semester or a winter stay, at $16 a month in effect for half a year of service.
25GB for six months, now $132. More room for streaming and occasional hotspot use, suited to students and visitors who work remotely for part of their stay.
Unlimited Plus for six months, now $168. The choice for the heaviest users, at $28 a month in effect, with no need to think about data for half a year.
Settling In for the Long Stay
Living somewhere for months is different from a holiday. These habits make the most of a long-term bundle.
- Save your new US number with your bank, doctor’s office and school or employer, so codes and appointment reminders reach you.
- Set a calendar reminder for a week before your bundle ends, so you can renew or switch if your stay is extended.
- Check your data use after the first month and remember the figure, so you can pick the right tier if you return next year.
- Choose eSIM activation if your phone supports it, so your home SIM can stay in the phone for messages from home.
The Takeaway
For a season, the three month bundles offer the strongest value right now, with 18GB or Unlimited Plus at $30 or $45 for the whole period. For a semester or a long winter stay, the six month bundles take renewals off your mind for half a year. Choose the term that matches your stay and enjoy a long stay phone plan for US visitors paid in one go.
Every bundle above is offered by Lyca Mobile. Making the most of a longer stay? Find weekend escapes and local experiences on Onthevacation.
