Prepaid SIM Cards for Italy
 

I bought an unlocked global cell phone for my trip to Italy for peace of mind and convenience, intending to get the SIM card for it once I arrived in Italy. Now I'm considering buying the SIM card in advance so that I'll know the phone number before I leave, so that I can leave it for my mother, housesitter, and husband's business associate. The best deal I've been able to find so far is with Telestial, who will send you one for $49 + nearly $10 tax and shipping that only has 5 euros ($7) of airtime on it. That seems pretty stiff, but I may not have any choice if I want the number before I leave. Does anyone know of another source for prepaid SIM cards in the US that would be a better value than that?

Hi hazel, if you buy the SIM card in Italy couldn't you immediately call your mom and give her the phone number and have her advise your housesitter, your husband's business associate etc of your phone number. Have a wonderful time in Italy!

Well, that was my original intention, and I may end up doing just that, but I'd still like to know if someone has had any luck getting a better value for the SIM card here.

And thanks, LoveItaly - I know we're going to have a great time. I can hardly stand waiting another 3 weeks!

Hi hazel, yes waiting three weeks to get to Italy is true torture, LOL. I understand completely! Believe me.

About the SIM card, I am sure not the expert, and hopefully someone else here on Fodors is but I have always understood buying the SIM card in Italy is the least expensive way to go. Best wishes to you!

ttt
Anyone?

Wait until you get there. If I remember correctly, when you first but the Sim card it's 20 euros and I think 10 of it is actual phone time. Then everytime you "charge" it. (Add more money) for 10 euro I think 7 or 8 of it is phone time.

I understand you want to know the phone #, but I'd rather wait. The card you looked into may be a card for ALL of Europe and not just Italy.

When I went I had a Nokia 6200 and I used WIND. I'm going to Amsterdam soon and now I have an unlocked RAZR.

Good luck,

>Does anyone know of another source for prepaid SIM cards in the US that would be a better value

Riiing, Riiing Riiing and Riiing :-)

.....and riiing...

But don't buy it from those clowns at Telestial; rather buy it on ebay.

You get free reception of calls throughout all of Western and Central and most of Eastern Europe.

If you sign up for call back world service you will be paying 12¢/minute to call the USA timed in 6 second intervals.

You will know your number (Liechtenstein country code 423)as soon as you get the sim card.

or you could also buy a ECO-GSM card from ebay. It is exactly the same card and was available on the market a few weeks before riiing. Even the riiing recharge codes work.

I researched the topic quite well and nothing came close to the value you get if you wait till you get there. There are several companies (TIM is the most prevalent) and the card is only €20 with €10 of talk time. I just call home when I get the card and give them the number, then they call me most of the time - incoming calls are free.

If you don't care how much others pay to reach you, never make any calls and don't use it outside of italy, TIM is a good choice.

I should add, when calling Europe from the US (including calling the cell phone) - use one of the services like 10-10-987. I just returned from 3 weeks in Europe and my kids called us daily (on the cell phone, which had the "TIM" SIM card I bought when I got there). The whole phone bill was only about $25.

15ct/min is a good rate. Nevertheless you TIM card will be disconnected after 12 months without recharge, while riiing stays active if you make a call every 9 months. And incoming calls in China, South Africa and Australia are free :-)