SIM Card for Italy travel

You don't get a sim prior to departure. You just pay in advance and print a voucher that must be exchanged with the actual sim in Italy. Note that the voucher will be accepted only at Tim's brand stores, most re-sellers won't accept it.

24 hours is the max time, the sim starts working almost immediately whereas the Tourists' plan is usually activated within 20 minutes. You'd better Turn data connection off until the plan is "up&running". While waiting you could ask the staff to turn all VAS services off on your new SIM.

Vodafone plan for tourists costs 30 euro, too. The big difference is that Vodafone includes text messages.

Dario gave some good advice on the SIM cards. I like TIM because it allows 12 Gigs of data vs. 2 Gigs for Vodafone. In 2 weeks I'd blow though 7-10 gigs without a problem. There is no TIM store at the Venice airport. There are a number on TIM stores in Venice.

I will vouch for the TIM Visitors card. I've purchased this the last two times we were in Venice (2016, 2018). I purchased the SIM card both times from the TIM store a few blocks from the Rialto bridge on Ruga Delgi Spezier (It's on a corner). It did not take long at all and I had service when I walked out of the store. You'll need your passport as they have to register the card.

Thank you all for the response with great tip.
So, is there an advantage to doing TIM tourist purchase prior to departing for Italy? All TIM stores accept the voucher or its has to be an official TIM store only?

So, is there an advantage to doing TIM tourist purchase prior to departing for Italy?

No, there is no advantage. At least not for you, but TIM loves getting your money in advance.

I will be taking my unlocked phone to Italy. Does anyone know where to get the SIM card at the airport in Rome (FCO)? Will be arriving at Terminal 3 then going to Terminal 1 for a flight to Sicily. Unfortunately, our flights were not booked on the same ticket as Sicily was an afterthought and I don't know exactly how we will be proceeding as to needing to pick up luggage, customs and passport control (still confused on this). I am not tech savvy. Thanks.

TIM has a store close to the exits from terminal 3 at FCO. Very easy to get a SIM card. Depending on crowds, it’ll take about 15-20 minutes. I bought the prepaid voucher and things went very smoothly. Though I haven’t used it, there’s a TIM store airside in the departure area of Terminal 1 as well.

I bought a TIM tourist card at the TIM store just north of the Rialto bridge the day I arrived in Venice, and it was activated the first time I used it, maybe an hour or two later. It worked fine for my three-week stay and helped me a lot. I think they charged me 40 euros, maybe that was too much but I didn't argue.

If you are a US user of T-Mobile you do have free text messages along with 2G data in Italy (and most of Europe). Also, $0.25/minute phone calls.

Hello - I converted my phone to a "British phone" at an EE store in London and it worked great. I want to do the same with an Italian Sim card.

I've identified TIM as the company I want to go with but I'd like to go to a TIM store and have company person do it for me (as I did in London) . Can I get the TIM Visitor deal in a store in Rome or do I have to buy that online over here?

Thanks!

Greg

TIM is definitely has the best coverage. Only thing I am not sure is can one go to any TIM store if the deal is purchased online? Do I have to find an official TIM store or any mom and pop store will work?

I think TIM and Vodafone both have good coverage in Italy. I have not purchased a SIM with a voucher like that, but my understanding is that the only benefit is that it makes it easier for a clerk at a store to get you the exact SIM you want - no language barrier, etc. I personally would not want to be stuck with TIM if say there was a line at the store or something - and there was a Vodafone store across the street. I'm pretty sure you can purchase the same TIM SIM card with or without a voucher, for the same price, but pre-paying with the voucher may save you a tiny bit of time once you are in the process of buying it at a store.

Dario:

Can you please tell me what you mean when you suggest having the clerk turn all the VAS services turned off?

What does VAS mean? I do not understand your suggestion or the reason for it.

Thank you.

Philip:
When you mention a TIM store near exits in Terminal 3, is that the store that is near baggage claim and near the car rentals?

I didn't know there is a second store at FCO. Is the TIM store in Terminal 1, Departures, a TIM store or it that the one that is a reseller.

Thank you for any response.

The FCO shop map shows two TIM shops, one in T3 arrival area and one in T1 terminal near boarding area B. The one in T3 I'm pretty sure is a reseller but all accounts from multiple forum posts are that they handle the SIM for Tourists, just look at the photo for instance.
http://tinyurl.com/TIM-T3-arrival
http://tinyurl.com/TIM-T1-terminal

I took a voucher to Rome Termini (train) station last year, was up and running in about 10 minutes and it worked great throughout my two week stay. I thought I'd miss texts but it wasn't so much a hindrance. I was able to dial direct back to the US and never came close to using all the data and minutes.

Do I have to find an official TIM store or any mom and pop store will work?

A non official store could refuse to honor the voucher or ask for € 5 euro more. It's not a scam, they wouldn't make any money from you whereas TiM takes months to reimbourse re-sellers the price of those pre-paid SIMs

it makes it easier for a clerk at a store to get you the exact SIM you want - no language barri

All sims were created equal and they all cost € 10. When you ask for a tourists' plan, pre-paid or not, they take one of the dozens of sim in the store, enter the company's data-base and activate the plan you want on that SIM. To avoid language problems you could print Tim-for-Visitors page out and hand it to the store staff.

What does VAS mean?

Vas means Value Added Services, in short you can pay for online services using your phone credit. A good idea ruined by porn and gambling sites.