Cell pones and laptops?

Cheryl, To begin with, could you clarify which network your iPhone is with, and whether it's an unlocked model? That information will be important in answering your question. Also, are you planning to use it only for voice and text, or do you want data capability as well? I wouldn't bother with a "Canary Wi-Fi Finder" unless you're planning to use your Netbook / Tablet away from the Hotels you'll be using. Most Hotels provide Wi-Fi, so you won't need to "find" that. I wouldn't bother with Cat. 5 Cables, as it's not likely any of the Hotels you'll be using will be wired for Ethernet. Installing cables in old stone buildings on multi-floors is not exactly a cost-effective method, so wireless will be much more prevalent. I've only found wired connections in larger Hotels that cater mostly to business travellers. I'm typing this reply in a Hotel room in Palermo using a Netbook, and not using any cables. The Wi-Fi is free (although a password was required). Happy travels!

You cannot use a TIM SIM card in your iPhone unless you get it unlocked (not easy with a US iPhone). Furthermore, if it is a Verizon iPhone 4, it will not have a SIM card at all (the Verizon iPhone 4S does have a SIM, as do all AT&T iPhones). With an iPhone, you can use WiFi. If it's a Verizon iPhone 4, that's all - no calls, texts, or roaming data. With an iPhone 4S (or an iPhone 4 from AT&T), you can get these other things, but you're probably limited to your carrier's plan (very pricey - check carefully before using!). WiFi is a universal standard, so any tablet or netbook will work (any model made in the last few years will have built in WiFi). You can expect WiFi in many hotels, some restaurants, and a few other places. You would only need CAT5 cords if you have access to wired, but not wireless, Internet (can be the case in a hotel, but more and more hotels are putting in WiFi; the only place I recently found wired without wireless was a hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii). And tablets don't have CAT5 jacks, anyway. continued..

continued.. If you're thinking of buying an internet device specifically for travel, look into an ultrabook (PC versions of the MacBook Air). They're lighter and thinner than netbooks, with more power too; their keyboards make them much easier to type on than tablets; and they often have SD card slots as well as several USB ports and an HDMI output, making them very versatile. Of course, they're not cheap. Here's Ron in Rome's take on free WiFi in Rome; his tips should also help for other places in the country. And, if you do have an unlocked iPhone (or another unlocked GSM phone with the right frequencies), you'll want to get a TIM SIM card in Italy rather than the US, as it's much cheaper. Here's Ron in Rome's info on TIM's latest deals.

Wow - very useful info! Thanks. And obviously, I meant PHONE, not pone.

We were limited to a CAT5 wired connection on a trip to London once. Fortunately, I brought my netbook with me on that trip. These days it would be a tablet with no way to make a wired connection, or, more likely just a phone with the same limitations. If you're taking your laptop, you can likely borrow a cable from the hotel if you need one, or you can buy one if required. Save a few ounces not packing the thing, but don't be surprised if there isn't wifi.

I agree that wifi, of some sort, is the default in many places, but I always throw in an ethernet cable with the netbook. I've been in several hotels - quite a few Accor properties including Suite Novotels as they are now called and Mercures - where the wifi has a cost and the ethernet is free (and much faster). A cat5 cable weighs very little.