Any updated tips since https://www.cheapies.nz/node/48631
Visiting SF, LA, Vegas, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver soon.
For data, hoping to use T-Mobile and others who a trial.
Looking for advice on other similar trials for services, discounts, and general cheapie hacks?
Ticket prices for tourist spots are insane, so will be grateful for any hacks around it.
Keen to buy clothes, electronics, and maybe some specialized home and kitchen stuff not available or overpriced here.
No GST in Portland. Make sure you check elsewhere as GST (sales tax) is usually excluded from listed prices. If doing Amazon shopping, shipping to Portland will likely be the cheapest place to do it.
Amazon Prime shipping is very very quick, we got some camping stuff shipped to the motel we were staying at slightly ahead of time, the motel was happy to hang onto it for the day or so it was there.
Not sure if you're visiting any National Parks but I found the camping facilities to be excellent and much cheaper than motels. State Parks can vary but the popular ones tend to have good facilities also. Much like NZ and unsurpsingly, most of the natural attractions are far cheaper than anything run by a business.
We were in Seattle and Vancouver recently. The NZD is terrible. If you pay $x in NZ then you'll generally pay $x in USD i.e. it'll cost you double. Clothes were the one thing that was ok if you shopped around.
Might be worth checking out SlickDeals
US version of cheapies, website is a bit of a mess though. Might be more good stuff in the forum section, I believe discounted GCs are a thing in the US as well.
I had a pain trying to get a SIM activated in USA with a NZ credit card. If you are meeting friend/family ask them to get it for before you arrive.
did you try the trial plan from T-Mobile, etc. that don't need a CC?
No, I can't remember who it was. But it was one of the carriers that has retail stores. I bought the SIM, took it back to the hotel, on their WiFi it was not activating online. And then I was on the phone for over an hour trying to get it sorted. They had issues using a credit card with an over seas billing address.
If I was going again, personally I'd get an eSIM.
If you're flying out of Auckland Airport, you can buy an esim from the Auckland Airport mall online.
We found it the cheapest option by far (comparing the usual esim providers). Really easy to activate.
Just be aware that because there's no app, you'll have to manually track your data usage (using your phone's data usage manager). You also can't top up the esim. And it's data only.
I use Tello for unlimited data gives you a US phone number and unlimited data. I paid $11usd looks like its $15 atm.
Big one is to get a Wise card if you don't have one already!