Data SIM card in Italy

Posted by suzbuchko on 06/01/15 05:21 PM

I'm going to be in Italy for about a month and want to get a SIM card for my iPad. I want to use the interactive maps feature on my iPad while I am driving the countryside and walking in cities. I've never tried this before and have usually walked/driven around unfolding and folding up maps. I could use some advice.

Questions:
1. Has anyone done this? Does it work?
2. If I used the mapping app every day for 27 days, how much data will I use and/or how much should it cost? I know this is a big question, but any ballpark answer would be helpful.
3. Can I turn the SIM card on and off when I am not using it? Many of the hotels we're staying in have WiFi.

4. Any other advice would be so appreciated.

Thanks for any help you can give,
Suzanne

Posted by Roberto da Firenze ⚜

San Francisco Bay Area (USA)

06/01/15 05:59 PM

16597 posts

I'm not familiar with SIM cards for iPads (mine is an old ipad2). But I'm familiar with SIM cards for iPhones in Italy. They are inexpensive, just go to a phone store (Tim, Vodafone, Wind, 3, or authorized dealer) and buy a 1mo plan.
However if all you need is the map feature, there are GPS maps apps that work offline and don't use data from a data plan. I'll let others suggest some of the best.

Posted by ralph.ambrioso

06/01/15 06:17 PM

94 posts

your best bet is to ask where you bought the ipad.
is the ipad on a data plan through a service provider in the states? chances are you can't use it where you're going.

Posted by suzbuchko OP

06/01/15 06:35 PM

3 posts

Thanks for the answers.

It was the guy at the Apple store who suggested this route. I was hoping to find some traveler who has actually done it.

My iPad is not connected to a provider so there is nothing to unlock.

Any suggests for an app that can give me some of the same GPS features would be most appreciated.

Suzanne

Posted by Jim_in_VA

Virginia, USA

06/01/15 07:42 PM

792 posts

If you have a WiFi only iPad it will not have GPS. What model iPad do you have?

Posted by suzbuchko OP

06/01/15 10:20 PM

3 posts

I have the iPad Air 2 + cellular but without a US provider.

Posted by Art

Salem, OR, USA

06/01/15 10:42 PM

27 posts

I'm also traveling to Italy this month with an iPad Air 2.

I ordered an "Italy UNLIMITED (4G LTE) Data SIM Card Rental." through an affiliate of National Geographic. It's Telecom Italian Mobile (TIM). Not bad - they rent you a SIM card with unlimited data for 30 days (although after 10MB, it slows to 3G). I figured that would be plenty to get me through my 3 weeks. With switching to the hotel wi-fi by turning off the cellular signal, I know I'll have plenty of them MB to use.

They ship it to you in the US and that will save me from having to rush around at the airport or train station in Milan, and still be able to use it on the train (only when going to the tunnels so I don't miss anything). You can't plug it in ahead of time. I'll post on how it works when we get back home.

http://www.cellularabroad.com/DataSIMitaly.php

Arrivderchi
Art

Posted by Jim_in_VA

Virginia, USA

06/01/15 10:42 PM

792 posts

best of both then. your iPad has a GPS chip which means you can download Google maps and use them with no data connection needed at all. The GPS will show your exact location but not give you turn by turn without a data connection. GPS uses no data at all, it is when the map needs to be updated is when the "data" comes into play. Very very low data usage for that. You can download maps from Google that uses no data at all. I was in France last year and used my tablet with GPS, no internet connection, and knew exactly where I was down to the "farm trail" level. You will be fine.