Planning to go to Italy in October with my girlfriend but she wants to keep in touch with her daughters, what is the best way to have a cellular phone so we can send and receive calls? Buy the phone here? in Italy? sim card? Thank you in advance for your assistance-CJ
Posted by
OP
Tustin, CA
2 posts
Thanks Steve for the update.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
CJ,
It would help to know whether you currently have a Cell phone plan at home? Also, are you anticipating that you'll be making or receiving a large number of voice calls? Finally, does your girlfriend's daughter currently have a Cell phone?
The links provided in the first reply will give you some idea of the various options available. I've found that texting is about the most cost effective option for keeping in touch with family back home, but of course it does have "limitations".
Cheers!
Posted by
Coraopolis, Pa, USA
1018 posts
Last summer I took my Verizon world edition phone with their free sim card and their $4.99 per month special call package with us to Italy. I could call in the USA and sent text messages immediately, but it took 5 days to interface with the Italian network. Calling in Italy, after the interface, was an international call sending and receiving. I canceled the call package after I returned.
In October I bought an unlocked quad band gsm phone on ebay. When we return to Italy this summer I'm going to purchase an Italian sim card at the airport when we arrive in Roma. We will have an Italian number and calling in Italy will be substantially cheaper. Also, when my family and friends in Italy call me it will be a local call for them.
You could also look to telestial.com for quad band phones.
Buon viaggio,
RB