How to Use Your Cell Phone in Italy

If you are planning a trip to Italy, it is very important to carry your cell phone with you as it might come in handy. While you can find phones in many hotels, making international calls from them can be quite expensive. If, on the other hand you are planning to stay in a rental villa or an apartment, they might not have a phone in it. For those who are depending on pay phones in the country, it is important to know that using them for international calls can be very expensive, given that you actually find one conveniently when you need it. The best thing for you to do is to take your cell phone with you. If you know how to use it the right way while travelling in Italy, you can save yourself from a lot of inconvenience. If your cell phone supports GSM 900 and GSM 1800, it can be used perfectly well in Italy. The major problem however, is to get the right cellular service. If you don't plan to be overwhelmed with hefty phone bills, considering the use of your own cellular network with an international package is not a feasible option, especially if you are planning on making a lot of calls. The best thing about Italy is that you can get some of the best cellular services in the country that offer extremely affordable rates, giving you an ideal way to use your cell phone while you are in Italy. Moreover, as a traveler, you can easily get an Italian SIM at much lower rates than the usual packages that are offered to the citizens of the country. All you have to do is shop around carefully for the right Italy SIM card you can use on your trip. You can shop for a local Italy SIM card even before you leave on your trip. There are several services that facilitate tourists by providing them international cellular service packages in their home country. Once you insert a SIM into your GSM phone which has the right frequency setting, you can use your phone in Italy at local call rates. Any calls you need to make locally for emergencies or reservations can be made at the lowest rates, while international calls are also very affordable. What happens if your phone does not have the right GSM or it cannot be unlocked to replace the SIM? There are two alternatives. First, you can go to your network provider in your home country and ask them to provide you with a handset that you can use in Italy. While they will replace your handset, you still won't likely be able to use an Italian card and you will have to rely on your own service with international roaming packages. The second, and ideal option for you is to get an Italy cell phone rental. You can rent a cell phone of your choice and get it equipped with an Italy SIM so that you can use it for the duration of your trip and return it when you get back home. Again, you opt for phone rental options available to you in your home country and you can get the right package for you, delivered at your house. If you simply want to avoid the trouble of getting your phone unlocked or checking whether it'll work in Italy or not, an Italy cell phone rental is again an ideal option for you. However, no matter what you decide, there is no doubt about the fact that the right way to use your cell phone in Italy is to go local and purchase a package before you leave.