We recently discovered that we have friends who will be in Rome the same 2 nights as us. However, they are arriving a day after us and we are trying to figure out a way to meet up with them, without having to cut into touring time, waiting around at each others hotels.
I called Verizon and both of our phones have no global devices, so we cannot use them. Any suggestions on cell phone rentals and sim cards? The best place to rent from? Should we do this before or after we leave for Rome?
Thanks.
ask your friends if they have an old cellphone around. I keep an old phone I had from AT&T to loan to people who need it. Or you could contact Verizon which has a program where you can get a loaner phone.
Ask Verizon about loaning you a global phone - they did this for us for $10 plus the $5 monthly access charge.
Last summer, after a lot of research, I used my Verizon world edition phone with some agita, at first. It took 5 days for the phone to interface on the Italian network. Once it worked it was fine.
After returning home I bought an unlocked quad band gsm phone on ebay. When I return to Italy in June I am going to buy a a simm card from an Italian phone company.
You could also rent or buy a phone from telestial.com.
Buon viaggio,
RB
We finally purchased a cell phone while in Italy (at Vodafone) and now just purchase a SIM card when we go back. Very easy to purchase new SIM card and add more Euros.
Hello! you should definitly rent the phones before arriving to rome, they are several us based companies that will send you an italian line, with incoming local calls free, for you and you travel companions
you should check out www.phonerentalusa.com
Jenny,
As someone else mentioned, it's probably going to be less expensive to rent a phone here rather than in Italy. You might try one of the "travel phone" firms such as Roam Simple, Call In Europe, Cellular Abroad, Mobal or Telestial. They can not only supply phones but also SIM cards for those that have their own phone.
If you're planning on travelling on a regular basis, you could buy a phone from E-Bay or other sites and just purchase the SIM for travel. You'll need a quad-band, unlocked GSM Phone for use in Europe. I would suggest NOT using a "Smartphone" such as an I-Phone or Blackberry, as the data roaming charges can be horrendous. Also, not all "travel SIMS" support data service (although Roam Simple does offer Blackberry service, according to their website).
If you decide to purchase a travel Phone, be sure to check the Charger to make sure that it's designed for "world operation" from 100-240 VAC.
If you're just trying to set up meeting times with your friends, try to use text messaging as it's a lot cheaper!
Cheers!
I thought it was going to be easy to buy a sim card in Italy (to go in an unlocked quad-band gsm phone we are getting on ebay), but then I read this: "Due to new anti-terrorist and anti-drug laws many countries have made buying their SIM cards very difficult, even if you're a citizen or resident..." And then it goes on about needing to give them all sorts of ID and copies of your passport photo, etc... I don't know whether these are scare tactics (since it's from a site that sells sim cards state-side), or if there is something to it. Anyone buy one recently in Italy? Recently would be the past few years.
Not a scare tactic. Went into a TIM store in Italy in Florence (2008) - no codice fiscale (the italian social security card), no sale.
However a TIM store in Perugia sold me one, so go figure...
purchased a SIM card in July 2009 upon arrival in Venice at the Vodafone store (near the Rialto Bridge, San Marco side) with no problems but they do need to see your passport which I knew in advance. It was very easy to do. Took a # and waited for our turn. Purchased top off minutes at another location near San Pantalon.
Re. the above post--We purchased the Italian cell phone on a previous trip in the summer of 2007 with no problems.
