Hi, We will be in Italy for four weeks. Does anyone know if they sell the equivalent of Trac Phones there? Also need to charge my camera batteries anyone know what adapter? Thanks
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1449 posts
look on your camera charger; if it says 120/240 then it will work on European voltages and you just need a plug adapter so you can plug it into the wall. This page has a picture of what you need: http://goitaly.about.com/od/travelpackingtips/l/bl_electricity_italy.htm
Posted by
NY, USA
500 posts
You just need a european adapter for your battery charger. I have been going research for my upcoming trip to italy. I have heard you can go to an electronics store or phone store and buy a SIM card. You can probably get a temporary phone too but I haven't been able to get much information about this. Supposedly you need a special code or the phone sales person can generate one for you. You can have a look here:
http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/italy/
Posted by
Dallas
1022 posts
A recent Trip Advisor thread on the phone: Pre-Paid Cell Phone I believe you need to have your passport with you for registration purposes when you buy.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10609 posts
It is true that you will need your passport when you get a phone or sim card. If you have an unlocked world phone you can get a sim card at one of the phone stores at the train station or another location.
Posted by
NY
12 posts
We bought a phone before we went. It was about $49 and you just pay for whatever calls you make. Granted it wasn't cheap but we barely used it- a call to family back home and a reservation here & there. It even came with a whole set of adapters for various countries that can be used with any appliance. http://www.mobal.com
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32353 posts
Margot, For charging your Camera batteries, it's very important that you verify the Input Voltage ratings on the Chargers before you travel. As a previous reply mentioned, if these state "100-240VAC", then you'll only need inexpensive Plug Adapters for use in continental Europe (the Plug Adapters for Italy have two round pins). Regarding the Cellphone, it is possible to buy PAYG phones in Italy but you may need to "register" when purchasing. Be sure that you're clear on how to top-up in Italy (especially as automated menus may be in Italian). You could also consider buying a phone from one of the "travel phone" firms such as Call In Europe, Roam Simple, Cellular Abroad, Telestial or Mobal. These are usually post paid systems, with calls charged to a credit card. These provide the advantage of never running out of minutes in the middle of a call, having to top-up and they are available for use immediately after landing in Italy. However, if the phone is lost or stolen, it's important to notify the carrier right away to avoid unwanted charges on the credit card! Happy travels!