I am travelling to Italy and the roaming packages with Bell are not good. I’m wondering whether anyone has ever used one of the portable wifi devices that fit in your pocket? I’m looking at renting one. Was it easy to use? How big/heavy are they? Did it work well for you? I use Google maps often when travelling. Thanks!

I’d recommend a SIM card once you’re in Italy ! Data is super cheap in europe, I got a 75g SIM card for €30

Following

If your phone is unlocked . Better to buy a sim there

I just purchase a sim from vodafone or similar company....anywhere from 30-40$ and removed my Sim card when I traveled and used the vodafone Sim. So had access to phone calls local texting and internet. 8 gb and sometimes 30gb depending on Sim card. My family in Canada would connect with me on messenger or what's up if they needed anything I still had access to my emails as well. Once I returned I put my Sim card back in and recieved any text messages that were sent to me while I was away that I could respond to if necessary.
Much cheaper then bell or other

Local sim is better or an esim

Yes. I’ve used them twice. Check to see if u can pick up/drop off at the airport. Or they will deliver to ur hotel. It’s small and battery life is questionable. So I always had a back up charge stick or two. Was like $7 a day.
https://travelwifi.com/portable-hotspots/
TRAVELWIFI.COM
Portable Wifi Hotspots | Best Wifi for Travelers | TravelWifi

following

If your phone is unlocked. You can buy s SIM card in the airport when you land. There are vending machines in most airports.

I purchased a SIM card at vodafone in Portugal a couple weeks ago for 20 euros - 10GB data and unlimited calling and texting . It’s the best option - you have data and a local phone number in case you need to call like a restaurant for a reservation or a tour operator or something. Find a kiosk/convenience store at the airport when you land, I’m sure they’ll have them. If not then whenever you’re out on the town find a vodafone store or another mobile provider and they’ll even help you put it in your phone. Easy peasy!

I’m in Rome right now…bought a SIM card at the airport. I skipped vodafone because they were trying to charge 55 euros for 60GBs. I think mine is from TIM

You can also buy sim cards online before you go, amazon for example sells them but there are lots of companies. I've done this for Mexico and US. There are lots of UK and Europe ones as well.

You can buy prepaid sim cards on Amaxon for any country before you leave

esim, use Airalo.

I bought a prepaid SIM card in Italy and it worked like a charm. You get a new phone number for the time there but your apps work just like home! Texting to Canada made easy!!

Try purchasing a sim from orange via Amazon. We used that throughout our travels in Europe few months ago and it worked perfectly.

Use an e-SIM from airalo. Super cheap and quick to download (download the app). No physical sim to deal with and you can top up any time. I’ve used one for the Azores and US with no issues, and paid less than $10 for them.

Carrie hi , how does the app work? how do you activate it once you buy? Im looking into this as well.

Monazza you just choose which package you want, pay for it and it will let you download the e-SIM (with instructions). You can fully turn off your regular SIM or use it at the same time as the e-SIM, as well (I turned mine off).

Monazza I have a $3US off code if you want to try it. Let me know and I’ll send.

Monazza Sorry, to activate, just turn it on when you get to Italy (make sure it’s turned off when you download here).

Just purchase a prepaid sim card when you land.

Buy a local SIM and you’re good.

I'll second the orange Sim from Amazon. The advantage for me was knowing the local number before departure. Handy for reservations etc. It worked well for me in Italy, Spain and France over several separate trips over the years

I always get a local sim card. Very cheap.

Buying a Sim in Europe is cheaper than roaming. European cell charges are way less ridiculous than Canada. I'm from Ireland, went home for 3 weeks and got unlimited data for 20 euro for 3 weeks

Pick up an Italian SIM. Cheap and easy.

Always purchase a local sim in Europe. Much cheaper

Mady Sharp

Why you wouldn't just use an E-SIM is beyond me...

Rob a lot of phones don't support them

Rob I don’t think my phone supports it. I have an iPhone 10.

Rob also a lot of European networks don’t support esims yet

best resource for this is: https://prepaid-data-sim-card.fandom.com/
PREPAID-DATA-SIM-CARD.FANDOM.COM
Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki

Buy a local sim card. Is your phone unlocked?

I really like the daily rate bell roaming pkg but it can add up if you are using every day for a lengthy duration

Janis last time I was away Bell roaming didn’t work well. For some reason I used the 1GB daily very quickly (I don’t watch videos or anything like that so not sure why) and then it went into a much slower speed where I couldn’t even search for restaurants.

We travelled to Europe and got ESim cards. It was super easy and cheap.
We have iPhone 12 but I’m sure you can just get another SIM card anywhere if your phone doesn’t support the e-sim.

We bought a SIM card and just used it in our iPhone

Buy a sim card there.. 10beuros

Use whatsapp. Free

Setup wifi calling if your phone supports it. Anywhere you have wifi your Canadian number should work. For free.
If you need internet a Lycamobile SIM is usually cheap and works well.
If your phone has dual SIM I'd turn off roaming on Bell, but turn on wifi calling

Your phone needs to be unlocked

Marilyn Njbr all phones sold in Canada in the last 5 years are unlocked. The older phones can be unlocked by request for free. It's a law.

Depending on what phone you have…if you have dual SIM..best thing to do is download the app Nomad. Buy a digital SIM card for where you are going. Turn off your primary roaming and you are good to go. I have been doing this the last 2 years in Europe. Saves so much money!

https://www.amazon.ca/.../B07RYL.../ref=ox_sc_act_image_2...
AMAZON.CA
orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card COMBO DEAL Official Authorized 20GB Internet Data in 4G/LTE (Data tethering Allowed) + 120min international Calls + 1000 Texts from Europe to Any Country Worldwide + 1 Sim Card Holder + 1 Pin

I buy a SIM card each time I go. (Specifically vodafone) for 20 euro it covered the card, unlimited internet and 100 minutes international calling.

We have used one in France and Iceland. They were pretty small and works well. We got that because it worked better with 4 people.

We purchased a pocket WiFi device for use in Japan. It’s small and easy to fit into a pocket though I kept ours in my purse. There are various packages you can buy for global use based on your needs. There’s a list of countries that has coverage. It was great as our family of 4 could all be connected to it at the same time. We have since used it in other countries as well. Good luck and safe travels!
https://www.mypokefi.com/country-list
MYPOKEFI.COM
COVERAGE | pokefi

Got a SIM card at the airport and it worked great the whole trip!

Nancy ^ this. buying a simcard with data basically anywhere in the world outside canada is laughably cheap

Matt it really is! I couldn't even use all of my data up before I came home (and I was gone for 3 weeks)!

Get a sim card. Was around $20 cad for 15gb of data. I went into the store and they changed the sim for me. You just need your passport

Buying a SIM card works great (you’ll have a new foreign ph #) but your Toronto ph # won’t work and (I believe) calls to your # will not work at all (not go to voicemail) if your own SIM card isn’t in your phone (assuming you don’t have a dual sim slot). I’m in the UK now and heading to Spain. I need my phone # to work so I’m stuck with the same $15 per day roaming fee. If your phone receives one text or you answer one call or your phone uses so much as a mob of data (or background data)…then you are roaming and the $15 is triggered.
I am interested in the pocket wifi idea but not everyone is on whatsapp to call them back with.

Www.knowroaming.com
KNOWROAMING.COM
knowroaming eSIM

Thanks everyone. Sounds like a SIM card is the way to go.

F

https://www.airalo.com/
Use this as esim. Easy n cheap
AIRALO.COM
Local and regional eSIMs for travellers - airalo

Parth thanks. My iPhone 10 doesn’t have e-sim. But my next phone will!

I also recommend an e-sim if your phone supports it. Just download the airalo app on your phone and just follow the instructions to install it. I used it on my 2 week trip in italy. USD20 for 10gb valid for 30 days.

Yes we used pocket wifi device - worked great - we used 1 device for 2 phones. We picked up in Manchester (at an electronics travel store in the airport)

Download maps.me and you can use it without connection.

I just bought a SIM card at termini station from Tim and it was €35 for 70gb Of data in Italy and 7gb of data in other EU countries!

Katie thanks! is it working well? Was it easy to install and activate?

Just bought a sim card in portugal for 10 euros...20 GB and 1000 minutes.

Usually I get a sim at the airport or in town. A bit of a language struggle but worth it

Chen Yes, you can get a local sim for your phone and it saves a bunch of money.