If you're in charge of booking your US rooms, then you would likely make sure that the hotel has the WiFi perk. Then you're golden. Roaming data charges suck no matter what you have. I have an iPhone, and I rarely use the phone part of it. I'd be happy if I didn't have to get a cellphone plan and just get a data plan. If I need a phone, I just have to ask the person beside me if I can make a call. It's a very very handy device for daily mobile internet access and apps. The GPS/mapping feature comes in very handy.