Wi-Fi Card for Laptop in Italy - service

can you just rent apartments with internet? I know some of them have wireless. that may be the easiest plan.

Hi Michelle

Thank you for your quick reply. All apartments have been rented (my husband is just now showing concern about taking a month off from work without any access). I know one of the apartments we're renting in Rome has internet access.. but will he need something for his laptop to make it work? I am unsure about the apartments we have rented in Venice, the other in Rome (we will be stopping there twice), Florence or Positano. I will definitely look into it.. seeing as youre suggesting its the best way to go. Thank you again!

Paula

If you're staying in apartments, the only reliable way to get internet access is via the data networks of one of the cell phone companies. The laptop is going to need a special mobile broadband card for this, a WiFi card isn't going to work in this scenario. I'm not an expert about which US companies are have roaming agreements over in Europe, but I believe AT&T/Cingular are your best bet. But it's going to be pricey.

Look at this Italy info website and you might find some answers to your questions about the wi-fi service through Italy.

http://rome.angloinfo.com/countries/italy/living.asp

To pick up normal wi-fi (like hotel lobbies or what not) you just need wireless capability. We've been able to pick up wi-fi with our computers and even our PSP. I know some friends who use thier italian cell phone to get internet. you could talk to a cell phone store once you get here. I would guess that it would cost less $ to just buy a phone here than it would be to use your USA phone.

Hello Michelle -

We do plan on purchasing a phone and minutes once we arrive in Italy. Since we are renting a car and driving, and we'll have 2 kids with us (6 of us total) we feel that a phone is a must. We are staying IN the cities when we stop - so hopefully it wont cause a problem to use his laptop. I will have him call a few of our cell phone companies and ask what they have to offer over in Italy/Europe. I heard that some offer a service that you can purchase monthly - but when I asked at a local store (Costco - large warehouse store - their cell phone center) they didnt have a clue as to what I was talking about. So I will call the cell phone companies directly.

Thank you, everyone - for your suggestions...
Paula

In order to use the internet in Italy, you will need to register your passport/personal information with the provider. It's the new anti-terrorism law in Italy. Even if you find a wi-fi network, you won't be able to use unless you give up your personal information. So you have to find a network able to do so. If you will be staying in a hotel, you will be able to do so.
The only solution I see is to go thru a cell phone by connceting your PC to it. I was in Italy just back in November and I had hard time connecting to t-mobile network . 95% of the time I couldn't connect, plus it's very expensive. It's like $10/1 MB of data.

Talk to your cell provider here in the states. Tell them you need a broadband card that can be used in Italy. They will either have one, and an available plan you can purchase, or they should be able to point you in the right direction.

As an example, here's Verizon's answer to your problem:

Verizon Wireless Global Access

Hi Paula,

Ok, so I know that this isn't the answer to your questions, but its worth mentioning: is there any chance you can talk your husband out of this crazy idea to work from Italy? :) I can say crazy because I am speaking from experience.

Two years ago we went to Italy and I checked my emails periodically and I can tell you it really diminished the experience. Vacation is a state of mind and when you pull yourself mentally back into work mode it interrupts that experience.

This year when we went to Italy I didn't bring a laptop, cell phone and I had my assistant change my email password so that I couldn't check my emails from an internet cafe. What a far better time we had. And guess what, everything was fine without me at the office!! People found a way to work without me. :)

Vacation costs so much that you will want to maximize the reason that you are there.....to relax.

You will spend more time looking for free wifi hotspots than in the US. They are not as common as here. We used the ATT cellular data plan with our iPhone, but it is very expensive per Mb. There are internet cafes, but finding them close to you may be a chore and they may not exist in even moderately large towns.Some countries you can get a monthly plan access, but in others it is so much per Mb and really adds up.

Hi Paula,

I just completed an 8 week stint in Venice for my University (this is my dad's account), and being a Computer Science major, internet was extremely important. Unfortunately there is very little network infrastructure in Italy, and I have learned from talking to locals that it is very expensive. Additionally, at least in Venice, there aren't really cable connections so cable internet is rare, and since most Italians use cell phones now, a lot of houses don't even have phone lines for DSL. Occasionally you will come across an unsecured hotspot, but it is nothing to rely on. We found that the best bet was to pick up one of those 3G cellphone network cards from a Vodafone store. They work all through out Italy where there is cell service. You can get a single month plan for 30 euro for 100 hours of access, and if you are in a place with 3G service, the speed is pretty fast too.

Prego,
Justin

Jim,

Are you sure 3G on Vodafone is that cheap?
That's .30 EUR per hour. Never heard of such low rate. While I was in Italy this past November Vodafone charged me $10 per 1 MB of data. This is very expensive.

When I went to recharge my card at the Vodafone store by the Rialto steps, I asked for the "one month 100 hour" recharge (this is for pay-as-you-go). Keep in mind that although it was 100 hours, it expired after one month. Also, we had the cards already, so there may or may not be a charge associated with that as well. This deal was there as of December 1, so it should be there still, though I can't guarantee it.

-Justin

Hi Jim! Thanks so much! My husband is looking into it. He also has something installed on his laptop - from his work - that will help him gain access. So lets hope between the both - we'll be ok. We are in Europe for 1 month, but the first 11 days we will not be in Italy (on a cruise) and he isnt expecting to have his laptop working during that time. While we're in Venice, the apartment we're renting is right by the Rialto Bridge.. but we'll check Genoa as soon as we get off the cruise for the vodaphone option. We shouldnt need to recharge - 100 hours in 2 1/2 weeks is plenty of time for him to give up to work ;o)

THANKS!!
Paula

Hi Ismael

Well we never were able to purchase any sort of internet connection while we were in Italy. Some of the apartments we rented & B&Bs we stayed in had internet and that was when he was able to work. Luckily he didnt tell his work that he was planning on working while he was over there because it wasnt often he could get OL.

Wherever you wind up for that week, just make sure the places you stay already have internet. Its the only way I found around the issue. Verizon has some sort of plan but its very expensive and it wouldnt have worked for what he needed anyway.

Have fun in Italy!

Paula

Paula:

I would like to know how you solve your problem. I will be one month in Italy and have the same question. My hotel has wi-fi but for a week will be out of the hotel.

Thanks

I travel a lot on business and got a Sprint Sierra Wireless card last December. Sprint and T-Mobile appear to have the best service outside the U.S. But, I had to sign up for a year of service.