Buying cell and data SIMS in Italy

[travelpeon]

Just a tip - ask the sales associate how to deactivate the plans prior to departing Italy if you'd like to keep any remaining credit. Otherwise the charge will renew itself every month and eat all your credit.

 

You'll also want to bring your passport. If it is a location which caters to tourists, they'll know how to generate a Coda Fiscale

http://italychronicles.com/how-to-create-a-codice-fiscale/

 

Check out the Roamer App as well. It can forward your own mobile number to the Italian one if your parents don't know how to dial Italy or might not call due to the costs. Since incoming calls are free and they just pay their normal rates, you just pay Roamer for the forwarding call time.

http://roamerapp.com/

[spuds]

Travelpeon, thanks for the link to the roamer site... that is very interesting.

[edtorious]

So instead of waiting to get to Europe to buy the sims and plans, is there anywhere or any way to buy and get the sims and plans now online before we get to Europe :confused:

Edited May 13, 2014 by edtorious

[travelpeon]

So instead of waiting to get to Europe to buy the sims and plans, is there anywhere or any way to buy and get the sims and plans now online before we get to Europe :confused:

 

There are for some countries. Check here first: http://prepaidwithdata.wikia.com/wiki/Prepaid_SIM_with_data

If you split it into a separate thread with the countries you're looking for not answered by above link, I can attempt to answer it there.

 

A few general methods:

1. Roaming sim

a. Tmobile Simple Choice postpaid plan - easiest but can limit you to t-mobile at home and requires a credit check to sign up, so sign up and cancel frequently isn't a good idea. Speed is throttled around 120 kbps down which is akin to a mediocre connection in an airport or coffee shop. Fast enough for e-mail and google maps, not great for video or skype.

b. Europe sims which roam - EU has capped the data roaming rate to be implemented by 2016.

A few of my recommendations below.

 

2. Country Specific Sims

a. Countries which allow you to purchase the sim without a passport - UK, IE, Germany you can find these on eBay and Amazon.com to order ahead of time.

b. Countries which require passport registration - France, Italy, & others. Can still be purchased ahead of time occasionally but often not worth the effort and increased cost.

 

In general, if all you want to do is make a few phone calls and use < 50 MB of data per day, I'd recommend a roaming sim to avoid having to get local sims in every country you stop in for a cruise. There are several players here and here's a few of my recs:

1. Piranha Mobile - works mostly all over the world. Europe has better rates than Caribbean and provides US + UK numbers so North American cruisers can forward their mobile numbers or hand the US number out for emergencies. You can also call home while in many European ports via GSM/3G phone connection rather than finding a wifi hotspot which is probably overloaded with people trying to do the same.

2. Toggle Mobile - Europe only. Free incoming calls in many European countries and you can get temporary US number for calls. Text/call someone and ask them to call you at the US number.

3. Europasim (aka Vodafone It) or TIM It Viaggio pass http://www.tim.it/estero/tim-in-viaggio-pass for data mostly/heavy users.

 

I have 1 & 2, as well as a T-Mobile Simple Choice plan for international data. It gets me 90% of the places I need. #3 requires you to purchase top ups from a third party Italian reseller as TIM/Vodafone often do not take non-Italian credit/bank accounts so top ups are a bit more trouble.

 

There's also the option of roaming on your US carrier and signing up for the correct plan with them. While I understand the desire to save some money, the reality is that getting local or roaming sims usually require time and effort on your vacation even if you buy them ahead of time. Many local sims require some activation steps in the local country. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile all have "reasonable" global roaming options that won't break the bank if you read the directions carefully and then follow them.

Edited May 13, 2014 by travelpeon

[carlsbadguy]

Found out just before my trip my cell phone will not work in italy looking for a basic cell phone for talk only and a sim card Will be travelling to other countries also I was wondering what would be my best option and approx cost and stores

[slidergirl]

Found out just before my trip my cell phone will not work in italy looking for a basic cell phone for talk only and a sim card Will be travelling to other countries also I was wondering what would be my best option and approx cost and stores

 

sounds like you either have a locked phone or you have a Verizon/Sprint phone…

 

You need to find a cheap, unlocked quad-band phone. That's why I have kept my trust old (bought in 2006) Motorola RAZR V3. It works everywhere and I can just buy a cheap SIM for it wherever I am and need phone access…

 

Look on eBay, Amazon for phones. Also, Best Buy online has unlocked phones. You need to get one that is GSM, NOT CDMA.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Here a sim card you can get before going over

http://www.mysim.ca/europe-and-elsewhere.html

[travelpeon]

Found out just before my trip my cell phone will not work in italy looking for a basic cell phone for talk only and a sim card Will be travelling to other countries also I was wondering what would be my best option and approx cost and stores

 

What are you looking to spend? For below $100, you can get new unlocked flip/candy bar basic phones.

 

For around $100-130, you can pick up an unlocked Nokia Lumia 520 (Microsoft smart phone) or the newly announced Moto E (Google Android with recent operating system).

 

These threads have specific phone suggestions:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1554563-looking-cheap-old-school-phone-intl-travel.html

 

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1384602-quad-band-unlocked-phone-travel.html

 

It is usually easier to find these kinds of less expensive unlocked phones priced competitively online than in-store when in USA.

 

TIM also carries basic phones if you want to one-stop-shop. It might or might not work with other sims, but you'd be purchasing a prepaid phone installed with TIM Italy sim card and 5 EUR credit.

http://www.tim.it/prodotti?Tipologia=TELEFONINI

[edtorious]

Thank you for all the tips here. I have a prepaid Tmobile plan. And so I'm not sure what are available options. I'm still waiting for Tmobile's response. But even if I swith to postpaid plan, I think based on the infos here, the data speed is kind of a bummer.

 

We will be on a cruise for 15 days in Europe, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Israel. I have an unlocked iPhone 5s. I will bring my Macbook Pro and iPad and so I'm thinking of tethering them also so I may need a sim that'll let me tether. I need at least maybe 5GB of data. I will need some voice plan to contact tour companies. I don't know how things work on a cruise ship also, will I be able to make calls and access mobile data from there?

 

I'm researching and looking on 30 days voice and data package plans but if anyone has any other suggestions, please feel free to let me know. Thanks. Ed

[travelpeon]

We will be on a cruise for 15 days in Europe, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Israel. I have an unlocked iPhone 5s. I will bring my Macbook Pro and iPad and so I'm thinking of tethering them also so I may need a sim that'll let me tether.

 

T-Mobile Simple Choice also offers higher speed 3G pay-for data packs which include tethering but nothing approaching 5GB.

http://www.dailytech.com/TMobile+Introduces+Free+Roaming+for+Unlimited+International+Text+Data/article33533.htm

 

Check out Europasim aka Vodafone.it if you don't want to get new sims in each country. It has 500MB at 3G/4G speeds (throttled to 32kbps after 500MB), 50 sms, 50 min a day for 3 EUR. Only charged on days it is used.

Europasim if you want to buy ahead of time:

http://www.europasim.com/en_GB

Tethering with smartphones and MiFi is possible if the APN is set up manually to mobile.vodafone.it

A wrong APN setup can cause higher than expected costs!

 

Warning: from Android 4.1 on, a correct tethering APN setup is possible only with root access!

Standard IOS does not allow to manage the tethering APN.

In case your device does not allow to edit the tethering APN, please use a MiFi or a UMTS Stick

 

Fair Usage Policy: You can use up to 10 GB per month.

From 10 GB on, the connection speed is throttled to 32 Kbps!

 

Vodafone.it if you want to buy in Italy

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vodafone.it%2Fportal%2FPrivati%2FTariffe-e-Prodotti%2FTariffe%2FEstero%2FDall-Estero%2FVodafone-Smart-Passport&edit-text=&act=url

The domestic SMART 200 with 1GB states it supports tethering within Italy, too (via google translate)

And 'possible to use the smartphone as a modem mode tethering / Wi-Fi hotspot surfing the terms of the Base Rate Daily Internet.

200 Smart provides the data traffic generated by VOIP applications. This offer provides traffic prioritization.

For more details on mobile broadband, use the VOIP service and traffic prioritization and service class associated with the offering click here .

 

Depending on how much data you need and how long you'll be in certain countries, you can usually buy a larger data pack on local prepaid. For instance, Vodafone.it will add 2GB domestic data to the Smart 200 plan for 10 EUR/month.

 

I'd think about buying

Vodafone.it in Italy + 1GB,

Cosmote or Vodafone in Greece, ie Cosmote's mobile broadband 5 day, 2GB, for 10 EUR plan which should use all the credit included with a new sim http://www.cosmote.gr/cosmoportal/page/HCP/xml/Personal__contractplans__contractplan_IOTG_me_KartaSimpack_prs/section/IOTG_onRequest_prs/loc/en_US

Turkey- roam on Vodafone.it, Turkish sim registration and setup can be a bit of a hassle

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1568027-need-help-again-turkish-sim-card-keeps-asking-pin.html

Israel - local sim. Check eBay and here for options http://prepaidwithdata.wikia.com/wiki/Israel

 

You can change the apn via unlockit.co.nz if your phone doesn't let you set it directly.

 

Regarding using your mobile data while on the ship- It depends on the provider for the ship/cruise line. AT&T is now offering a data bundle to use onboard RCCL. It requires a contract. Verizon also offers one for $25/100MB under contract, though I can't vouch that it works. It usually all goes through the satellite connection when you connect to the ship's internet http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8461. The guest wifi ->satellite connection usually remains enabled while in port but the voice portion gets disabled. I can usually pick up a mobile internet connection at least 10 min after un-docking from major cities if I initiate the connection before sail away.

Edited May 21, 2014 by travelpeon

[bugeater2]

So instead of waiting to get to Europe to buy the sims and plans, is there anywhere or any way to buy and get the sims and plans now online before we get to Europe :confused:

 

This is a fairly new company in Amsterdam that will mail the sims to you in the US prior to your trip. They are more expensive than buying your sims in country but surprisingly not horrible.

 

I was actually going to use them for a Belgium, France and Italy sim but I won a 1GB all-Europe sim from a contest on their website. I will just buy them while I am there since I now have a backup.

 

Also be careful to read the fine print. Most of their sims can share data through your phones hotspot but the Italy sim is not shareable.

 

http://prepaidzero.com/

Edited May 21, 2014 by bugeater2

[edtorious]

T-Mobile Simple Choice also offers higher speed 3G pay-for data packs which include tethering but nothing approaching 5GB.

http://www.dailytech.com/TMobile+Introduces+Free+Roaming+for+Unlimited+International+Text+Data/article33533.htm

 

Check out Europasim aka Vodafone.it if you don't want to get new sims in each country. It has 500MB at 3G/4G speeds (throttled to 32kbps after 500MB), 50 sms, 50 min a day for 3 EUR. Only charged on days it is used.

Europasim if you want to buy ahead of time:

http://www.europasim.com/en_GB

 

 

Vodafone.it if you want to buy in Italy

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vodafone.it%2Fportal%2FPrivati%2FTariffe-e-Prodotti%2FTariffe%2FEstero%2FDall-Estero%2FVodafone-Smart-Passport&edit-text=&act=url

The domestic SMART 200 with 1GB states it supports tethering within Italy, too (via google translate)

 

 

Depending on how much data you need and how long you'll be in certain countries, you can usually buy a larger data pack on local prepaid. For instance, Vodafone.it will add 2GB domestic data to the Smart 200 plan for 10 EUR/month.

 

I'd think about buying

Vodafone.it in Italy + 1GB,

Cosmote or Vodafone in Greece, ie Cosmote's mobile broadband 5 day, 2GB, for 10 EUR plan which should use all the credit included with a new sim http://www.cosmote.gr/cosmoportal/page/HCP/xml/Personal__contractplans__contractplan_IOTG_me_KartaSimpack_prs/section/IOTG_onRequest_prs/loc/en_US

Turkey- roam on Vodafone.it, Turkish sim registration and setup can be a bit of a hassle

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1568027-need-help-again-turkish-sim-card-keeps-asking-pin.html

Israel - local sim. Check eBay and here for options http://prepaidwithdata.wikia.com/wiki/Israel

 

You can change the apn via unlockit.co.nz if your phone doesn't let you set it directly.

 

Regarding using your mobile data while on the ship- It depends on the provider for the ship/cruise line. AT&T is now offering a data bundle to use onboard RCCL. It requires a contract. Verizon also offers one for $25/100MB under contract, though I can't vouch that it works. It usually all goes through the satellite connection when you connect to the ship's internet http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8461. The guest wifi ->satellite connection usually remains enabled while in port but the voice portion gets disabled. I can usually pick up a mobile internet connection at least 10 min after un-docking from major cities if I initiate the connection before sail away.

Thanks for the tons of info Travelpeon! I'll check them all out. So many choices and a litle bit confusing but hopefully I'll be able to figure out the best solution for my needs.

[edtorious]

Has anyone tried KeepGo.com? How was it?

[travelpeon]

Has anyone tried KeepGo.com? How was it?

 

Just for reference, the same product was called iPhoneTrip.com. It is a re-branded grandfathered AT&T postpaid plan with global roaming.

[spuds]

Just wanted to send an update... just got back from Italy (had a great time!) and I purchased the TIM Welcome & SIM Card for 30 Euros... well worth it in my opinion. We were there for 3 weeks and had 200 minutes of outgoing calls (which we did not even come close to), and 2 GB of Data (which again, did not come close to using up). It was invaluable as one time I had to call a tour guide to let her know we were running late one morning (did not want her to think we were not showing up) and when we went to our B&B in Tuscany I needed to get directions and they had to e-mail them to me as it would have been to difficult to explain over the phone... we would have never have found it on the country roads without the directions and because I had data I had no problems receiving the e-mail.

 

We purchased it at the Rome Termini station... when I asked about SIM plans for a traveller they did not offer this one (they had some other packages), but I asked about it and they said it was available. I thought it was a better deal than then others they were offering. Because we were in Italy for 99% of the time and for under 30 days I thought this was the best plan for us... if you are travelling to other countries another plan might be better.

[Crusin6]

Ok stupid question. Very stupid.

 

These SIM cards. What are they exactly? Do you open your basic phone and insert it?

 

What does someone with an iPhone 4 s do? Can't open the phone.

 

We travel to Europe frequently and will be back in 2016 as a bunch and kids maybe in 2015 as students

 

Last time we went in 2012 none of us had smartphones and just used iPads Wifi or the Mobal for the infrequent call

 

When the kids go alone the Mobal is with them for use if needed not for chatting and iPad for Internet. I also call them from home to the landline in their rooms. Very cheap for me no cost for them to answer the phone. Lol. We also time those calls right.

 

So what do I do in2016 with my iPhone? I will if course have my Mobal as we will be in London too.

 

Verizon will be called of course as they are my carrier. But what does an iPhone 4 s owner actually need to do? Please don't tell me about unlocked or locked cells. My iPhone comes with me as does my Mobal and iPad I can live with wifi on iPad only. I just want to know about using the iPhone for calls as infrequent as they may be for us as we have no reason to call home more that once or twice a trip I already know how efficiently Mobal works and am good with that. I was just looking for first hand experiences and procedures from iPhone users in Europe.

 

Thanks

Edited June 17, 2014 by Crusin6

[ducklite]

Ok stupid question. Very stupid.

 

These SIM cards. What are they exactly? Do you open your basic phone and insert it?

 

What does someone with an iPhone 4 s do? Can't open the phone.

 

We travel to Europe frequently and will be back in 2016 as a bunch and kids maybe in 2015 as students

 

Last time we went in 2012 none of us had smartphones and just used iPads Wifi or the Mobal for the infrequent call

 

When the kids go alone the Mobal is with them for use if needed not for chatting and iPad for Internet. I also call them from home to the landline in their rooms. Very cheap for me no cost for them to answer the phone. Lol. We also time those calls right.

 

So what do I do in2016 with my iPhone? I will if course have my Mobal as we will be in London too.

 

Verizon will be called of course as they are my carrier. But what does an iPhone 4 s owner actually need to do? Please don't tell me about unlocked or locked cells. My iPhone comes with me as does my Mobal and iPad I can live with wifi on iPad only. I just want to know about using the iPhone for calls as infrequent as they may be for us as we have no reason to call home more that once or twice a trip I already know how efficiently Mobal works and am good with that. I was just looking for first hand experiences and procedures from iPhone users in Europe.

 

Thanks

 

 

You most certainly can change out the SIM in your 4s. I did a couple of years ago. Verizon sent me an unlocked SIM so I can use either the US or the Rest of the world networks. There is a little door on the side if the phone. You pop it open, pop out the old SIM and pop in the new. It was harder to figure out how to take off the Otter Box.

 

We've decided to do something different moving forward and are buying a couple of cheap phone from Vodafone and topping them up with minutes. Total cost is under $100 for enough minutes/texts/data/intl minutes to cover two weeks or more in Europe for both of us.

Edited June 17, 2014 by ducklite

[Crusin6]

You most certainly can change out the SIM in your 4s. I did a couple of years ago. Verizon sent me an unlocked SIM so I can use either the US or the Rest of the world networks. There is a little door on the side if the phone. You pop it open, pop out the old SIM and pop in the new. It was harder to figure out how to take off the Otter Box.

 

We've decided to do something different moving forward and are buying a couple of cheap phone from Vodafone and topping them up with minutes. Total cost is under $100 for enough minutes/texts/data/intl minutes to cover two weeks or more in Europe for both of us.

 

I too was thinking along those same lines with a cheap vodaphone. Or just the Mobal for calls and iPad for data

 

Question though will the vodaphone have a usa phone number? I guess not?

 

As you know the main issue with the Mobal is if someone from home calls you they are incurring long distance charges unless they are set up for a .07 deal.

 

I suppose FaceTime is good enough as is text and email from my iPad and just using the Mobal to call occasionally.

 

I certainly don't want my iPhone getting calls from telemarketers or updating spam email while in Europe. Lol

Edited June 17, 2014 by Crusin6

[ducklite]

I too was thinking along those same lines with a cheap vodaphone. Or just the Mobal for calls and iPad for data

 

Question though will the vodaphone have a usa phone number? I guess not?

 

As you know the main issue with the Mobal is if someone from home calls you they are incurring long distance charges unless they are set up for a .07 deal.

 

I suppose FaceTime is good enough as is text and email from my iPad and just using the Mobal to call occasionally.

 

I certainly don't want my iPhone getting calls from telemarketers or updating spam email while in Europe. Lol

 

The Vodafone will have a local number wherever you buy it. So UK if you get it in the UK, Italy if you get it there.

 

Think about it this way--what is so important at home that you need to worry about anyone calling you? Send a text or email with the number of the phone you buy there and will be keeping on for an emergency. If it's that important that they NEED to call you, the cost of the long distance call won't really matter. We turned our phones off when we got on the plane to Tahiti and I called home once while we were gone, just to let our son know we had arrived safely in Tahiti. He had the phone number of the hotel and cruise ship had there been an emergency.

 

The only reason we've decided to go with the Vodafone mobiles is that for the next few years we are planning on vacations in Europe that will most likely have us splitting up a lot during the day to pursue our own interests, and we'll want to be able to touch base for when we expect to be done or where to meet for dinner, etc.

[Crusin6]

The Vodafone will have a local number wherever you buy it. So UK if you get it in the UK, Italy if you get it there.

 

Think about it this way--what is so important at home that you need to worry about anyone calling you? Send a text or email with the number of the phone you buy there and will be keeping on for an emergency. If it's that important that they NEED to call you, the cost of the long distance call won't really matter. We turned our phones off when we got on the plane to Tahiti and I called home once while we were gone, just to let our son know we had arrived safely in Tahiti. He had the phone number of the hotel and cruise ship had there been an emergency.

 

The only reason we've decided to go with the Vodafone mobiles is that for the next few years we are planning on vacations in Europe that will most likely have us splitting up a lot during the day to pursue our own interests, and we'll want to be able to touch base for when we expect to be done or where to meet for dinner, etc.

 

Oh nothing is important at home and honestly the Mobal works great for us as a family and for the kids when they go alone.

 

We have it figured out but I was just hoping that something new had come up that's all

[Tommy3putts]

Ok so if I but the "TIM welcome SIM card" for my unlocked AT&T iPhone 5 in Rome will it work in Greece and Turkey ports (roaming) on my 11 night cruise ?

Edited June 19, 2014 by Tommy3putts
update

[spuds]

You can ask the TIM rep... but I don't think so... that is why I said you should maybe look at another plan if you are going to other countries... we had only 2 days in Malta out of our 3 week vacation (the rest was Italy) so it worked well for us.

[Tommy3putts]

Thanks. Thought I read somewhere that it would work in but at roaming rates. Just trying to verify. We have 2 stops in Turkey and 3 in Greece so it may be worth getting cheapo SIM cards for each country.

[slidergirl]

It will work, but you will be subject to roaming charges, just like in the US. But, there is a cap on how much a company can charge. It may be worth it to pay that roaming fee per call than buy new SIM cards everywhere.

 

On the good new front for us travelers: by next summer, the EU should have no roaming charges at all. It's in the works in the EU Parliament. So, if you buy a SIM in Rome before your cruise, it will cost the same to use it in Greece, Turkey, Spain, etc…

 

Note: your iPhone 4s may still be locked by your provider and, depending on which provider you have, may not be usable in Europe (due to the bandwidths used and installed on the phone and the non-availability of a micro SIM slot). If you own your phone and have had the contract for awhile, most providers are willing to unlock. It's a simple process and doesn't affect how your phone works at home- just allows you to install SIMs from other providers...

[suntan]

I'm glad I found this thread as I have been wondering about SIM cards for my new Samsung Galaxy S4. I am technologically inept and I would appreciate you confirming what I understand all the postings have told me. I'm sailing on the Silhouette in September for an 11-night Eastern Med cruise (Italy and Greece, Turkey, and Malta) with two days pre cruise and one day in Venice post cruise. I'm only taking the phone in case of emergencies so I don't expect to have it turned on all the time, especially when we're on the ship because I can use their internet to access my email account. Ok, so here goes:

 

1. I can purchase a SIM card in Rome.

2. That SIM card I purchase in Rome will work in Greece, Turkey and Malta but there will be roaming charges.

 

I just thought of another question (I said I am technologically inept :D) - if I turn the phone on will I be charged for roaming charges or do I have to actually use the phone to be charged?

 

Your help is greatly appreciated!!