Hi,
We are starting our trip to Italy flying into Venice: VCE-Marco Polo.
We bought an international, unlocked cell phone to use while we are there. Do you have a suggestion of where/what brand SIM card we should get?
Thank you!
Posted by
Alexandria, VA
771 posts
When we arrived at our hotel, we asked where they recommend we get a SIM card, and they directed us to a Vodaphone store near the Rialto Bridge. The price was reasonable, and they loaded it for us. It takes an hour or two to become active.
Posted by
California
494 posts
Or, the TIM store on the other side of the Rialto bridge, on the mercato/market side.
Posted by
Washington DC
28487 posts
Wind was one of two recommended to me by an Italian. I don't remember the second. I don't know whether there's a convenient Wind purchase point in Venice, however.
Posted by
CA, USA
1272 posts
before you spend more money I'd ask just what calls you are planning on making or receiving? Back to the States? Easily done using hotel wifi and a tool like Skype. Around Italy? A good idea to have a working cellphone if you are renting a car, but if your US phone works it should be ok given that you'd only need to make calls in case of an emergency.
Posted by
OP
Atlanta
49 posts
Our phone service is Republic Wireless and does not allow for international calls.
We won't be renting a car, but will be using AirBnB and will need to call our host.
We'd also like to use it for maps ability.
Thank you for all the replies!!!
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1386 posts
If you take the AVTO bus, you will end up at Piazzale Roma. There is a tabacchi change shop which sells and activates SIM cards (look for the painted crosswalk and you can see it in Google streetview). I purchased a TIM card for tourists for €30. Cute gal named Lucia(?) who spoke English.
Posted by
824 posts
There is a WIND store in the train station but I was sorely disappointed in the WIND service. My data, voice and text allocations all ran out at amazing rates. I had all the auto-downloading apps disabled and we weren't sending pictures all over the world so I really can't figure out what was going on. Sadly, neither could the sales people in the store.
The data connection with WIND was spotty as well. Their signal was pretty weak in Venice, Florence and Rome and entering a building usually resulted in a total loss of service.
I would give the TIM cellular service a try. It's go to be better than WIND...
BTW - it wasn't the phones because these are the phones we use daily in the US with no problems whatsoever.