jmbchgo

Hi,
Will be in Rome with a 17yr old who can't imagine not calling girlfriends back home to get the lastest news every other day. I want her to purchase her own phone card and use the public pay phones. With the increased use of cellphones are pay phones still everywhere? We will be staying at the Cesari, close to the Pantheon. Thanks for any help

kybourbon

Assuming you are from Chicago, your 17 year old will be on a much different time schedule than friends back home. Internet/e-mails will be a better way to keep in touch.

jmbchgo

Good guess! lol Where there is a will, there is a way...and she'll find it. I think the Cesari has internet access, but we will not have a laptop with us. Maybe they also have a computer to use. good suggestion Thanks But I am curious. Are the public pay phones still used in Rome. You can hardly find any here.

Vttraveler

There are definitely internet cafes even if the hotel does not have a computer your daughter can use. (I was pleasantly surprised that our 16 year old son survived for 8 days w/o insisting on visiting one)
We were able to rent a cell phone at a very reasonable rate through our apt rental agency so didn't use public phones. My guidebooks claim there are still plenty of them around the city. I think for many of them you may have to purchase telephone cards in Italy (they have corners that have to be broken off before use)

jmbchgo

Vttraveler
Thanks for the info. I have a Mobal for short calls home, when necessary, but I'm guessing that having her use the public phone with the calling card she'll think twice about spending too much time on the phone.

WillTravel

I saw plenty of pay phones in central Rome (two years ago), and used these to phone my family with a cheap phone card. If she wants to use the Internet, EasyInternet at Piazza Barberini is a good choice, and it's not that far from where you are. I also recall Internet cafes near the Vatican.

SusanP

There is a set of 4 pay phones in the Piazza Navona, on the eastern side of the square. You will see them other places as well. Have her buy the Europa card for international calls, 5 Euro for 200 minutes (or she would probably want the 10-Euro one!). You can buy those at a tobacco shop (there is also one of these right there on the eastern side of the Piazza Navona).

There is no corner to break off, you don't insert it in the phone. There is a PIN to scratch off on the back and a number to call for English instructions. Note that when you using a pay phone, you will not really get 200 minutes, it will be less. Also, the last 2 times I used one in Rome, the English number didn't work. I just dialed the Italian one and it was pretty easy to follow even if you don't speak Italian. It will ask for your PIN (easy to understand) and then will ask you to dial your number. Very easy.