Looking for a link to review the TIM simm card for visitors to Italy?

Don't get the voucher, many shops re-selling TIM's sims do not accept them and there are only a few brand stores left. More, TIM does not need your money in advance.
Print out the TIM for Visitors page and bring it with you to avoid any misunderstanding.
Do not make any call and Keep data off up to the moment the Visitors' plan is running, the plan not just the Sim.
Keep in mind that using that plan you can't send texts (but you can receive them) and you can't call toll numbers.

Thanks Dario,
If I understood correctly, with the TIM visitors plan we cannot send text messages and also cannot call toll free numbers.
If that is correct, am I looking at using the wrong plan...is there another option that would allow these everyday uses?

we cannot send text messages

Texts are not included. You can send them, but You would pay per text, using the complimentary 5 Euro included with every Sim. The moment you have no more credit, the SIM will stop working even if you have data and talking time left. Of course you can send messages via whatsapp as whatsapp is an internet chat app.

also cannot call toll free numbers.

You can call toll free numbers, you can't call toll numbers using the taliking time included in the plan.
I don't know how you call them in English, they are special numbers to make customers pay services with phone credit.
You can call them if you really have to, but you'd be using the above 5 euro.

Dario

Thanks for the claification. In Italy we will be needing to communicate with the owner's of the airbnb's that we are staying at, as well as
communicating with an auto transport service, etc..
What is the common and prefered means of communication in Italy, texts or emails?

WhatsApp is a common VOIP app (kind of like Skype) that is popular in Europe. Your AirBnB owners may have it, and if they do, you can communicate that way (text or voice) for free.

Otherwise, you can just call them if need be. Even if you can't (or don't want to) use the SIM itself for voice calls, you can use Skype or Google Hangouts to (using WiFi or mobile data) which costs a few cents per minute, but you will need to buy blocks of credit for $10 at a time. So one quick phone call could in effect cost $10. Still, you can keep that credit around for the future.

There's also a free app someone else mentioned here recently called TextNow that seems (at the moment) to allow free calling and texting to anyone but I don't expect it will be that way for ever. I did try the app a little - seems OK, but I wouldn't count on using it say next year. Maybe next month I might hope it is still free to use...

TIM changed the particulars on the visitors card a couple of months ago. It's now called TIM Tourist and can be found here: https://www.tim.it/tim-tourist-en The price (20euro plus 10euro for the card) remains the same but they have increased the data to 15GB. As others have said, there is no advantage to prepaying as you may end up at a non-corp store. Some folks are reporting that the non-corps may charge 35 euro.

Looks as if the other option would be the portable wifi rentals like expresso.
They initially appear to be more expensive, but wonder what benefits they may offer, compared to a simm card?
Would we still need to buy a simm card for our phone if we rented one of the protable wifi units.
Should add that our cell phone provider here in the US does not have service in Italy.
We ar just getting into cell phones and other tech devices, so sorry if I am asking some basic or redundant questions.
Lots to learn to make this trip work.

If i understand the espresso correctly, it's wifi (data) only, so you would still need something like WhatsApp to allow you to text and call. The value also depends on how long you plan to use it. Looks like there's a sliding scale on the per day charge. BTW- There's more info on the TIM SIM is this thread from last month: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/tim-for-visitors-has-been-replaced

Those "portable WiFi" aka "WiFi hotspots" just don't make sense in most cases - just too expensive. They only make sense if 1) your phone is locked and cannot be unlocked or 2) you are traveling with a group of people who use a lot of data (e.g. kids) and the WiFi hotspot has unlimited data.

Otherwise, buying a SIM is going to be much cheaper and more practical in most cases. Although I recommend buying a SIM anyway, you don't need one just to communicate with an AirBnB owner; your US phone will work on WiFi without service or even without a SIM card in it, and you can use it while on WiFi to text or call people with apps like WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, Skype, and TextNow. The big benefit of a SIM is that you can use it anywhere not just at a hotel or restaurant with WiFi...plus you can get real-time walking/public transit navigation (e.g. Google Maps), something I have found enormously helpful over the years.

I'd go with either TIM or Vodafone - wouldn't stick to one or the other, I've used both in Italy and coverage is fine. I wouldn't buy a TIM voucher and then not be able to buy a Vodafone SIM and have to wait for a TIM store or something.

It's also possible to buy a SIM from another country online like the Netherlands or the UK before you leave for Italy. (Italy requires you to activate a SIM card with your passport; not all countries do.) I have had good luck with a Dutch Vodafone SIM bought on eBay for two trips now and hope to keep using it on future trips, just recharging it online.

Andrew, very helpful follow up.

Just confirming: Instead of purchasing a voucher in advance, I can purchase a Vodaphone simm card in advance on ebay.
We leave 10-15, when should this purchase be made relative to the date?
Do I bring the simm card into a Vodaphone store in Italy for installation and their help to activate the phone?
Vodaphone offers similar packages and service?
What ebay link would I use for this?

dgrieco, Vodafone operates subsidiaries in each country that may be owned by the same parent company...but are technically different companies.

Vodafone Italy and Vodafone Netherlands are not the same - not really. If you take a Dutch Vodafone SIM to a Vodafone store in Italy, they aren't going to be able to do much with it. It's not really their SIM, even though you'll roam on the Italian Vodafone network with a Dutch Vodafone SIM.

I don't think you can buy an Italian Vodafone SIM online - but even if you can, there's no point in doing so, because you'll just need to go to a Vodafone store in Italy anyway.

The Dutch Vodafone SIM can be activated at home and configured entirely online. There are a few steps involved, however. Read my write-up from last year - most of it is still valid. Biggest downside is that local calls to Italy are not included in the "You" bundle - they cost 20 cents/euro. (Incoming calls and texts are free.)

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/dutch-vodafone-sim-card-for-use-in-europe

If you get stuck with something, a Vodafone store in Italy probably won't help you. But they do have an online chat other people have used and claim was helpful. The only advantage of buying the Dutch SIM ahead of time is that you won't have to worry about getting the SIM after you get there. But if you don't mind waiting, just get a SIM at a TIM or Vodafone store as soon as you arrive in Italy.

Got to Venice, went to the Tim Store close to the train station, Alessandro installed a $30 Euro sim card for us, advised us that we were all set and to turn the phone on in 30 minutes-all should work...and it did.
Very good service on his part and the plan work very well for all of our needs. Thanks for the advise.

Got to Venice, went to the Tim Store close to the train station, Alessandro installed a $30 Euro sim card for us, advised us that we were all set and to turn the phone on in 30 minutes-all should work...and it did.
Very good service on his part and the plan work very well for all of our needs. Thanks for the advise.

Isn't it wonderful when a plan comes together? That's great....

How did you like Venice?

Venice was a great experience. We walked all day long wanting to see everything that we could. We agreed that we need to go back and now looking forward to doing so next fall. We were very fortunate that our stay in Venice was scheduled right before the heavy rains and bad flooding. Our apartment was on the ground level right by the lagoon. Thinking we should look for something on the second floor or above for the next stay there. Caio