Cell phones

Thomas, Renting a cell phone is often one of the most expensive options. Hopefully you don't dispose of the phone at the end of your trip, as the rental company will be upset. To answer your question, YES, you can buy an inexpensive PAYG phone in Italy. However, I've heard that it's now necessary to have a Codice Fiscale (local tax number) and registration with your Passport will be required. When is this trip taking place? Which airport are you arriving at? You could also obtain a cell from one of the "travel phone" firms here, and that way you'd have a working phone as soon as you step off the plane. By the time you collect your luggage and clear Passport control, I suspect it will be somewhat past 20:30, so most cell shops will be closed. Good luck and happy travels!

The phone shop will generate a Coda Fiscale for you using the info from your passport. In fact you can DIY in advance (we have done so much to the surprise of the sales assistant!) but it only duplicates what the phone shop does.

You certainly can buy a cell phone in Italy. But if this call to your rental agent is the only time you will need a cell phone there, consider seeing if you can use your US phone. It will cost about $1-$1.50 per minute, which is more expensive than the €0.10-0.25 per minute you will pay with an Italian cell phone. However, since a basic Italian phone costs about €25-30, it's only worth getting if you will be making more calls, or if you intend to use it again on other trips. For just a few calls, sticking with your US phone is easier and cheaper - provided, of course, that your phone will work in Italy in the first place (nowadays, many do, but of course not all do). Who is your US carrier, and what model of phone do you have?