We've been looking for a cell phone to use at the beach as we have cells but they are only for local service where we live and don't work anywhere else other than Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville. I've looked at T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. T-Mobile shows coverage all through Alabama, which is how we come, through Birmingham, Montgomery, etc. Wondering what service seems to work the best down there and if anyone uses a prepaid phone plan which is probably the same as Pay as You Go. Thanks.

T-Mobile coverage here is very spotty.

Verizon has the best coverage.
AT&T is pretty good, too.

I concur with Steve. While I was living there 10 years ago, I had Bell South (AT&T) and never had a problem. I've also visited and was broadcasting video over 3G on Verizon from the beach. I did lose the 3G from time to time right on the beach but voice has always worked fine. Never tried T-Mobile down there.

Thanks for the suggestions. Looks like T-Mobile is out and it is down to Verizon and AT&T. We still have time to get a phone, as far as that goes we could buy one down there. Appreciate it.

AT&T always works great for us. We have recorded videos on my phone of our feet in the surf and sent them to our jealous friends back home. No problem

I'm with Verizon and have never had a problem down there, except while inside the condo, but I think that's true of just about any service.

Just get a Tracfone, and pay as you go. They have coverage everywhere, as they use any tower or lines in the available area. I have always had great luck using mine.

I have a tracfone it worked great when i was there in may

We ended up purchasing a LG phone with Verizon, pay as we use it. Worked great everywhere but did lose a few calls upstairs in the condo, other than that was great. Thanks for the suggestions and unfortunately we are now back home, got back last night but got to enjoy 8 days and 9 nights, even though the first 4 days it stayed cloudy/and or rainy and the water was full of June grass through that point but cleared this past Monday night so we had 5 good days of water and better weather. Looking forward to next year.

Glad you got to enjoy some good weather Beach! Hope to see some pics soon?

Didn't take many pictures this time. Didn't go to any of the places where we planned on going so I could take pictures. Mainly just took some pictures of the area where we stayed and the inside of the townhouse we stayed in for a friend who might be interested in renting it for a week, they said they would like to stay somewhere right on the beach. I was under the weather most of the time we were there anyway so that took care of a lot of the things I planned on doing. Was on my second round of antibiotic at that time.