Acesssing email in Italy

Depends where you are obviously but in the big cities cafes with desktops are everywhere. In Rome, the computers even had skype installed and the computers had headsets for easy skyping home. Could be the case other places as well but I didn't use the cafes there. Rick's book is generally good about telling people where internet cafes are, even in small villages like the Cinque Terre. It's definitely cheap and easy!

Yep...internet "Cafes" are exactly that....spots with computers on which you rent time. They aren't quite as ubiquitous as they used to be, but there are still plenty around, given a new lease on life by immigrants who use Skype or similar services to call home cheaply. You can click here, here, and here for some websites listing internet cafes in Italy....I don't know how up to date they are, but it should give you a good start. Remember to bring your passport....you can't use a computer at a public internet point unless you have photo ID.

And prices vary widely from town to town. The bigger the city, the lower the cost (usually done in 1/4 hours, if I recall). Only about half the places will actually check your ID. It is Italy, after all. :-)

We've used internet cafes in Monterosso, Siena and Orvieto and each town had more than one. We found them pretty reasonably priced and in Monterosso and Siena the guy gave us a discount for being a return customer. And we've always been asked for our passport.

"Is it cheap and easy to check your email and Facebook, etc..in Italy?"

If you're connected to the Internet in Italy it's just like you're connected to the Internet at home. If you have web-based e-mail (Yahoo mail, Hotmail, gmail, etc.) you just go to the website like always and log in.

If you use an e-mail program at home like Outlook Express, where you download the mail to the computer you're using, away from home you'll need to go to your Internet Service Provider's website and log in to check your mail in the web browser. You might do a trial run before you leave home, to see where to click at your ISP website to check your mail.

As mentioned in a previous post, you'll need to "register" before using a computer in a Net Cafe (it's the law!). I've found some places a bit "relaxed" about the registration, and some more diligent, recording every detail in a small book. I used my Driver's License for I.D. on one occasion, however most of the time they will request a Passport.

Also, one other thing to mention is that the keyboard may be different than what you're used to here in North America. The Italian keyboards aren't too difficult to adapt to (I have MUCH MORE trouble using the French keyboards!).

LOL I second that. The Italian keyboard is different but not so much so that you can't communicate. The French keyboard, on the other hand... Just call home. It will be cheaper because it's quicker!