Hiya,

My husband and I are going to be in Rome for a month and need SIMs for our iPhones, both to call each other and make local calls.

I would be grateful for any suggestions on what to get, and where from.

Thank you so much!

Elvira there is often a booth at FCO arrivals just after passport control selling payg sim cards. i.e. before you reach baggage reclaim.

If your iPhones are unlocked; and you wish to use them for calls and texts only; and you're happy not having access to your normal telephone number for a month, then it'll be very easy: If not it won't.

Pop into any TIM; WIND; Vodafone or 3 shop in Rome and purchase two Pay As You Go ('ricaricabile') SIMs. From memory they cost around €5 for the card plus €5 or €10 minimum credit. You will get free or relatively cheap calls to each other and relatively cheap calls to other networks and land lines in Italy. Just explain what you're after in the shop and with any luck they'll get you the best deal. Your new telephone numbers will be activated within 24 hours, but in practice it's usually sooner. You won't be able to use your existing telephone numbers without a lot of hassle.

Topping up is very easy. Top up 'scratchcards' are widely available, with a minimum top up of €5.

If you wish to use data to access the Internet or use FaceTime / WhatsApp / Skype etc.; or if your iPhones are not currently unlocked; or if you can't be without your usual telephone numbers for a month, there are two other solutions you should consider:

• Contact your UK network provider and get the best roaming deal it can offer (for both call and data). Roaming in the EU is much less expensive than it once was. Then use FaceTime to communicate with each other in Italy – and just absorb the costs of the local calls (or use Skype).
• If you really think that you'll be 'phoning a lot while you're in Italy, it may be worth considering purchasing two very inexpensive, used cellphones. (You can pick up an old Nokia for next to nothing on ebay.) Make sure that they're unlocked.

CAUTION: I'm not a techie, so if you follow any of this advice, do get reinforcement from elsewhere.

Grazie!!!

Now how do I learn Italian in 2 weeks... - no, not a serious question...

There are a few offers, also in English, for visitors (most probably because of Expo 2015) -

Tre Italia -
http://www.tre.it/all-in-explorer/en

And I believe Tim, being an official sponsor, have a special offer for visitors but I cannot find the info any longer.

Another option is getting Three UK PAYG simcards, which can also be used in Italy at no extra charge, so your UK minutes and data allowance work in Italy. Get a monthly rolling contract and remember to cancel 30 days in advance of your return date (ask at the 3 shop, they'll tell you when you would need to give notice).

Only thing to note with the above offer, you need to be a customer for a month before you can use your allowance in roaming.

http://www.tim.it/estero/tim-visitors-uk

This is the TIM one.