A summer internship in New York, a season working at a ski resort, three months helping family after a new baby arrives: some stays are too long for a travel SIM and too short for a year-long plan. Renewing every 30 days works, but it means three payments and three chances to miss a renewal while you are busy. A 3 month prepaid plan for the USA covers the whole stay with one payment, and costs far less than three months at the standard price.
Below you will find who three-month plans suit, what each one costs, and two price quirks that make certain plans especially good value.
Who a Three-Month Plan Suits
Seasonal workers and interns. Summer jobs, resort seasons and internships often run for about twelve weeks, which lines up neatly with one three-month bundle.
Extended family visits. Parents and grandparents visiting relatives in the US for a long stay get a local number for appointments and errands, plus calls home included.
People between moves. If you have just arrived and are not ready to commit to a year, three months gives you breathing space to see how much data you really use.
Long-haul travellers. Crossing the country over a few months means heavy use of maps, bookings and photo sharing, all of which need a dependable connection.
Three-Month Prices at a Glance
| Monthly data | Standard 3 month total | 3 month price | Works out per 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8GB | $69 | $21 | $7 |
| 15GB | $87 | $30 | $10 |
| 18GB | $99 | $30 | $10 |
| 25GB | $117 | $45 | $15 |
| Unlimited Plus | $147 | $45 | $15 |
Every bundle includes unlimited nationwide talk and text and unlimited international talk and text to 100 countries, so calling home is covered for the whole stay.
Two Sweet Spots Worth Knowing
Look closely at the table and two pairs stand out. The 18GB bundle costs exactly the same $30 as the 15GB bundle, so unless you are certain you will use very little data, the extra 3GB a month comes at no additional cost. The same is true further up: Unlimited Plus is $45 for three months, the same as the 25GB bundle. For the price of a fixed allowance you get unlimited data with full-speed access for the first 50GB each month, making it the standout long stay prepaid plan for anyone who streams, video calls or uses a hotspot.
The 8GB bundle at $21 is the lowest upfront cost, a good fit for visitors who mainly message, check maps and make calls.
Three Months Up Front or Month by Month?
Paying for three 30-day renewals at the standard price would cost $69 for 8GB, $117 for 25GB and $147 for Unlimited Plus, so the bundles save between $48 and $102 over the stay. Even against today’s monthly promos, the bundles usually come out ahead: Unlimited Plus at its $18 monthly promo adds up to $54 over three months, against $45 for the bundle. The one exception right now is the 18GB plan, whose $7.50 monthly promo totals $22.50 over three months, so if that is the allowance you want, the monthly route is worth a look while the offer lasts. For every other allowance, the three month phone plan is the better deal and spares you two renewals.
Making the Most of a Long Stay
- Start the plan the day you arrive. Activating on arrival means your three months match your actual stay.
- Use eSIM if your phone supports it. You can set up a US number without waiting for a card in the post.
- Keep your home number active if you need it. A dual-SIM phone lets you receive bank codes on your home number while using your US line for everything else.
- Make the most of the international minutes. Calls to 100 countries are included, so weekly calls with family abroad add nothing to the bill.
- Staying longer than planned? Six-month and twelve-month bundles are also available, so you can move to a longer bundle when this one ends.
The Takeaway
A three-month bundle turns a long stay into one payment, from $21 for 8GB up to $45 for unlimited data. Choose 18GB for the same price as 15GB, or Unlimited Plus for the same price as 25GB, and enjoy a 90 day phone plan that lasts exactly as long as your stay.
These three-month bundles come from Lyca Mobile. Got a few free weekends during your stay? Look through the US destination guides on HolidayzGuide for short trips worth taking.