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Inexpensive Go Phone for Italy and France

My wife and I are going to, mostly Italy (for 7 days) and Paris (for 3 days). We're planning on purchasing an international package for her IPhone so we can stay in touch a bit with family back home and access the web when we don"t have wifi. But I would like to have a phone to stay in touch with her in case we're separated or just doing different stuff for a while - simple texting and a bit of voice should suffice. What's a good price for a phone I could pick up in Paris (where we'll be first) that will also work in Italy? Or do you need to get a separate SIM card and phone plan for each country? I'm finding this a bit confusing. The only think I think I know is that it doesn't make sense for me to purchase any kind of International Plan (through att) for a second phone in Europe for me given how little I plan on using it.

And, by the way, I posted this in the Italy forum only because we'll mostly be in Italy.

Posted by
32405 posts

shendley,

You can easily buy an inexpensive PAYG phone when you land in Italy from any of the networks (TIM, Wind, Vodaphone). TIM is the largest so you'll likely see more of their stores than the others. You'll need to register with your Passport and you may need help getting it set up, since the menus will be in Italian. Be sure that you're clear on the method for "topping up" when the minutes are depleted.

You can also use the phone in France, although the rates will be slightly higher since you'll be "roaming". The higher roaming charges will eventually be eliminated by the E.U., but I don't believe that's happened yet. When you buy the phone, ask about how to accomplish topping-up outside of Italy.

You may find it helpful to print out this chart and pack it along....

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/call-uk-europe