Cell phone "do's and dont's" in Italy?

Which cell phone carrier do you have? The advice will depend on that. I have Verizon and I set up an international plan in advance. If you use your phone, you are charged $10 per day in most European countries. You can use WiFi for free. Turn your phone to airplane mode before you board the plane and then turn WiFi on when you arrive. Donload any apps you might need before leaving.

Download "what's app". It's free texting. So if you have to text any Italians (rental homes), it makes it free for both of you. Find out from your plan what it will cost, data, texting & calls. That's all I can think of now.

I’ve read from other folks here to download any maps you might need for offline use if you plan to use your phone for navigation.

In your other thread, you say your US provider does not offer service overseas ("international roaming" that is).

Is your phone locked - do you know? That's important to know if you hope to buy a SIM of any sort for the phone and use it in Italy.

Also, what kind of phone is it exactly? Make/model? If it's a newer smart phone, it should work (if unlocked) with a mobile provider in Italy, if you buy a SIM. It will work on WiFI no mater what, though, for free, without any mobile service or SIM.

I find the most helpful benefit of my phone when traveling is for walk-around/public transit navigation. You need mobile service (a SIM card with data) for that. There are some navigation apps that let you download maps offline (while on WiFi), but they aren't as useful as navigating in real time with Google Maps. Last year for example, I was out taking pictures late in Venice. I had about a 30 minute walk back to my hotel...or I could take a vaporetto boat back. But how would I know at this hour which vaporetto to take, when it would leave, from where? I just brought up Google Maps and told it to guide me back to my hotel. It gave me walking directions to a vaporetto stop nearby, where I soon caught a boat back to my hotel. In the past, I would have had to browse the vaporetto schedules, find the stops...or just give up and wind up walking back instead of wasting the time figuring it out. Google Maps navigation has saved me an enormous amount of time with navigation like this vs. fooling with paper maps and bus/train/boat schedules. That's why I find having a SIM and mobile data (not just "free WiFi all over the place") so essential.

In Italy, if you will take trains, I found the Trenit app very useful and helpful. it lets you buy tickets on your phone. It also lets you figure out train schedules, real-time delays, which platforms trains arrive and depart from, etc. Again, helps to have mobile data with a SIM to check that stuff while you are on the train coming up to the next station where you get off and change.

For calling...besides WhatsApp, I have found Google Hangouts extremely useful for making free calls home to the US, even to landlines (only to US phone numbers; calls to non-US numbers cost a few cents per minute). Nice to be able to call your bank or airline and be on hold and not worry about paying a per-minute call fee. Free on WiFi or with mobile data (which may not be free).

"Seems as if we will need wifi for all that we do while there...at our rental homes, in the car, walking, eateries, etc.." - why would you think that? You can't walk or find a restaurant without wifi?

Just updated the information in my post.

My major question is what not to do using wifi...using passwords and user names, etc.? Keeping things secure.

We have a Moto G5 Plus unlocked cell phone. It was unlocked when we purchased it, would it still be unlocked after activation?

Yes, it will remain unlocked if you bought it unlocked. Carriers lock phones that they sell to you as part of a subsidized discount that goes with the phone service - not the case with your phone if you bought it unlocked.

My major question is what not to do using wifi...using passwords and user names, etc.? Keeping things secure.

When using public wifi anywhere - States or abroad - I never check sensitive things like my bank account on my phone. While I may not know how to hack a phone or router, apparently it's not that difficult to 'see' what other people are doing over unsecured networks.

Having said that, tons of people use public wifi every day for all their needs. I'm sure loads of people have never experienced an issue doing so. Everyone has a different risk tolerance. I tend to err on the overly cautious side on some things.

When using public wifi anywhere - States or abroad - I never check sensitive things like my bank account on my phone. While I may not know how to hack a phone or router, apparently it's not that difficult to 'see' what other people are doing over unsecured networks.

On the contrary, it should be really, really difficult to "see what other people are doing over unsecured network." Most websites (even this Rick Steves forum) now use SSL encryption, so all traffic over even an open WiFi network is encrypted between you and the website. SSL has been hacked in the past in a few rare cases...but that just means you are vulnerable at home too even on your private, secured, router that only you use.

The worst that is likely to happen is that someone who can monitor the router could see which websites you visit - but not what you view on them and certainly not passwords, credit card numbers, etc. So if I were viewing this Rick Steves thread on some unsecured router, someone could see that I accessed ricksteves.com just not see what I am reading or typing on it.

Thanks for the helpful information.

This topic brings up the next question. We just applied for our first ATM cards and have no experience with them.
Any tips or suggestions as to how to use them safely and securely?

To ensure security when using your cell phone to check bank accounts, etc., consider installing a VPN app on your phone. A VPN (virtual private network) sets up an extra level of security on your phone when using a public network like the WiFi at a hotel or coffee shop and makes it that much harder for someone to clone your phone or spy on your online activity. I travel with a tablet computer and have installed CyberGhost as my VPN. I have never had an issue with having my tablet hacked, etc. Google "VPN apps" to find the one which best suits your phone and needs.

We just applied for our first ATM cards and have no experience with them. Any tips or suggestions as to how to use them safely and securely?

Not as obvious you should only use ATMS attached to banks that are open in the daytime.
Also before you go tell the bank where you are going and find out what your
cash withdraw limit is. We were in Rome last May and had trouble getting money out until we realized that our Schwab account had a cash withdraw limit (per ATM withdrawal or per day ) in USA dollars.

100 euros = 114 dollars so you can see how you can go over it

Also make sure you know what fees you are going to be charged for using that ATM. Find an ATM machine that will tell you up front how much the fees are going to be to use that machine. Also, check to see what your bank is going to charge for an ATM withdrawal.

You also need to research what kind of fees your credit card company will charge you to use your card internationally. We have several different credit cards, and some charge an international fee and some don't.

I also use Tracfone service and I use my own unlocked iPhone not purchased from Tracfone. I assumed my phone would still be unlocked, but double checked just in case, and found that I needed to request Tracfone to unlock it. This was a simple email request and they provided an unlock code within about a day. So you might want to check your own phone before you leave!

For my Bank of America ATM card, the bank advised a 4-digit PIN, stating some people had trouble with 6-digit PINs in Europe.

Helen and jaimeelsabio- very greatful for the heads-up. I will call to inquire about both these matters, thanks!

I usually buy a SIM card for my iPhone. It give me enough data, texting and call for the 3 weeks I am there. It cost approximately 30euro and worry free. The on
Y down side is you have a European number so you need to get that number to your family if they need to reach you.

Yes, I DO check my bank accounts from secure hotel or apartment Wi-Fi (with passwords)-- but never from random restaurants or train stations. VPN would be a good idea if you can do it easily, but I have had no problems so far.

Alert your banks and credit card companies that you will be traveling or they may freeze the cards on first use.

VPN's are easy to install on phones. You just download an app. I use one and only turn it on when accessing sensitive info--mostly financial items.

If you search this website you will find useful information on using both cell phones and ATM' s while traveling.

Test your ATM card before leaving to make sure it works. Bank ATM's in Europe don't charge fees but your bank might. Check to see what your bank charges. Credit cards are used everywhere but having at least one with no foreign transaction fees will save you money.

If you really want to look Italian, end every phone call by saying "Ciao" about five times in a row as fast as you can. We see/hear that so often in Italy, that it's become a running joke.

When we have our cell phone activated after a visitors simm card is installed, will the phone
operate as if we did not make any changes? Will we still have our apps installed, our emails
and contacts, etc.?
Thanks.

Yes, your phone will still have all of its apps, photos, contacts, etc. after you put in a new SIM. But you will have an Italian phone number while you have an Italian SIM in the phone.