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Calling Italy when In Italy and Venice WIFI question

We need to call our host when we arrive in Venice. I will use Whattsapp via wifi. How please do I enter this phone in my cell from a US cell? Any further suggestions? Is there free wifi in Venice St Lucia station please?

Here are the directions

Please call 0039 345 588 27 35 or +39 345 588 27 35 with an International phone or 345 588 27 35 when using an Italian/Public phone.

Posted by
32517 posts

when your host gave their WhatsApp number it will have been in the for +39 and numbers. The 39 is the country code for Italy and the "+" is for an international number, like your US number is +1 and numbers. Just enter the +39xxxxxxxxxx like any other contact.

I don't know if there is free wifi at Venice SL . Have you looked on the station webpage?

Posted by
32517 posts

The Man in Seat 61 says that wifi is available at the lounges.

If you arrive on Italo trains you can use the Italo lounge.

First class lounges & WiFi: Trenitalia has a first class lounge (Freccia Club, with free WiFi) on the inner concourse near platform 13, but only for passengers in Executive class, or holding certain Trenitalia loyalty cards. Italo has a small Casa Italo with seating and free WiFi for all classes of Italo passenger near platform 14, but there's no Club class Italo lounge in Venice. The best place to wait for your train may well be the upstairs seating area above the food court near the outer concourse.

Posted by
76 posts

Ty all we take Trenitalia not Italo

Nigel, we have some premier cards that allow us to access airport clubs. We have regular trains not first class.

Posted by
378 posts

I will use Whattsapp via wifi. How please do I enter this phone in my cell from a US cell

iphone or android?

  1. Open whatsapp
  2. Log in, or make an account if you haven't yet
  3. Tap the "New Message" button
  4. Select "New Contact"
  5. Add the +39 number
Posted by
1880 posts

Are you sure the person you are calling is on WhatsApp? If they are not, you won’t be able to call them if only you are using the app. I’d double check with them before you plan to call this way. If they are using a land line, this won’t work, they will have to be on a mobile phone.

Posted by
467 posts

I would always have a backup plan with your phone if for some reason WhatsApp is not working for you. We used it often on our trip but sometimes it did not go through or service was spotty. We didn’t do the SIM card but did the Verizon plan

Posted by
32517 posts

you should have - even on Trenitalia if you jump through their hoops - wifi on the train. Send them a WhatsApp from the train as you pass through Mestre and you'll be in Venezia Santa Lucia within 10 minutes - all you have to do is cross the causeway and you're there. No trying to get station wifi.

Posted by
258 posts

Also, input all the Italian phone numbers into your Whatsapp before you leave for your trip. Makes life much easier. You got this!

Posted by
15041 posts

After you install WhatsApp on your phone, make sure also that your family contacts in the US have it, because you will be conversing with them via WhatsApp as well. Test with your contacts before you leave, so that you are familiar with it. Also before you leave send a message to your host in Italy and ask them to reply or even call them. It will appear in your chat and will stay there for you, so it’s easy to go back and add a message. If worse comes to worst you can always place a regular call from your phone when you arrive, however expect to pay up to $2 a minute.