Best Sim Card for Italy

[mark4217]

Hi all, any suggestions for the best SIM card for Italy. My daughter will be traveling with me and at some stage we go on different paths. We need to be able to text/call each other during those times. Also the occasional call home to Oz. any suggestions are much appreciated. Mark

 

[Renato1]

If you know someone over there who can buy you two TIM prepaid SIM cards for your unlocked phones, that's best - because 8 Euros a month gets you heaps of local calls and 2 Gbytes of data. I don't know how much it costs to buy the card initially though. If you run out of credits you pop into a tobacconist to get a recharge. I always go over with a dual sim phone, using a Flight Centre E-Kit Sim with a British number, and my cousin gives me a TIM Sim card for the other slot. I use the E-kit card when I first arrive in Italy before I get the Italian card, and then use E-Kit card when I drive out of Italy.

It doesn't seem to matter whether I use the E-kit card or the Italian card - texting has always been very unreliable between my cousin and me when over there. Much better to use Facebook messaging.

One warning though, using the Italian Sim card for the internet seems to have been a real problem fo my brother and nephews using an Iphone - they couldn't get it to work. I had no problems with my Android phones.
Regards,
Renato

 

[PLANT]

Let u know how Truphone goes after October

 

[Ho Really]

Here's some mobile offers from Italian carrier TIM aimed only at foreigners (non-Italians):

TIM International Pass
Euro 12 / 10 Days
500 minutes calls
500 SMS
2GB Internet on 4G

TIM International 1000
Euro 10 / month
1000 minutes calls to anyone
3GB Internet on 4G
Unlimited calls from 1 cent per minute to fixed lines and mobiles from Italy to abroad.
Free activation

TIM International 2GB
Euro 3 / 4 weeks
2GB / month on 4G
Free activation

TIM International 10GB
Euro 15 / month
Internet up to 42.2 Mbps

You will need to show your passport and maybe even your Tax File Number to benefit from these offers. Italians usually show their ID cards and Codice Fiscale (Tax File Number) if requested.

I've only listed some plans. There are several others for foreigners and a few more for Italians that foreigners can sign up to. Best to see them personally to work out which plan is best. Many of the sales people in the bigger shops speak English. So there shouldn't be any communication problems. If you arrive in Rome and are taking the Leonardo Express (train) to Termini Station you'll find the TIM shop on the upper level above the Trenitalia ticketing counters. I've been there many times to reactivate my account. Access is by stairs and escalator. Another phone provider, Wind, has a shop on ground level off the concourse. Not sure what offers they have. Also Vodafone may have similar offers. They have a shop on underground level. Provider 3 also have a shop down there. These last three providers I have not checked their plans. But can do if requested.

See this interactive map of the Termini Station: Maps - Roma Termini map - Station map shops | Roma Termini for the locations of the shops.

The Leonardo Express stops at platform 24. On the far right looking at the trains from the concourse.

Should you require technical assistance, such as a repair or even advice in English, I can suggest a reliable and trustworthy technician I met several years ago when I first activated my account with TIM. Just let me know.

Cheers

 

[moa999]

I'm currently in Europe roaming on my eBay purchased Orange Spain Mundo SIM with Go Europe activated -- essentially E1 for 100MB data/day

I have an Australian VOIP number active with my Aus mobile fwded to it and WhatsApp.

With that combination I really don't need any voice

 

[mark4217]

Are there not any Oz suppliers that have short term plans at reasonable pricing?.

 

[dasheighty]

Are there not any Oz suppliers that have short term plans at reasonable pricing?.

Who is your current provider in Oz?
If it is Vodafone, and your trip is not too long, and you are not addicted to web surfing, etc, you may consider their $5/day roaming deal.
I have gone with this option on the last few tours through Europe and is a lot easier than remembering to change SIMs through different countries. You need to weigh the cost against convenience, and your projected usage.

 

[mark4217]

Yep I'm with Voda, and I use the $5 a day and it works well. I'm trying to work out my daughters boyfriend who has a pre paid ( 18 year old). Do Voda to a pre paid international roaming sim for example?

 

[mark4217]

Woolworths has a $40 bundle. 200mins 200 sms, 200mb 30 day life and they partner with TIM , Voda and Wind.

 

[moa999]

Are there not any Oz suppliers that have short term plans at reasonable pricing?.

For Voice only there are some reasonable solutions (eg. the Woolworths mentioned above).
Vodafone at $5/day is OK.

But if you use data to any great extent then not a great range of local plans - eg. 200Mb/30 days is nowhere near enough for me (2GB would be more reasonable imho).. and any PAYG plans are typically 15c/Mb plus.

This Wiki which is well updated is my go to:
European Union2 - Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki - Wikia

I would say the Orange Spain and the 3 UK are probably the best options at present, but none are perfect and worth reading for your specific plans and usage

 

[marki]

Tired of buying local SIM cards while traveling? http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000549644 http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000549644


Even works while at sea using cheapest imersat rates

 

[NZflygirl]

I bought the One Sim card. It's prepay, super easy to recharge online. It also has a loyalty scheme so I will credit usage to my SQ account. You can get data also. Made a call and text so far, works fine. I think I've set up the internet fine but will find out later when I go out and about if it works ok but I'm sick of trying to find a sim card wherever I go (not that I go places much but it's still blimn irritating) so I'm leaving this sim card in my spare phone forever now Especially if I find out the internet works great and therefore my Viber but I think the rates are pretty cheap so I won't need Viber. One Sim have their own voip but I've yet to check that out.

 

[NZflygirl]

Internet works great. Colour me happy!

 

[moa999]

Tired of buying local SIM cards while traveling? http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000549644 http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000549644

Interfone looks almost identical to Flexiroam (which is Malaysian based but ASX listed) which has had some discussion on this board and is a decent product imho if used appropriately