Here’s a modern truth: your phone is your lifeline. Unlock your device before you leave—check with your carrier. A locked phone in the US is like trying to order a decaf coffee in a Portland hipster café: possible, but painful.
Buy a local SIM or an eSIM once you land. T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon are the big players. For a 30-day trip, a prepaid plan with 10GB of data costs around $30–$40. Pro tip: download Google Maps offline for your destination city. Cell service can get patchy in national parks or on that endless stretch of I-10 in Texas.
