Help with activating unlocked iPhone 4S

[Menonem]

Ok,
I currently live in Costa Rica (I'm a US citizen btw) where the nationwide cellular network is ICE. This Christmas, I will be going to the US for 2 weeks to meet up and spend time with relatives.
I plan on buying an unlocked iPhone 4S 16GB from Apple. And I would like to use it while I'm in the US. The only problem is how would I use it? How would I activate and use it like normal (minus phone) without a SIM card from ICE? Also, there would be no wi-fi in the house that I'll be staying at.

How would I activate and use an iPhone 4S without a SIM or wi-fi?

Other stuff:
I will be bringing my laptop, so i there's any software like hacktivation/jailbreaking software i could bring with me, ill use it.

I can goto a local library for my internet stuff. But not often.

Can i go to an Apple store to explain my situation and have them activate it for me?

Ive never owned a cellphone, yet alone an iPhone so i dont know how all this stuff works.

 

[miles01110]

You have to buy a SIM and activate it on some carrier.

 

[Menonem]

You have to buy a SIM and activate it on some carrier.

Well i DO have a cellphone here in Costa Rica with a number and all. but i rarely use it.
Will i have to wait until i return to costa rica to activate it?

 

[eastercat]

Bring your ice sim card. Cut it down if necessary. If you have bought an unlocked phone from Apple, it'll work.
Why are you trying to make this difficult?🙄

 

[Menonem]

Bring your ice sim card. Cut it down if necessary. If you have bought an unlocked phone from Apple, it'll work.
Why are you trying to make this difficult?🙄

Because when it comes to cellphones im a tard.

So i can just bring my ICE SIM card, plug it in and itll work? how can that be if there are no ICE towers in the US?

sorry for the questions, i just wanna be sure i can use it when i go there

 

[Crystal-RX]

If your 4S is unlocked, when you come to the US, you can buy any pre-paid sim card, pop it in and it will work.