Best option for cell phone/3G use in the US?

[killswitch1968]

I am a heavy Android phone user under Bell. I use my phone for everything and most of my vacation is planned out on the phone & online. It would be really nice to be able to use the phone in the states for looking up addresses/places/restaurants etc. when not in a WiFi zone.
I looked up my Bell plan to see what they would charge for an add-on for roaming and the prices are obscene (attached).

Is there any cheap way to do this or should I just leave the phone on airplane mode :(

http://i.imgur.com/QMePn.png

https://imgur.com/QMePn

[dragon_drift]

Unlock the phone and use at&t's $25 for 500mb?

[ceredon]

Unlock the phone and use at&t's $25 for 500mb?
New AT&T policies requires that you need to have a minimum $25 voice plan to get data on prepaid. So, no longer a really cost effective option (though still better than roaming). If the phone is AWS compatible, TMobile's $2 and $3/day plans give unlimited calling, texting and data ($2 is 3G, $3 is LTE, I think). Even if the phone isn't AWS, the $2/day plan would give you edge speeds, which is better than no data at all and far cheaper than AT&T's with their new restrictions.

[bvit6667]

Here is a thread that discusses, in great detail, options for using cell phones in the U.S.

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/usa-roaming-t-mobile-t-roam-mobility-coupon-9-95-off-your-plan-purchase-1143847/

T-Mobile has a $3 a day plan that provides unlimited talk and text (to the U.S.) and unlimited data (the first 200MB per day at 4G - if your phone can do this on their network). You can pick up a sim card for your unlocked phone at one of their stores in the U.S. or get one on eBay if you have time before you go. There are a variety of options (Google Voice, several free texting apps) etc. that can make it free (or very close to it) to text / talk back to Canada.

I've used Roam Mobility (which uses T-Mobile) and T-Mobile directly but my phone could only do 2G on their system.

There are many differing opinions as to what is the best option - a lot depends on what suits your particular needs.