Best way to stay in touch while in Italy?
I live in the US and I'm going to Italy for one week, and I'm wondering how it'd be best to stay in contact with my Mom/Boyfriend while away. People are telling me it is costly to get a phone meant for international calls, and phone cards can be unreliable/confusing. Somebody suggested bringing my laptop and using e-mail, but wouldn't that be a hassle to have to carry around, since most of the time I would be out in the city anyways? What'd be the best way for me to keep in touch?
Other - Italy - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
My wife just returned from Italy. Her AT&T cell phone worked just fine. It does cost $0.99 a minute so we didn't talk long.
2 :
most hotels will let you have internet access. there are cybercafes every where. That is the cheapest way to stay in touch.
3 :
I lived in Italy for a summer. I decided to buy European phone cards while I was there which was the best way to call people. You can buy them in little stores called "Tabacchi" and they are pretty cheap. They come in different minute amounts and say "Europa" on them. Then you use it at red pay phones that can be found in every city. You just dial in the card code and then dial the US phone number (1 is the international code for USA, followed by your #). I think this is the cheapest and easist thing for you to do because using your cell phone would be wayyyy too expensive. Also, for email access you can go to Internet Cafes. You just buy a card for a certain amount of mins. The "Internet Train Cafes" are all over Italy and the card can be used at all of its locations. Have an amazing time! I love Italy!
4 :
You don't need to bring your laptop - as you suggest that's just one more thing to carry that isn't necessary ... and it is only one week anyway. There are internet access points in the major cities (and many smaller ones) where you can check your e-mail and send mail. Even the small city where I live has a couple of places where there's public access. In addition, many hotels have internet access where you don't need your own laptop. You will have to show your passport here to purchase access from one of the public places, but that isn't a big deal.
5 :
Do not bring your laptop!!! I did and really regretted it. With all the walking you do, it's not worth it. Here's what i suggest: internet cafes. I think it was something like one euro an hour, and you can email and use the internet, etc. Some of them even have phone booths you can use, which i'm pretty sure is a lot cheaper than the cell phone you mentioned. A friend of mine brought one of those phones, and it was kind of confusing. She ended up using the cafes! They are everywhere, you wont have a problem finding them. Have fun!
6 :
I agree with others. I live in Italy and there are Internet cafes all over. I would also suggest getting International calling cards. Go to the Tabbacchi shop and ask for an Europa calling card (it's purple) or ask for an Edicard specify you are calling the US. You could also try getting these at the newspaper stands.I hope you have a wonderful time!
7 :
Internet Cafes are everywhere and public booths too. For booths you go to any Tabacchi shop and ask for an international card to call US: "Carta telefonica Internazionale per chiamare gli Stati Uniti", it costs around 5 Euro (7 USD) and allows a couple of hours conversation (less on mobile phones). For Internet both in Hotels or Cafes they'll ask your passport, as security check after 9/11. Don't carry your laptop with you, it's useless weight
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