Cell phone in Italy ?

Any chance you can buy an unlocked cellphone on eBay? It has to be GSM compliant. Then get an Italian SIM on arrival. TIM and Vodaphone have tourist packages that are very reasonable. Thye’ve been discussed here recently.

Buy a TIM or Vodafone SIM when you get to Italy. If you have two phones, you can buy two SIM cards if need be - though note that you can use both phones (assuming they are smart phones) on WiFi for free, anyway. The SIM card would merely add the ability to use the phone when not on WiFi (something I find extremely useful, not just for real-time train info but for navigation on foot and with public transit).

When you buy an Italian SIM, you will have an Italian phone number until you put your Verizon SIM cards back in. So, getting calls and texts on your Verizon number might be a challenge. It may be possible to use something called "WiFI Calling" to access your Verizon voicemails and texts or even make calls, while on WiFi, for free. Your phone must support the feature. Check with Verizon.

Your phones also must be unlocked to be able to use Italian SIM cards in them. But, most Verizon phones should be unlocked. (AT&T, not so much.) If you want to make sure your phones are unlocked, try a different SIM at home before leaving the US. If you aren't a rush, try this Lycamobile SIM card - costs 1 penny (free shipping) on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Lycamobile-Triple-Punch-Standard-Micro/dp/B00UMNJPWO

You don't need to buy service from Lycamobile; just turn off your phone, swap out your Verizon SIM card for this SIM, turn the phone on, and if it comes on without complaint (even though you won't have service), you are good to go. (You'll get a scary-looking message like "SIM card is not from Verizon!" that you can just swipe away each time you turn the phone on - means nothing.)

You can get a $40 deal on international service for 30 calendar days from Verizon. There’s a data limit, but if you plan to use WiFi when it’s available to download and store maps, etc. and reserve data use on your phone for just calling hotels, etc. you’ll be fine.

But for $40, you get only a measly 100mb of data (which would last me about a day). Personally, I've found the on-the-fly real time navigation with Google Maps for walking/public transit directions the biggest benefit of having my phone in Europe, by far - and you need data for that (Google Maps "offline" works only for driving.) You can buy a SIM card for about $40 with plenty of data for a 10 day (or longer) trip. The only downside of a SIM is not having your regular phone number while you are traveling. (And WiFi Calling, if your phone supports it, may let you get some of that use back while your Verizon SIM is out - not sure.)

Both TIM and Vodafone have tourist or visitor plans for €30. Basic difference is that TIM for Tourists gives you 15 gigs of data, 200 minutes of chat, a €5 credit but you’ve got to pay €.20 for texts, Vodafone Holiday gives you 2 gigs, 300 minutes of talk, 300 texts. Service and connectivity from both companies is excellent.

Activating only one phone would save you €30.

If you both need to use data and phone services for each day you're in Italy, you may want to look into an unlocked phone and a local SIM card once you arrive.

Verizon only charges you for the days you use data or phone calls or text services. If your phone is on airplane mode and using WiFi, then you're not charged for that day. You are charged per 24 hour period. You will receive a free text a little before the next 24 hour period begins to alert you to that fact.

When we travel, only one of us uses Verizon Travel Pass. That way we only incur charges on one phone, and even then it's only when that phone is switched off WiFi.

We'll be in Italy for 10 days soon and the AT&T International Day Pass ($10 per day per device) seems like a reasonable and convenient choice for us. We'll only put it on of our two iPhones (the other will stay on airplane mode with wifi) and don't intend to use the plan every day (we're on a Rick Steves tour and we will mainly need the phone on days when we have solo exploration time.

One potential 'gotcha' we noticed when reading about the plan - apps running in the background and triggering the fee. On the one device with the Day Pass activated, we'll need to make sure that there are none running.

One potential 'gotcha' we noticed when reading about the plan - apps running in the background and triggering the fee. On the one device with the Day Pass activated, we'll need to make sure that there are none running.

That's going to be harder to do you than you imagine. Lots of apps run in the background even when none are "open." E.g. email is always running and will notify you when you have a new message.

Easier: put the phone in airplane mode then turn on WiFi. Turn off airplane mode on the days when you want to use the international plan.

You might find it even better to use their $60/month plan with gives you 1GB of data. Calls are 35 cents/min, texting free. Are you really going to use it only three days at $30? 1GB is a reasonable amount of data if you aren't streaming video or anything. You can avoid those 35 cents/min calls by installing Google Hangouts to make free calls to US phone numbers, even landlines (uses about 2MB per minute of data but free on WiFi). You could also see if the WiFi Calling feature is supported so you can make calls/text for free to the US while on WiFi.

It still surprises me that folks sign up for overpriced US cell provider plans when going to Italy. If your phone is locked, search on line to learn how to unlock it inexpensively. Then buy a Tourist SIM from either TIM or Vodafone. I’ve been in Italy for over two weeks with another week to go and being able to use my iPhone 24/7 has been great. Make and receive calls, buy train and bus tickets, research sites, etc., etc. I have the TIM for Tourist card and have used up about 4 gigs of the allowable 15 gigs of data, made a number of calls domestically and back to the States, use Google Maps and Waze constantly while driving or walking. For €30 it offers the traveler inexpensive peace of mind.

A few thoughts.....

"email is always running and will notify you when you have a new message."

If the iPhone fetch settings are set to "Manual", the phone won't update until it's asked to. This setting can be accessed in the Passwords & Accounts menus in "Settings". In the past, I've also left "Cellular Data" switched off when out roaming around cities, and only turn it on if needed.

"It still surprises me that folks sign up for overpriced US cell provider plans when going to Italy. If your phone is locked, search on line to learn how to unlock it inexpensively. Then buy a Tourist SIM from either TIM or Vodafone."

I've been using international roaming with my home cell network on the last few trips and while a bit pricey, it's worked extremely well. I need to be accessible from my home number for a variety of reasons, and this is the easiest and most reliable solution. I've tried call forwarding and other methods in the past, but they haven't always worked well. A few hundred dollars for roaming in the overall cost of a month long European trip is not really a big deal.

It still surprises me that folks sign up for overpriced US cell provider plans when going to Italy. If your phone is locked, search on line to learn how to unlock it inexpensively.

Some people just don't want to mess with a SIM card. I do of course, but I know a lot of tech-challenged people who would rather just pay the extra money and not mess with anything. Technology can be intimidating. If you're in Europe ten days and you can buy a SIM for 30 euros or just pay $10/day, saving the $70 isn't worth the hassle for some people. Completely understandable.

Verizon (TravelPass plan) costs $10/day only if you use cellular service/data. If you use WiFi, there is no charge. If two of you are together and need to use cell/data, then you’d only need one phone to be active that day and the other kept in airplane mode if WiFi is not available. In other words, $10/day. Of course, If you are in different locations and need to communicate and don’t have WiFi access, then both phones would be charged $10/day. From your post, I wasn’t sure you knew this. I have used TravelPass on several trips (Italy, Austria, Czechia, Germany, and Scotland). I like the plan because you keep your U.S. phone number and use minutes, messages, and data allowances from your domestic plan. Can’t be any more convenient! My trips have typically been 10 days or less, so I prefer to not use SIM cards or buy an unlocked phone, having a foreign telephone number, etc. if my trips were much longer, the. I’d search for a cheaper alternative. But for a 10-day trip, I would recommend Verizon’s TravelPass.

Can’t be any more convenient! My trips have typically been 10 days or less, so I prefer to not use SIM cards or buy an unlocked phone, having a foreign telephone number, etc.

FYI, your Verizon phone is almost certainly unlocked already. They don't lock their phones. (AT&T does.)

FYI, your Verizon phone is almost certainly unlocked already. They don't lock their phones. (AT&T does.)

Many Verizon phones are locked. It depends on the phone and when/where you purchased it.

Many Verizon phones are locked. It depends on the phone and when/where you purchased it.

Not true, as of now, least for post-paid phones. Verizon has not historically locked most of its LTE devices. Here are Verizon's current device unlocking policies.

https://www.verizon.com/about/consumer-safety/device-unlocking-policy

"Postpay Device Unlocking Policy
We do not lock most phones or tablets that are activated with our postpay service either during or after the term of your service contract or Device Payment Plan installment sales agreement.
We do not lock our 4G LTE devices, and no code is needed to program them for use with another carrier."

However, Verizon announced earlier this year that it plans to change this policy. They now plan to start locking phones for 60 days after activation or, like the other carriers, for the whole time a phone bought at subsidy is still being paid off. But the new policy is still not in effect.

This is discussed here:

https://www.droid-life.com/2018/09/11/verizons-new-device-unlock-policy-will-lock-phones-for-60-days-or-life-of-payment-plans/

Prepaid phones are treated differently as noted in Verizon's policy.

Download the App- Viber- (free) no need to pay Verizons outrageous fees- make sure all Data turned off in settings- Viber works on wifi- which most all hotels have- you can communicate for free with anyone who has the app via text or phone or video chat- and for all I - phone users Facetime is always free iphone to iphone.
As far as maps and such- do you have a planned itinerary?? Every hotel, hostel, B&B, ect can help you with maps and directions, and you can always print out ahead of time(the old fashion way)- we usually download maps to a garmin gps ahead of time and bring our own when renting a car- saves time and $$. You can also research most museums and activities ahead of time to find out times and schedules.

Happy Travels💫✨

I have tried to wade through all the posts about using a smart phone in Europe, but I am one of those Andrew refers to who is not always comfortable dealing with technology, and this is especially true when I am travelling and have enough else to deal with. What surprises me is that one can't simply order the Italian phone, or the SIM card, and get it all set up before leaving. I would love, on my next trip, to use the maps app for walking directions.

Liz, you can order some SIMs before you leave and have them set up before you leave home. Rules for buying/registering SIMs vary by the country. Italy requires that Italian SIM cards be registered with ID (a passport) before activation, but some countries like the UK and the Netherlands do not. I bought my Dutch Vodafone SIM on eBay last year and have used it on two trips to Europe (including in Italy; not in the Netherlands yet though). It is nice to have a working phone when you land in Europe!

Andrew, thank so much. This is great news, especially because I will next be in Amsterdam. I will start this afternoon with my usual procedure: trying to set things up myself, and failing that, inviting my 15 year old grandson over. By my next Italian trip I'll be downright competent!

Liz,

If you want your phone ready to go as soon as you step off the plane, you could also look at travel SIM's, such as those offered by iRoam and Cellular Abroad. Their data coverage may not always be as good as using your home network, but in some cases it's not too bad. Check their websites for further details.

Perhaps not so much on cell phone plans etc, more on practically. Cell phone navigation in Venice is hopeless. Frequently GPS signals are obscured by buildings or sottoportegos. My door opens onto a street that ends in a canal, most days I would see at least half a dozen people walk down the street following their phones, and then retrace their steps.

Trying to navigate say from the Frari to the Guggenheim with a phone will frustrate anyone - it is like trying to use a paper map torn up into postcard sized pieces, and trying to follow the dots on Google maps is a killer.

You need a paper map.

Although cell phone navigation in Venice is harder than in your average city (because it's not on a grid and getting your directional bearings can be a challenge), having the phone to navigate last year certainly saved me an enormous amount of time. I've navigated Venice with paper maps in the past; sorry, I'll stick to my phone, still saves me a lot of time.