Hello! Has anyone rented a cell phone in Italy? I am arriving/departing from Rome and would like to rent a cell phone while touring the country. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. <BR><BR>PS: This is a great site!

Chuck, most people will advise you to buy a cell phone while you are there. That's what I plan on doing when I go back in March. Do a search on this site, and you will find some more information.

I found this company<BR><BR>http://telestial.com/ and I am planning to buy from them or someone like this prior to my next trip.<BR><BR>Yes, it might be cheaper in Rome, but... I don't want to deal with it when I get there.

@<BR>I just got my Dec/Jan issue of National Geographic Adventure (different mag, but published by same folks as Nat’l Geo Traveler); anyhow, they had a small article about cell phone rental w/a particular website (which of course, eludes me at moment) – it sounded like you may be able to do a rental and have your regular cell phone no. transferred to the rental phone??? I don’t know if the ‘Adventure’ mag is published online … possibly you could pull up info that way. Otherwise, here’s a couple other sites that may be of help.<BR><BR><BR>http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=252&amp;category=3<BR>http://planetfone.com/links.htm<BR><BR>http://www.abroad-phone-rental.com/<BR>http://www.rent-a-cellphone.com/<BR><BR>

Buyng a new cell phone in italy with sim card and 20 euro prepaid might cost as little as 100 euro.

Thanks to all who responded. I have searched this site and others, sounds like renting when I arrive is best for my situation. <BR><BR>Thanks again!

Read this:<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&amp;tid=34374840<BR><BR>on BUYing once you get there (not renting) - - and then &quot;sell it forward&quot; here on this forum once you come back home.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

If you buy in Italy, you will probably find it useless in the US. Most phones here in Europe will not work in the US. I was amazed at the phones in the US last summer as they are huge and still have aerials. I=

Picked up my Nat'l Geo Adv mag &amp; looked at that article re: cell phones that I'd mentioned. It didn't specify providers, rather said that &quot;most&quot; could rent you a GSM phone (technology that's used in Europe) and they'd transfer your phone number to it. Obviously, this only works for those who already have a cell phone in the US. This method certainly may not be as cheap as actually buying one over there w/ a certain amt of minutes.<BR>

up up up<BR>

Here is what you should do...go to a search web provider (I use yahoo)..type GSM phones and several merchants will come up.<BR><BR>You can get a dual band Motorola for as little as $70....or you can get a tri band Motorola or Ericsson for about $100...the difference is dual band works outside North America only and tri band work in North America and outside of North America. If you are already using an American or Canadian carrier that uses GSM such as T-Mobile or Cingular, call them and get approved for international roaming.<BR><BR>Then switch your SIM card to the new phone and you will be able to use it in Western Europe for $.99/minute either receiving or making calls. Not too bad.<BR><BR>But you can just as easily go into a phone store and request a local service pack. Different countries have different types of plans. The cheapest seem to be in the UK but Italy is very cheap. You insert the SIM card, follow some simple instructions (the phone store will help you) and you will have a local phone number and not pay to receive calls.<BR><BR>It is quite simple, quite economical as the phone can be used again and again, the SIM card can be transferred back and forth and is far more economical than renting a phone. The phone you buy is yours forever and forever.....

I've been researching this topic, and have read many threads on this site regarding cell phones in Europe. In preparation for my trip to Italy next week, I've contacted www.t-mobile.com and rented a phone for a month that will supposedly work there, and included FedEx delivery. The cost was appx $60. I'll let you know how it worked out when I return! Certainly seems a lot more simple than some of the other options I've read about.<BR>

I have a GSM phone that I use for work. I assume I can just get a different SIM chip to use when I'm in Italy? What about the phone number, will it be the same as I currently have? Anyone know what a SIM chip for use in Italy costs?<BR><BR>Thanks

Mark:<BR><BR>It's not just a GSM phone...it has to be if you use it in North America a tri band GSM phone as there are GSM carriers in North America (particularly T-Mobile and Cingular and now AT&amp;T) which operate on 1900 frequency whereas European GSM phones operate on either 900 or 1800 frequencies. In that case, as long as the phone is unlocked, you can simply switch SIM cards to your heart's content in each country. When you put a SIM card in for the first time in a country, either the phone number will be on the package or you have to follow some instructions (sometimes in English but not always) to call a number which will activate the SIM card and give you your new phone number. I know Holland and I know France...inHolland you have the option of having everything done in English...in France some of the commands are in English, the voice mail set up is not. I really don't know about Italy.

I don't know what kind of &quot;card&quot; my husband has, but with his Ericcson phone and T-mobile service, the phone works all over the US and all over Europe. No matter where he is, I just dial the same local number - and voila! - it rings overseas! I still can't get over it. (I'm easily impressed. )<BR>

<BR>T-Mobile supplies tri band telephones that can be used for Europe. All you have to do is tell them you want to use it in Europe (enabled). Then when in Europe,switch the phone to the European frequency using the menu on your phone.<BR>I have a Motorola V60 tri band phone which I use in Europe. Excellent reception and good in all European countries.<BR>I also have the unlocking code for this phone if I wanted to use it buying Italian/French sim cards, but I find it more convenient to use the TMobile sim already in my phone.

Hi folks, I'm back! And the cell phone rental worked like a charm in both Italy and London. So, here's where I went if you want to do the same: T-Mobile.com webpage under: Plans / International / Rental. <BR>Good Luck! <BR>

Thanks Dreamer2 for the excellent tip. I was thinking about buying, but after seeing the TMobile deal, it looks better.<BR><BR>

I just checked out the T-mobile web site. The phone rental isn't a bad deal, but $2.29 / minute to call the US from Italy. That seems awful high to me, or am I out of touch?

$2.29 / minute sounds high to me. <BR><BR>If you rent a car from Avis on your trip, ycan have the use of a cell phone in Europe for $25 for the first week (including express shipping it to and from you). The rate on that phone from the US to Italy is $1.75/minute.<BR><BR> Keith