UPDATE ::TIM & T-Mobile in Italy and USA

NAVIGATING USING MY IPHONE AND T-MOBILE

These are the latest updates to T-Mobile International usage:

INTERNATIONAL AND TRAVEL

In-flight connection
Full-flight texting and Wi-Fi with streaming where available
Simple Global (low flat-rate calling)
$0.25/minute in 215+ countries and destinations
Simple Global (texting and data abroad)
Unlimited text and up to 5GB of high-speed data, then unlimited data at up to 256Kbps in 215+ countries and destinations
Unlimited international texting from home
Included
Use your device in Mexico and Canada
Unlimited talk and text, and up to 5GB of high-speed data

For my last two trips to Italy I have purchased a TIM SIM card from their web site and brought the printed voucher to a TIM store in Italy. In both cases all went well at the stores and in about 10 minutes my phone was up and running in about 10 minutes. Cell service with TIM was excellent and never had problems. The plan allowed 15 Gig data and 200 min of cell service. For some reason the cell minutes seemed to disappear quickly. The cost was 25 Euros (Now 20 Euros) and it was good for 30 days.

Down side was you got a new local phone number (Italian 39 country code), The plan is not renewable. 15 Gig of data can go fairly quickly if you do not have access to Wi-Fi.

These are the latest updates to TIM FOR VISITORS

TIM Tourist

For you 50 Giga and 200 minutes to call in Italy and abroad
at €14.99

for 30 days

14.99€
FOR 30 DAYS Non-renewable offer
Share the best moments from your holiday in Italy
Internet
50GB of 4G Internet

Minutes
200 minutes to call in Italy and abroad

Discover the countries included in the offer
Chats
Unlimited

LEARN MORE
Benefits
Discover the benefits of TIM Tourist

INFO
TIM info:
Cost Breakdown | Offer Details | Rules on Use | Transparency rate
DO YOU WANT MORE?

You might find this interesting

Will your trip take you to other countries?
TIM will be right there with you!
TIM in Travel Pass
If you want lots of minutes, texts and Internet for Europe, the USA, Canada and Brazil!

10 GB
500 minutes
500 text messages
20
€
for 30 days

https://www.tim.it/en/landline-mobile/international-calling/from-italy/tim-tourist

T-Mobile plans include 2G data and 25 cents per minute calling. My wife made many calls relating to her business while we were on a month long trip to Italy. This was included in our $70 a month plan for two phones. The 2G data plan was adequate for her to send texts with photos, read and send email, but it was noticeably slower than what we were used to hear. Considering that AT&T plans for international use were exorbitant this was not a problem. Service was good from Rome to the Dolomites. No problems.

I opted for a 30d high speed package with unlimited calls. We used our cell phones for driving directions on Apple or Google maps every day. I had great refresh rates on web pages and never lost a signal while driving. The package was worth if for me. It is also renewable for 30 days. You will get a text when you arrive overseas in any of the 210 countries T-Mobile includes in the plan allowing you to choose several options for calling. My $50 and an slower priced plans IF YOU WANT FASTER DATA SPEEDS. Otherwise you are all sent. From their web site “The Magenta®, Simple Choice™, New Classic, and Select Choice plans provide unlimited 2G data, unlimited texting and calling at $0.25 per minute in 210+ countries and destinations”

International Pass: 512MB of high-speed data at up to LTE speeds and unlimited calling, to be used up to 24 hours, for $5/day.
5GB International Pass: 5GB of high-speed data at up to LTE speeds and unlimited calling, to be used up to 10 days, for $35.
15GB International Pass: 15GB of high-speed data at up to LTE speeds and unlimited calling, to be used up to 30 days, for $50.

T-Mobile served us well on our trip. Less problems than TIM. Check out the various plans, especially the over 55 plan.

Hard to believe that AT&T would push their inflated rates on travelers and continually raise the monthly cell plan rates. Their plans are very restrictive and expensive.

Cost $70 per month.

Coverage for as long as you need
Unlimited texts to the world
2GB or 6GB of data included
$0.35 per minute for calls
Available in 200+ countries

A lot of money for little return.

My T-Mobile bill arrived and there were no surprises.

T-Mobile is owned by Deutsche Telekom.

GREAT SIGNAL ON LAKE COMO

February 21, 2023 0

Cycling the Domites to Venice

Here is a link to a bike trip from northern Bolzano to Venice.

Great areas to see by bicycle

September 29, 2022 1

Mi Manca La Sicilia I miss Sicily

We understand that this year Italy and our favorite Sicily is out of the question. 2022 will be in our minds while we travel in a Camper Van where we can in the US. Waiting for time to pass

The ferry from Reggio Calabria to Messina Sicily

It started in 2001 when we made our third trip to Italy and Sicily. The goal in visiting Sicily was to discover relatives of Angela’s family.

This is where it all began. The park in Melilli,Sicily where Angela’s Family came from My wife knew that this was not a huge town and we might find some people at the park where we could get some information. We spoke only a few words of Italian at the time and now we are straining to get some information. One gentleman referred us to a man named Tommy. He had returned to his home town after retiring from a company in Connecticut ( that is where we are from). He referred us to the Girgenti family and arranged a meeting. We met and managed to communicate with help of Enza who spoke some English and Patrizia who also spoke some. We met Ludivico and his wife and we have kept in touch and visited for almost twenty years. This began our love affair with Sicily.

St. Sebastian Church in Middletown CT was built to have the same appearance as the one in Melilli. Many residents or Melilli moved to Middletown CT over the years.

The residnets of Erice, a hill town nears Trapani, Sicily

The fish market in Catania, everything you could want.

Playing a song from the Godfather Siracuas.

So much more.Will continue with this post next time Ciao a tutti.

This post was created with WordPress for the iPad and BIRU for WordPress

November 21, 2020 0

A year in Italy or more????

As we have been in quarantine and survived, we are dreaming of staying for a year, or more in Italy.

This is not he easiest of things. Especially right now as restrictions on travel for Americans exist. I do not blame Italy, the US has had its own problems and has excluded visitors from a number of countries. The hard part is getting permission to stay in Italy for more than 90 days. Permesso di soggiorno, permission to stay, or residency permit.

After a bit of research, it first appears to be a daunting task. If anyone reading this blogs has ideas, send me an email at greg@gregsitaly.com

Spacious apartment in Milan would be perfect for a long stay. Large living room kitchen combo. Bedroom with queen bed and nice shower. About 100 feet from tram stop and walk to many restaurantes

The bureaucracy of dealing with the Italian Consulate, can be very trying to ones sole. You must be financially secure and not a drain on the Italian economy. Banking records showing your last three months records are required. I am exploring several types of visas.

Woman drying her hair in the sun in Cefalù

Our destinations would ideally be on the shore. Possibly Sicily with its many beach areas. This is going to be along project, and may never come to pass. It is possible to stay for 90 days without a visa, this is also an option. I will continue to write about this in future posts. Your comments are greatly appreciated.

July 25, 2020 0

Italy Photo Journey

Every place we visit, we find some beautiful sights.

These are a few of the over 15,000 photos from the last 20 plus years of traveling to Italy.

July 20, 2020 0

About a week ago, but some years ago. We celebrated our retirement and explored new areas of Italy.

It was July 5th, 2008. We arrived in Milano and started to explore. We learned about the trams, the buses, and getting lost. It was fun.

Our trip went everywhere, Verona, MIlano, east, west, north south. At one small town, Tessimo, the innkeeper spoke only German

Now it is 12 years later,and my and possibly your world has been changed by the Covid19 virus. American are not welcome in Italy. I understand this and the need to protect the citizens of Italy.

It has not stopped our planning for out next trip. Sicily is our next destination.

Angela and I have visited most of Italy. From the north and Cortina di Ampezzo to Calabria and Reggio. Sicily has heritage for my wife’s family. That will be our next return is it. It is also amazing. So much is on this island we will never discover it all

The duomo, Siracusa

It was a one hour walk to the top to Castelmola. When I got down to the bottom, una birra e una pizza. I was definitely wiped out, but the view was beautiful.

The walk was worth it. At the top a festa was I progress.

A happy wave from a woman in Palermo.

From Siracusas to Cefalù with stops in between
When things change we will be back in Sicily

Published with WordPress on an iPad as we are in Connecticut away from the virus hitting Florida so are. A little behind as usual in posting.

July 10, 2020 2

Biking the Dolomiti, From Trento to Venezia and amazing journey.

Click to see the video onVimeo.

June 19, 2020 1

I Never Forget A Meal

I am borrowing the title of a book by Michael Tucker who also fell in love with Italy and has always loved food. Italian food and Italian meals are to be savored and enjoyed. His book was great and you can find copies on Amazon. Also recommended is “Living in a Foreign Language” also by Michael Tucker which is similar to Under the Tuscan Son, but with more humor and a bit of attitude.

We are on the island of Ischia, a small island off the coast of Napoli. We stayed in a small hotel with great views of the area and had a pleasant lunch of Prosciuto e Melone.

We also hand Insalata Capresse with fresh mozzarella di buffala

At anolther ristorante in ischia we had frutti di mare. As fresh as you can get.

While staying on Lake Carda in the town of Brenzone we had a waterfront dinner of Cacio e Pepe

Lunch at a winery in Vicenza

Below is home made pasta in Milano, I took a pasta making class.

Felt is was time to lear how to do it, I had a pasta making machine at home that my bother bought about thirty years ago.

Nothing like your own fresh pasta

Pasta alla Norma

Mixed fruit that we bought at the market in Siracusa Sicily

Below is beefsteak Florentine

You start with aged meet. This is from Il Pandemonio, Florence Italy

It comes rare to medium rate, It is a think steak, about 1.5 to 2.0 inches.

There is nothing like it.

Back in Catania, Sicily

An entire meal of antipasti

My wife Angel and I after a wonderful meal.

Il Torre Del Mangia, Siena

Piazza del Campo

Insalata Capresse

There are more to come. This Brunello from 2011 met it Demis in 2020 as we reminisced about Italy.

May 31, 2020 1

Stylized Photos From Past Trips

St Peters At Night

Duomo Milan

Lady On The Balcony, Palermo 2014

Somewhere Near Lake Maggiore 2008

April 27, 2020 2

More Photos From Past Trips. The Daily Market in Siracusa, Sicily

AT THE MARKET IN SIRACUSA, SICILY

Cipolla di Tropea.: The Calabrese cuisine is a reflection of its history – it is not refined or elaborate, normally simple, using most of the time vegetable such as the onions, in particular the red onion, the red onion of Tropea. These famous red onions are grown in an area which stretches in both directions along the coast from Tropea. Important enough to be sold in Sicily. (Google)