Cell Phone for Italy

I would buy an unlocked GSM cell phone before you leave on your trip. You have many options. On Amazon and other sites you can purchase a new phone and on eBay or decluttr.com you can find used ones with different features and price points. Before you settle on one, make sure that it has the proper frequencies to operate on European networks; most newer models do.

In Italy both TIM and Vodafone offer SIM cards geared to visitors. They cost €30 for 30 days. Each company’s offering has slight differences in what is offered. Check on both and get whichever one best fulfills your needs.

Before you conclude that you want to buy a phone there, I would suggest you be sure you have all your facts straight...

You do not have a "straighttalk phone". Straighttalk does not make phones, they provide cellular service (actually, they just re-sell AT&T service at a discount; they do sell phones, but those are not "Straighttalk phones" they're made by someone else).

If you have not already done so, you are going to need to find out exactly what kind of a phone you have, and if it is unlocked (if you're using Straighttalk, it almost certainly is, but verify that), and you need to find out if it will work with European cellular service (two separate questions).

FWIW, my wife and I both use Straighttalk for our cellular service, too, and have for many years. We both have iPhones (and a couple tablets with Straighttalk SIMs, too). When we travel in Europe, we just get a local SIM for any/all of those. We've bought SIMs in Italy before and they worked just fine (we got them from TIM).

I'm also not interested in getting a SIM card and switching it out on my current phone.

I'm not sure why you would want to avoid doing that, if you have a phone that will work there. Are you sure your phone can not use a SIM that you buy in Italy? If you are sure it won't work, then you can ignore all the above. But just because you use Straighttalk for cellular service here in the US does not necessarily mean you can't simply swap in a SIM upon arrival in Italy. Just something to check in case you have been assuming otherwise.

I have an iPhone with AT&T, and I actually haven’t checked to see if it has a sim slot (somehow I thought that they didn’t with At&t?) but 4 years ago I bought a quad band phone from Walmart for $17 and then got a SIM card when I got to my first city and topped it up as needed. I’m taking it back with me to Italy on Friday, and will do the same thing. You could definitely find a place to get a cheap phone when you get there but having all your phone words in English could really help. When I lived there (before the iPhone, oh the horror) 15 years ago, the cheapest NEAT LOOKING phone I could find was about 40€, so the $17 one from here was a deal. I was worried this one wouldn’t work again, so I was checking out options on amazon, and there were some decent ones for between $20-$30 that I found.

Also...David? They said they used straighttalk SERVICE.....and that is a thing.....

If you don't want to buy SIM card and you don't want to switch to a phone service that has international roaming, then you have two options: use the phone you have only on WiFi - if you are willing to set up a service like Skype or Google Voice on your phone to make calls in Italy (need to install the app then add $10 USD to either Skype or Google so you can make per-minute calls to Italian numbers). You can also install WhatsApp - which is free to use for everything, assuming the person you are calling also has WhatsApp. It is a popular app in Europe, so that might be a good bet.

Or...buy a whole new prepaid phone when you get to Italy, with a SIM installed for you at the mobile store. Then, you'd be able to use your phone anywhere, not just in places that have WiFi, and you'll have an Italian number to give to locals in Italy who need to reach you. In that case, just head to a Vodafone or TIM store when you get to Italy and have them set one up for you. Bring your passport - you'll need it.

Thanks everyone for the info and feedback.

Couple of things to clarify.

It's true I have a Straighttalk plan, not a phone. My bad.

My point was I could not purchase a Straighttalk international calling card for my current phone with the SIM in it to have voice service in Italy. At least on their website Italy is not listed as an option for their cell service yet. (But it does show landlines are an option which I presume means VOIP. Go figure?)

So I would have to switch out the SIM and I just don't want to do that. I'd rather just get a different phone that works in Italy. Personal preference.

I also want the option to call people directly without worrying about whether they have whatsapp or not and whether I have a wifi signal. Call me old fashioned. :)

Probably not the cheapest way to go but not too worried about finding a cheap option.

I did not know amazon was an option to find something so thanks for that suggestion. It would be nice to have everything on it in English and being able to set it up before traveling overseas. I guess I should not be surprised since they have everything else under the sun!

You might consider a Mobal phone. I normally don't recommend it as an option because it's pretty expensive for what you get, but you seem to value simplicity above all. (If you just need to make calls, perhaps the flip phone is what you need - not expensive.) This would have instructions in English and should work in Italy:

https://www.mobal.com/international-cell-phones/

skip,

If you'd rather carry two phones, that's certainly an option. While in Italy, switch your home phone to "Airplane mode" with Wi-Fi turned "on" to allow checking E-mail, browsing the net or whatever. Buy a basic, inexpensive phone from one of the Italian cell networks when you arrive. As I recall, TIM and Vodaphone have plans designed for tourists, but I can't recall the details. I'm sure one of the others can provide that information. There are mobile phone shops in Venice and your hotel staff should be able to direct you to the nearest one.

As mentioned above, you could also buy a "travel phone" from firms like.....

• iRoam
• Mobal
• Cellular Abroad

The cost will probably be higher than using a phone bought in Italy, but this option will provide you with a working phone as soon as you step off the plane. Whichever option you choose, be sure you're clear on the method for topping-up the minutes.

So I would have to switch out the SIM and I just don't want to do that.

I'm having trouble understanding this. It is the simplest thing to do.
Why are you choosing the most complicated route instead?

If you want to pick one up in Italy, it looks like TIM has a basic flip phone for 30€. Should be fairly easy to use for calls but the store clerk may be able to change the language to English for you. Also you probably need to add some credit to make calls.

https://www.tim.it/prodotti/smartphone-e-telefoni/onda-cl100

You can open the link in google chrome browser to translate to english.

Over the years I have used SIM, purchased phones, etc. Now, short-term international plans seems to be my best option. Most carriers have one.

Thanks to everyone for the good advice. Just for those who are curious I think I will be going with a Mobal phone. Either spending a little more to get a prepaid phone with unlimited talk and text for 30 days or a cheaper flip phone with a pay per minute call/ text plan. Although I'm leery of having an open credit card linked to the flip phone for fear of getting extra data charges or other things it might be hard to dispute.

The prepaid 30 days sounds nice since we'll be there for 20+ days. I can also get it shipped to me any time and activate it shortly before we leave so I would have time to set it up how I want before traveling.

Once again I appreciate all of the ideas and opinions.

I have a travel agent who suggested renting a portable wifi router. (Correct term? I'm no techie so bear with me.) But it is a small wifi router that gives you wifi on the go for $5/day. She said it's about the size of a phone and you just keep it in your purse. I believe you can also buy one for not too much $$. Anyway, you turn off your data and just connect to wifi through this device. You can then text, call, etc via wifi. She said all the Airbnb people are on What's App and that's how she communicates the most when she is there.

I have a travel agent who suggested renting a portable wifi router. (Correct term? I'm no techie so bear with me.) But it is a small wifi router that gives you wifi on the go for $5/day. She said it's about the size of a phone and you just keep it in your purse. I believe you can also buy one for not too much $$. Anyway, you turn off your data and just connect to wifi through this device. You can then text, call, etc via wifi. She said all the Airbnb people are on What's App and that's how she communicates the most when she is there.

It's called a "portable WiFi hotspot." I already have one - it's called an "Android phone." Every Android and iPhone has one of these hotspots built into it - all you need is cell service. I use my Dutch Vodafone SIM in my unlocked phone to provide exactly the same thing as one of these hotspots. (I use it say on the train to get WiFI for my laptop.)

A WiFi hotspot is simpler to set up of course: no SIM to buy, no phone to worry about unlocking. And if you have several people traveling together and using it, it is probably more responsive than a regular phone's WiFi hotspot might be.

But, it's much more expensive than buying a SIM. (Never heard of one that is $5/day - which one?) My Vodafone SIM gives me 2GB of data for 10 euros or 6GB for 20 euros, good for a month. And it is one extra device to carry around, keep charged up, etc.

If you value simplicity and don't mind the extra cost, go for it. If you have a Verizon or AT&T phone, you can use it for $10/day anyway and get the full functionality of your phone, without needing to carry an extra device. If you are traveling with someone, turn on your phone's WiFi hotspot so the other person can use it without spending the same $10/day.

We use Sprint for our cell phone service at home and abroad. I'm not an endorser of them at all, but I find it's REALLY easy to use our service while we're in Europe. They charge 25 cents per minute for making or receiving calls. And we also use various online calling apps when we have Internet signals. Like you, we only use the phone to contacts hosts, coordinate with guides or ping each other when we're on individual activities. We did have one trip in which I spent some time making and receiving calls with my business partner and a client (who were both here in the US), and even then, I never experienced an exhorbitant phone bill. In the end, we have found staying with our domestic provider to be very easy and inexpensive.

I'd say the most inconvenient thing about doing what we do is contacting Sprint the first time to seet up the international service before we leave the US.

I completely understand where you’re coming from not wanting to mess with changing SIM card in your iPhone, using WhatsApp, etc. I bought the cheapest basic “telefonino”, literally little phone,I could find at the Italian equivalent of Best Buy 11 years ago and I use it every time I go to Italy (about every other year). It’s the easiest thing to do - no contracts like US cellphones (it’s basically what we call here a burner phone), and you just “ricaricare” (recharge) it by adding 15 euros or so of minutes as needed - you can do that at any store with blue T (for Tabacchi) sign, or online. You will have an Italian cellphone number which you can give to all your hotels, restaurants, hosts, etc.. to stay in touch with you. I would find a TIM (Telecom Italia) store as soon as you arrive (there might even be one in the Venice airport). Someone said you can buy an inexpensive flip phone for 30€ - get that if it’s the cheapest. Having that phone is also the easiest and cheapest way to call back to the States - you just dial 001 + the area code and number from yourItalian cell phone and you get quite a few minutes/euro. And re the phone being set up in Italian, that’s all easily changeable in settings, and the people who work at TIM stores (which areas common as Verizon or AT&Tstores here) always speak good English. They can change everything to English for you.
Definitely have your US smartphone as well but keep it in airplane mode and use it wherever there is WiFi- if you have an iPhone, communicating with family or friends back home who also have an Apple device via FaceTime is easy and free when you’re connected to a WiFi network.
As others pointed out, be sure to bring your passport when buying the phone and its SIM card - it’s necessary. Trust me - this is by far the easiest way to go. In fact I lend my Italian cellphone to all my friends and family who go to Italy and they use it always without problem!

Clearly this is a matter of preference. Reading options for travelers to buy and swap SIM cards, buy burner phones and so on just seem like extra work -- and the savings seem relatively little.

I just readied our U.S. phones with Sprint for an upcoming trip. It's $0.25 per minute to make or receive calls. On our trips, though they're only two to three weeks long, we haven't collectively spent $15 for calls we make while we are on the road. I mean, it's not as though we're spending 30 minutes on the phone chatting with a friend...

The advantages - to me (obviously) - for staying with our own phones:

1. Hotels, rental managers, car rental companies, etc., have our regular phone numbers (before, during and after the trip) should they need to contact us.
2. People in the states can reach us in the event of an emergency at home by simply calling our regular phone number.
3. We don't have to carry additional technology, learn its eccentricities, or make another stop at a vendor in the country we're visiting to buy or coordinate the new devices.
4. Our personal entertainment choices (Spotify, Kindle, etc.) are with us easily.

Again, personal preferences, so those are mine...

Cheers~

B

There's no need to spend 25 cents/minute calling home to the US - just install the Google Voice app on your smart phone before you leave. Then you can call US numbers, even landlines, for free, even while on WiFi, even without any mobile service or a SIM card in your phone. With Sprint (who has a similar international roaming plan to T-Mobile's), international roaming data is free and unlimited, but like T-Mobile, they throttle their data speeds to slow it down to 2G speeds. That may work well enough for most people.

It is incredibly easy and the cheapest option to switch out the SIM card in a phone for a SIM card purchased in Italy. Cheapest and simplest. For my iPhone, you basically use a paper clip to pop open the little slot (videos on youtube), take out the card from your US carrier and put in the EU purchased card. It's like popping in a tiny CD. I used my iPhone 6+ 3 years ago and am going to use it again this week. So, so simple.