A Guide to Using Your Cell Phone in Italy the Right Way

If you are planning to go for a trip to Italy, you first need to figure out how you are going to use your cell phone while you are there. You shouldn't plan on traveling without your phone because it can cause you a lot of trouble. However, a mobile phone can turn into one of the most expensive items on your travel list that can cripple your holiday budget if not used correctly. How you use your phone depends on the duration of your trip and a lot of other factors. Let's take a look at some options you will have. Using Global RoamingIf you are going for a very short trip to Italy, for a day or two, and don't plan on using much of your phone in that time, this can be a considerable option for you. You can contact your network carrier to provide you with the details regarding their global packages and get the required package activated. However, you should make sure that all your data and other packages currently activated on your phone are cancelled.The reason why this option is only good for a short trip or limited mobile usage is because of the high charges associated with global roaming packages. If you use your own network in Italy during your trip, you will have to pay for both incoming and outgoing calls and messages. Moreover, call and data charges will most likely be extremely high in these packages. That way, there will be a heap of bills you will have to pay if you go for this option on a longer trip.Getting a Local Italy SIM CardWhen going on a longer trip, or if you need to make a lot of calls back home while you are in Italy, the best option for you is to go local. You can buy an Italy SIM card for you mobile phone that can be used during your trip. With a local SIM, you won't have to pay for incoming calls and texts. Also, call charges will be relatively cheaper to call back home, and extremely low for calls made locally in Italy. For this, you would not just need and just a SIM card though, you would also need an unlocked GSM phone that allows you to swap SIMs.If you don't have such a phone, or you simply don't want to get your phone unlocked, an even more convenient option for you is to get an Italy cell phone rental. Phone rentals will give you all that you need; an appropriate phone with a local card that you can take on your trip and return when you are home. This way, you don't just get the savings that come with local SIMs, but can also save yourself from the hassle of visiting your network provider to give you an unlocked phone. You can easily get an Italy cell phone rental before leaving for your trip from different companies that offer these services.What is Best for You?Which of these options works best for you depends on how long you are planning to stay in Italy and how much you intend to use your phone. If you need to stay connected back home, or you have heavy internet usage requirements, your own network is just not feasible for you. In global packages, 1 MB of data can cost you somewhere around $20, which is expensive. So, depending on how much you are planning to use your phone, you can decide whether to stick with your own network, or get a SIM or cell phone rental.