GPS on phone does it work???

Hello sheilaehrens,

For your purposes I would definitely recommend a SIM card. If you were just writing home and checking your email in the hotel or cafes with WiFi then you can debate. But needing constant GPS data while you are on the road the cost of a SIM card will easily offset the missed frustration of getting lost or getting a surprise bill when you get home.

Google maps is okay but as you know Italian roads and ZTLs are a thing of their own. You might consider a Italy specific mapping program if there is a clear winner in terms of local, accurate information.

Stayed outside Castellina in Chianti a decade or so ago for a week and it was wonderful. You'll drive through Poggibonsi a lot getting to places but it's worth it. We stopped at the Castellare winery just because we drove past it everyday and now it is on the Food and Wine list for top 10 wineries to visit.

It's just that kind of area... have an amazing trip,
=Tod

Sheila, I just spent 3 weeks in Scotland and used my T-Mobile international plan and had no problems at all. I had a rental car for 2 1/2 weeks and used my phone's GPS the entire time. I also used my phone's GPS to navigate around places like Edinburgh and Glasgow when walking. T-Mobile's free plan should give you 5 Gb of high speed data (which is what I had) and that was more than enough for my needs (and I'm a data hog).

About 2-3 days before my trip ended (around day 19), I received a message from T-mobile that I'd used up the 5 Gb of high speed data but could still continue with 256 kbs of data. And that was fine even for GPS. It was a titch slower than before but still fully functioned.

You can get a SIM card if you want (or even better, an eSIM data plan) but I don't think there is any need for it. How long are you there for?

Most likely T-Mobile will work fine. GPS itself doesn't use mobile data at all - you can use it on your phone without any mobile service. What your phone does need to download are the MAPS and directions needed to make GPS itself useful. It's possible to download "offline maps" (e.g. with Google Maps) for the region you are visiting before you leave for Italy, so your phone will work for GPS navigation (for driving anyway - not for walking) even if your phone has no service in Italy.

But...T-Mobile should work fine. It might be a little slow, depending on whether they throttle your data speed. Just try it. If it doesn't work well enough, then get a SIM card when you get there.

We'll be in Tuscany for 1 week and in Florence for 1 week. Hoping to use phone for walking directions, as well. I think I should have plenty of data with T-Mobile. Can add more if need be. Not "real" tech savvy, but I know enough to manage (sadly, not 30 anymore). Do I need to down load maps--could you send me a link? Can I use google maps or should I down load a driving/map app specific to Italy--which one? it's a bit overwhelming--lots of different opinions. Need to keep it as simple as possible-PLEASE!
Thanks for all of your responses!! I so appreciate this community!

T Mobile worked flawlessly in N. Italy last Oct/Nov. Plenty of data, I never felt the need for a sim card. Having your own phone # is especially useful if you ever need 2-factor identification. Brad

Used TMobile on an iPhone recently with substantial driving in rural Tuscany and it was fine 95% of the time, but service was poor in a couple of areas that were tough to navigate at night. Also, do a sanity check on your route; Google Maps will sometimes suggest routings that use narrow gravel roads to save you a few minutes, a poor trade off in my book.

If you’re driving at night in an isolated area I’d suggest planning your route ahead of time when you have service or have your paper map handy.

Do I need to down load maps--could you send me a link? Can I use google maps or should I down load a driving/map app specific to Italy--which one?

I just used Google Maps and had no problems at all, and I was on some pretty back roads in Scotland. Granted, it's not Italy but unless you are driving well off the beaten track, you should be fine. You can always download specific directions from Google maps onto your phone, just in case.

sheilaehrens, if you use the Google Maps app on your phone, open the app, choose settings (upper right corner icon), and choose Select Your Own Map and choose Tuscany or even all of the area of Italy where you would possibly be driving. (The larger the map you choose, the more storage space it will take up on your device; you can delete the maps after your Italy trip to free up space.) Do this within 30 days of your trip, so it will not ask you to keep updating the maps.

You won't need the offline maps unless you lose your mobile service while driving...so having the downloaded maps will make sure you can still use the phone as a GPS while driving whether you have mobile reception or not. There is no harm in downloading them just in case.

I have T-Mobile Magenta Plus and use that one for my smartphone needs while in Italy, including Google Maps or Waze.
T-Mobile generally roams on the TIM network while there, but occasionally also on Vodafone or 3.
It works.

I used my Galaxy S22 last year in Italy and had no issues.

1. I used Google Maps extensively to drive around Abruzzo and it worked great even in remote areas. One thing you want to do is download the maps so you can use them offline. It is easy to do and you can look up how with a google search.

2. I used my T-Mobile data and it was fast and reliable. Once I hit the 5GB limit for my plan I bought an eSIM from Airalo. It was very cheap, like 20GB for $30 or something. Most modern android phones have dual sim capability so you can use your T-Mobile SIM card for texts and calls, and an eSIM for data only.

Our experience mirrored that of edwardius - we used Google maps extensively for 3 weeks driving around Tuscany and Umbria with no difficulties and with no lapses in coverage.
I was initially worried about eating up my entire data plan but by loading my daily maps while online and then disabling the roaming feature as he suggests I wound up using hardly any data at all while still enjoying all of the mapping features available. Made navigating a snap actually, even on some of the more remote rural roads.
My phone is a Galaxy S22 as well.

If you have an I-pad with SIM slot, you might consider buying a local SIM for more data, in case you intend to stream. Tablet plans are cheaper (like 10 euro for the month). Once you have it, you can also use if for navigation. But I wouldn't bother doing so for your TMobile phone.

Consider also that most cars already have GPS navigation (and also blue tooth which will connect to your devices).

I've had good results with the Orange Holiday Zen sim, both with an iPhone XS and an old Galaxy S7 (yes, still have it). Make sure you bring a paper clip or a little tool to pop out your SIM, and don't lose your US SIM! I've never done an eSIM. Might be easier

Back in 2012, I downloaded maps in google maps and ran my phone in airplane mode. GPS works anywhere without service, but it took forever to lock on! I ended up often using the map more like a paper map. Things might be better now. Now with 8GB of data, you'll never run out within the 14 days if you're just using navigation. Stay off Instagram, though!

As a backup, I'd also download the offline maps. You can get entire cities (i.e. Paris, Venice). I've also downloaded most of Normandy. Inside Google Maps, touch your profile pic in the top right. Offline Maps is an option in that menu. You zoom out until the area you want is inside the box. It's easy. Then even if the SIM messes up, you'll still have the map saved just in case. Not sure if navigation works offline from scratch, but using a map is much easier when you've got a dot and an arrow that show you where you are!

Used Tmobile phone last year throughout Italy for both walking and driving navigation. Only issue was the fact that the app didn’t account for limited driving zones- took us right through historic centers where cars are not allowed. ( we knew enough not to follow). Learned to google parking garages or lots in the area, pick one that worked ( closest to sites, in the direction we were heading etc). And put that in for the destinations.
That worked very well.

Well, it looks like I was wrong about a SIM card being the way to do since everyone speaking from experience said otherwise. I'll update my expectations about international plans appropriately.

The only other thing I wanted to mention about GPS is that it needs a clear view of the sky to work properly and many ancient towns don't always offer that. In Toledo Spain when I was trying to use Google maps the location often didn't update properly and would swing wilding from point to point because of the narrow view of the sky between the ancient buildings. Had the same experience for older parts of Barcelona. I saw some of this in Lucca last year but it wasn't as bad, probably because of the wider intersections and piazzas.

So be patient and have appropriate expectations using Google maps and GPS in really tight spaces. The surprising exception was Venice which Google must have made a special walk mapping project because it worked really well and never tried to walk us into a canal, on some crazy route or down a dead end.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

Bill Burke--thank you for your advice about the sim card. Found my sim's tool--will bring it along. And found the sims slot --thanks to you tube.
Thank you everyone for your comments and for sharing your experience using the GPS on your phone!! Feeling good about navigating in Italy with minimum hassle. We leave next Sun--can hardly wait! Praying for sunshine. Sadly, the forecast predicts rain for many days!

I didn't see if you said WHEN you're going, so my comment may be too late.

I have T-Mobile and have used it, alone, for many trips to Switzerland, Spain, France and Italy.
Minimally, T-Mobile has FREE 3G coverage for us Americans. It originated in Europe and is very 'friendly', so to speak.

Most of the people how replied about getting a SIM are probably AT&T or Verizon users. If so, ignore them.

ASK T-Mobile - ask about phone calls to American contacts and from them.
I have used my phone for those calls and have had no charges.

I use the Telegram app and make data phone calls to friends that are in Europe.
Those calls worked fine for me.

We have friends who live in the Zurich area. We do day-trips from their house.
After a visit near Austria, we got on the train and I called them using Telegram to say when we expected to get back.
They planned their night and .....

ASK T-Mobile.
most of my in-law relatives have Verizon and they brag about their coverage (it used to be MUCH better than T-Mobile's) but they pay double my bill. AND I have free coverage in Europe (they don't travel there).

My older iPhone works well as a GPS. On my most recent trip, even when I forgot to place the phone in airplane mode, Google maps worked well with the slower free data speeds one gets with T-mobile. It has worked so well on past trips, I’m no longer taking my Garmin on trips.

Who has experience with eSims. and which do you recommend? I finally have a phone that can use one and I think I'd rather go that route than a physical sim.

We just got back from our glorious trip to Italy (except for the hours of travel and missed connection, and the crazy winding Tuscan roads and Italian race car drivers!)! It was truly magical! Can't wait to go back!
Thank you to all who responded to this thread! Our GPS was amazing! It never failed us even on back roads in Tuscany. We still got a bit lost and confused at times but always got to our destination. The rotaries can be a challenge!
Wishing all of you good health and happy travels!
Sheila