Hi everyone. I'm curious as to the best way to have cell phone access in Italy. I have elderly parents and need to stay reachable while I travel but it seems very expensive to use my US cell phone there. Would appreciate any feedback of a good system that has worked for you. Grazie!
Posted by
Sebastopol, CA, USA
11 posts
if you have the newest verson of iphone. It comes unlocked. You can visit a local phone shop in Italy once you arrive and get a sim card that will work. They will assign a new number, and you can let your parent know the number.
Posted by
OP
Chicago, IL, United States
24 posts
Thank you Larry, that is really helpful. I do have an Iphone 5 so that should work great!
Posted by
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
265 posts
Data is a nightmare though. Unless you get an Italian that understands English or you speak good Italian, it might just be good for making calls and texting. I hope you have a better experience than I did. Let us know how it worked out for you...
Posted by
St Pete, FL
220 posts
I travel to Europe often for business, and this is what I do: - I have an iPhone with AT&T. - I go on the AT&T app - access my acct - I add for $20 international text messages, up to 200. You only pay for outgoing. Not incoming texts under this plan. Also iPhone to iPhone messaging is not SMS, therefore it does not count towards the 200 - I buy an international data package, since I am there for work I get the $60 package. If on vacation, I buy the cheaper package. - after my trip, I go on the app and remove those features.
You need to make sure you have a GSM phone, not CDMA. Call you mobile provider, and hey will help you. Based on the above my mobile costs are under control, and I ave freedom to call home with my phone, with no hassles or worries. Glenn
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16575 posts
If you have an unlocked GSM phone, go to any cell phone store (e.g. Tim, Vodafone) and purchase an Italian SIM card with an Italian number. Vodafone had a special this month in Italy while I was there. 20 euro for a SIM card which included 15 euro of talk minutes or SMS. Or 7.5 euro for talk+SMS and 7.5 for I don't remember how much Gb of data for one month. That is what my wife got for her android. I use an old Razr with an Italian no. Which I have used for years, since I travel to Italy regularly and often. Calling the US is very cheap. On average we don't spend more than 20 or 25euro each on phone costs over 3-4 weeks. Using my AT&T would kill my bank account for the same usage there.