I'd like to take advantage of the 30 Euro offer that TIM is selling their visitor SIM for. I think I've read in some other forum that people have had bad luck taking the voucher into a TIM store to get their SIM. Curious to know if others here have had issues with doing this?
On the flip side, I don't know how long the current offer will last. So I'm wondering on that end if I should buy now before the offer is gone.
They had a TIM for Visitors deal last summer too; I just walked into their store in Lucca and bought it. I don't remember if the price was different from a price advertised online or not, but I do remember that the price seemed reasonable.
It will be there when you go don’t worry. It’s been there for a few years now.
However consider there may be data plans even more advantageous than these plans for visitors (both TIM and Vodafone, the two largest providers, charge 30€ for those.
Check Vodafone for example (I’m sure TIM has something similar)
If you don’t make International calls and use data only (and call only locally) the cost of Vodafone smart is only 10€
If you want to make lots of international calls, Vodafone Red offers you 10Gb of data, unlimited domestic outgoing minutes and SMS texts, and even 1000 international outgoing minutes (incoming calls and texts are always free to the receiver in Europe), all for 25€ plus the cost of the SIM card (which should be 10€). So for 35€ you get much more data and minutes.
Inquire at the store. Offers change all the time.
Buying a TIM voucher means you are locked into TIM. If the day you arrive there's a big line at the TIM store and no line at the Vodafone store, you'll have to wait for the TIM line. It doesn't sound to me like there's a huge advantage in buying it early.
Thanks Roberto for that link. I had searched previously for Vodafone SIM prices but never ran into this link. I wrote down offers and prices of both carriers so that I knew what my options were. The Vodafone SIMs look a bit more advantageous to me.
Are these stores at the Airport terminal in Rome?
Do some research on them, because they may have initial activation fee that may make those plans not workable for one month only. But check with the stores. They generally know what would be best for you. Just be aware of the international calls and also international texts. Those cheap plans for Italians include lots of minutes and texts (often unlimited) but only within Italy. If you make international ones, those would be extra and come off the 5€ credit you are initially given in the sim card. If you make lots of those you will run out of credit and you’ll have to buy more credit at a local tobacconist. The SIM card must have a positive credit at any time, or the internet will stop working and you can’t even use data anymore. That’s how the European prepaid plans work. No contract, but also no credit money, no honey.
TIM has a store near the exit of terminal 3. Vodafone has no presence at FCO. I used thE prepaid voucher at the TIM store and they were friendly and efficient. They had my phone up and running in less than 20 minutes. Maybe there are cheaper plans but to me the convenience and the 4 gigs of data were worth the €30.
TIM has a store near the exit of terminal 3. Vodafone has no presence at FCO
Thanks.
Do some research on them, because they may have initial activation fee that may make those plans not workable for one month only.
Looks like the Vodafone option has an activation fee of €29? Might not be the better deal if that's the case.
You're right, there is a heft activation fee on the Vodafone SIMs. I'll just figure it out once I land out there.
If you buy at FCO and have not bought the voucher ahead of time the TIM for Visitors sim will cost €35. The booth at the airport is a re-seller so they charge more. Still a good deal and it works great!
It is important to follow the directions and not use your phone until you receive a notification from TIM that your sim has been activated. This sim doesn't include text messages, if you text, the cost will be deducted from the initial €5 that sim cards have already loaded on to them. Sometimes better to wait to buy a sim at an official store because they might have a plan that works best for you.
It is a quick process but you do need to provide your passport and be sure you know how to get your sim card out and find a safe place to keep your old sim.
Thanks, I've done it before. Just not in Italy. What I've read in the past is that most people complain that their SIM is no activated until hours later.
Yes it takes a couple of hours before you receive the message from TIM or Vodafone that the card is active. While you wait turn the cellular data off on your phone, otherwise your phone will use your credit that comes with the card.
I didn't have to wait several hours probably less than an hour
Odd, but when I got my TIM Visitor sim at FCO in November using a prepaid voucher, the transaction took less than 20 minutes and the clerk made sure it was active when she handed the phone to me.
Philip, did you use your phone right after she gave it back to you?
I have bought this TIM for Visitors sim at FCO twice and the clerk did hand the phone back to me and I saw that the cell provider was TIM but she also informed me to wait for the message from TIM that the sim was ready to use and to turn my phone off then back on.
I do remember it wasn't that long before I received the message, think I was on the Leonardo Express train when I received it.
Back in October of 2016, I purchased this from a TIM store in Venice. Nobody ahead of me in line, the entire transaction took less than 10 minutes. I left the store with the phone ready to go, but I have heard others say that there is some lag in getting the SIM activated. I'm going back to Italy in about a month and plan on getting the same deal again.
These are probably silly questions...but is the phone for internet use while traveling Italy? Or to call back home while traveling? Or for GPS use? I hadn't really thought of needing a phone while there, so you have me thinking....
These are probably silly questions...but is the phone for internet use while traveling Italy? Or to call back home while traveling? Or for GPS use? I hadn't really thought of needing a phone while there, so you have me thinking....
Yes.
Yes. With limitations
Yes.
Here's a quick description of the TIM for Visitors
