I plan to travel from Boston to London at the end of March for about a week. My phone won't work over there and Verizon has horrible international plans. When I travel I generally rely heavily on my GPS, especially since I'll be utilizing the tube a lot and it is convenient to just use google to visualize the color tube line I need and the stations rather than a paper map. So, I was thinking I would get a cheap android PAYG phone once I land over there. Can anyone tell me if this is a good idea, what phone would work for what I need it for, and where to get one?

you will not need any sort of contract to access gps (it is gps not a phone contract tool), down load "here" app and the map of the uk at a free wifi spot or at home and you are good to go.

If you want cheap PYG buy one from "three.co.uk" their 321 contract is pretty good and then stick their simm in your phone, if.... the phone is unlocked. If not get the phone unlocked before you travel.

If not you need to buy a cheap smart phone, ebay has its uses.

Are carphone warehouse retailers plentiful in the city?

yes there are numerous branches of carphone warehouse all over the UK

put the post code of your hotel in the store finder to see locations

http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/store-locator/

you might get more phone for your money in the US - buy a sim free phone then when you get to the UK get a UK sim from the carphone warehouse

mind you, for navigating the tube nothing beats a paper map and the ever present signage at the stations

I currently have an iPhone through Verizon, I don't think they take SIM cards but I could be wrong. So I could buy a prepaid phone here in the US and just purchase the sim and minutes/data plan over there? Does it matter which carrier it's through?

first, are you sure your iPhone won't work in the UK? it certainly has a SIM, it just needs to be unlocked by your provider if possible, the SIM removed when you get to the UK, then you buy another sim in the UK

many goods are cheaper in the US, which is why I said if you buy a new unlocked phone to buy it there, Of course make sure it works overseas, then all you need do is get a sim from the earphone warehouse when you arrive. They will advise on current offers and providers

Your iPhone should work just fine in the UK, depending on the model. And yes, all phones have SIM cards. Depending on what you want, Verizon has very low cost data in foreign countries - you buy a large amount of data before you go for US$20, I believe it is. If you only want your phone for GPS, no need to buy data.

I'm on a payment plan for my phone so I doubt they will unlock it; I need data to utilize Google maps

>>I need data to utilize Google maps<<

Can you not use Wifi? Hotspots are pretty widely available.

I suppose I could, I just wouldn't want to get into a situation where it wasn't available but maybe that wouldn't even be an issue. Is that's the case I could just shut off the cellular part of my phone and just use wifi

All this to avoid pulling a clear, convenient, small, free tube map from your pocket? What am I missing.

you can use google maps offline

https://support.google.com/gmm/answer/6291838?hl=en-GB

or use a real map - the world doesn't end if you don't have data

Learn to read a simple tube map, you don't need a phone to look at a map.

Thank to everyone who gave me constructive input. As for the rest of you, being condescending and suggesting I don't know how to "read a simple map", stop being so narrow minded.

In fact, the small paper maps, free for the taking, will be easier/clearer to read than a phone screen. Could the issue be unwillingness to acknowledge anything is easier than a tech solution? With only a week, I suggest the OP turn off the device and BE in London.

you can get a sim card for free. just go to any branch of a mobile phone provider and they'll help you.

Hi dominiquejade,

I frequently use google maps without data -- or without constant data. Often when I'm on a walk in the countryside, I'll turn on data for 5 minutes or so to load up google maps and get it started, then I turn off data and take off. The gps doesn't need data, and it will continue to display on google map for an hour or so (with the marker moving along the map as it should). Sometimes I'll have to turn on data for another 5 minutes every hour or so, so that the maps app can re-orient. I do that to save data --

have fun as you plan!

s

dominiquejade you can pick up a small, cheap, unlocked android phone at most supermarkets for around £60. An Example would be tge Huawei Y3. It's not going to win prizes for style or build quality, but it will do pretty much anything you would want of a smartphone unless you are addicted to graphics intensive gaming.

The reason for choosing "here" is you don't need data whatsoever once the map is loaded. You don't need a SIM even. Basically it will keep working until your battery is empty.

Yes your phone will have a SIM

paper maps, I once went on a tramp with a BA logistics planner and discovered that she could not read a map!!

It is a skill and I can understand that today you don't need to learn it.

Excellent, so maybe data won't be a problem after all!
Yes, a cheap basic one is all I wanted but I'm thinking I may be able to use mine after all these suggestion. !
Side note:
It isn't my intention to waste my week in London with my head stuck in a phone. By looking at a "simple tube map" I cannot tell WHERE attractions are and I don't know which line to take to get to where I want to be. I have grown up in a town of 600 people, 7 hours away from the nearest city that utilizes a tube aka subway. Goodness, forgive me for wanting some extra security when navigating unknown water..