Can you get coverage where you're going? Note that voice and high-speed data coverage are not the same things.

Unlimited everything will cost you, probably in the range of $100 a month. I'm not even sure Metro has a data plan.

Ask yourself what you do on the road as far as data is concerned. If you're checking e-mail once in a while, or watching movies makes a big difference. If you're a sparse user, a limited data plan can cost a bit less.

Get a phone that allows you to turn that phone into it's own "hot spot" for a wi-fi equipped computer. This is handy, and if you play your cards right, might even allow you to scrap whatever internet hookup you have at home. Several brands have this function.

There are websites that compare plans. Here's one of them.

My family uses Verizon, but only my daughter has a smartphone with a data plan.