Netflix

Bottom line, Netflix works, And I was able to watch all of the shows that I wanted without a VPN..
JUST SAYIN......

How were you accessing Netflix? Was it with their app via mobile device like a tablet/smartphone or a laptop streaming from a web browser?

From my experience I've had more success with a Laptop, I've never had any success with their mobile app overseas, though I have never tired it specifically in Italy.

One streaming app I've found that never gets blocked overseas is the official Saturday Night Live app. Best of all it's completely free.

what is a VPN? My kids got me a Netflix account for Christmas and downloaded it to my ipad. So it works in Italy? I was wondering if it would work in Europe. Do you need to tell them you are going oversees or just login?

This is a genuine question: Why are you watching Netflix instead of out seeing Rome? Is it to avoid the heat of the day, or what? Genuinely curious.

Is it that crazy that someone might want to comfortably lay down on their bed at the end of a busy day of sightseeing and watch an episode of Frasier or The Office before going to sleep?

Lol. I had a rooftop Airbnb in Rome and would have loved to kick back with some Walking Dead on Netflix when I was done dragging my entrails across Roma and up those 6 flights pf stairs!

Are you watching on a laptop or your phone?

I'm with Michael Schneider!

Good to know about Netflix.

I was somewhat surprised that I had Amazon music in Italy. Last year in Canada I couldn't not use. Cool 😎

Something interesting that I learned: I had downloaded some episodes of a show (don't remember which one) from Netflix to my iPad so I could watch them offline on the flight. Tried to watch one (from My Downloads) while in Italy one night and got an error that the show wasn't available in this country. I turned off wi-fi and then had no problem watching it.

I live in Italy and can only get the Italian Netflix which is really annoying. I've tried using a VPN but Netflix has gotten wise to that trick and detects it so whenever I try I get a message saying "Looks like you are using a proxy, please turn it off". Hulu works fine with the VPN but Netflix and amazon Prime don't. Small price to pay for living here I guess.

I live in Italy and can only get the Italian Netflix which is really annoying. I've tried using a VPN but Netflix has gotten wise to that trick and detects it so whenever I try I get a message saying "Looks like you are using a proxy, please turn it off". Hulu works fine with the VPN but Netflix and amazon Prime don't. Small price to pay for living here I guess.
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@Rik, When we lived in Rome, we had on-and-off problems with Netflix but UnBlock-us.com worked well most of the time, and Amazon Prime was perfect. Never got Hulu to work with any VPN.

Thanks Laurel, I will give that one a try.

I'm with Michael Seattle on this: I am visiting parts of Europe I have never been in before and probably will not ever get to visit again with endless sites to see, why would I want to watch American TV shows or old movies I can watch when I am bored at home instead of being out seeing the sites or enjoying the nightlife?

I guess I'm not that much of a TV watcher compared to some. Sure, I have a list of shows I watch regularly (and I am months behind on watching some of those), but staring at a TV screen does not relax me or put me to sleep no matter where I am. And when I get done with my day's site seeing I am ready to sleep and the last thing I want is some annoying TV show keeping me awake. Don't get me wrong, I do occasionally watch TV when I travel but that is mostly to see what the weather will be like or what major events have occurred in the world, but that is only 5 or 10 minutes a day.

But, thanks for posting the info for those who do want or need this option.

@Mark - If we are on a two -week trip, we might occasionally turn on CNN or BBC for some English language news, but when we are on a long trip (two-months coming up) we will take some "nights off" and eat in, watch a little TV, especially after long day trips or a long day between locations. You cannot sightsee 16 hours a day every day.