I stayed in Italy for 4 months a few years back and bought a cell phone, using Vodafone for my minutes. I'm going back for a month and would like to simply take my old cell phone and reactivate it when I get there. Is there any reason this wouldn't be possible?

I'm not positive about this, since mine is TIM, but I think you'll have to buy a new SIM card, which gives you a new phone number. Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

As Susan said, you just go into vodafone and buy a new sim card which you can use in any phone you have with you. I did it a couple of months ago in Venice and have done it on every trip.

I have a TIM phone I bought 5 years ago and just add minutes when I visit. So far, no problems.

As other have said, it will, in all likelihood, be necessary to buy a new SIM card since they expire after a year if not used. My husband and I travel to Europe yearly, but usually alternate France and Italy, and are thus forced to get a new SIM card in each country for the trip. Make sure you also pick up an international "calling card" in a tabac store which will allow you very inexpensive calls outside Italy.

yes you have to get a new SIm (a pain since then you don't have the same number) It's happened to me when I've forgotten to use my phone for over a year.

Another option for calling the US now is internet calling - some internet cafes will let you use VIOP - is that what it's called (?) (and webcam if you want) to call the US for .07/minute (that's what it is in my little town anyway)

In the Netherlands now T-mobile, and I believe Vodafone, offer pay-as-you-go SIMs which are valid as long as there is time on them - there is no expiry time on them. Maybe they also offer something similar in Italy now?

My SIM purchased in 2004 in Florence works without changing out as long as there are minutes left. It is a Wind phone.