Peter_S_Aus

Telestial is OK - we used them. You can buy top-up cards at any Tabac.
Don't activate the card until you reach italy. Long story!

illinoisfive

if i am already in rome, where can i buy a timm card for my cell phone. the tobacco stores only sell the reload cards.

Peter_S_Aus

You have to find a TIM store - your hotel may be able to advise

dina4

This is all great information.

I am just wondering how much you get for your 10euro sim card -- in terms of data/ internet surfing and phone calls. also, how much does it cost to call the US from italy.

thanks!
dina

Crischan

We bought sim cards from Vodafone in a currency exchange store at Pisa Airport. The ones for the smartphones worked well, but the one for the USB dongle of our notebook did not work at all.

Unfortunately, the people had no idea why it did not work and they did also not refund the 20 Euros for the card.

I would NOT buy there again, as they do not know what they are selling and they do not even have the simplest manuals.

uhoh_busted

I researched this fairly well before we went to Italy for a month last fall. Went to TIM right after we checked into our hotel in Rome and freshened up. Bought sims for both my little old unlocked Motorola and my iPad2. Had George Clooney install them both and explain what I'd need to do ( TIM seems to hire attractive people to work in their stores in Rome...). I was indeed up and running om the spot.

I THINK I did register with TIM prior to leaving home...it didn't cost anything, and I printed off the paper work and took it with, but I'm not sure if that really made a difference.

Blochin

If you want a SIM-Card that works well in Italy (with 500 MB per day for 2 €) and in all other EU countries (33) for 2 € per day, with 100 MB, check Europasim.
TIM, Vodafone and Wind are good choice if you stay only in Italy, but if you travel a lot (even in different years), a single card will have much lower cost of ownership + the convenience to have one setup and one credit for the whole continent!

hollywoodsc

My last trip to Italy, once I landed, I purchased a SIM card for my Blackberry (unlocked before I left the US.) For 20 Euros I got free Internet/Web, free incoming calls/text and approx 10 Euros of outgoing calls/text.
I was up and running by the time I got back to my hotel.
Remember to ask the clerk to disable or block your phone from ads, otherwise you'll be bombarded with Italian ads on your phone.
I topped up with another 20 Euros during my 3 week trip.
If I was staying any longer I think paying for a month long plan would be cheaper.

whenzuc

I'm a real fan of Telestial.com.