Page 278 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

276  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Communications and Media

Although there are still plenty of public telephones Reaching the
throughout the Veneto, mobile phone networks are far- Right Number
reaching, efficient and relatively low priced. Most hotels offer
an Internet or Wi-Fi service to their guests; if not, Internet To ring Italy from the UK and
Ireland, dial 00 39 then the
points are easy to find in the region, even in small towns. number, including the full area
Foreign-language newspapers and magazines are on sale in code. From the US and Canada
all cities and main towns, and satellite TV has a vast range of dial 0 11 39, and from Australia
foreign-language programmes from around the world. There dial 00 11 39.
are post offices located in all towns and villages for buying • Dialling code for
stamps and sending letters and parcels. Venice 041
Verona 045
Vicenza 0444
Padua 049
Treviso 0422
• International directory
enquiries 176
• International operator
assistance 170
• Telegrams and cables in
Italy and abroad 186
• See also In an Emergency,
p273.

priced pre paid phone cards can
be used for long- distance calls
from a mobile (see International
Telephones in a call centre run by Venetian Navigator and Local Tele phone Calls).
Alternatively, you might want
International and Local Any Italian number must be to consider purchasing an
Telephone Calls
prefixed by its full area code Italian mobile phone or a SIM
A wide range of phonecards (including the “0”), even if it is a card through one of the major
(carte telefoniche prepagate) are local number. Similarly, do not companies such as TIM, Wind
available at newsagents and drop the “0” from in front of the and Vodafone. You will need
tobacconists (tabacchi). The latter area code when dialling an to show your passport for
are easily recognized thanks to Italian number from abroad. The identification. Take note that
the black-and-white “T” sign they only numbers that do not to activate your SIM card you
display. For making local and require the “0” are those for the will need to make a short call
Italian calls, the best option is a emergency services (see p273), to a landline or another mobile
Telecom card; simply remove the mobile phones (which start phone, and that the cards
dotted corner before inserting it with a “3”) and toll-free numbers usually expire 12 months after
into the phone. For overseas (which begin with an “8”). the last top-up.
calls, specify the country you will
be calling, so the vendor can
advise you on the best card. Mobile Phones Public Telephones
To use these, call the toll-free Mobile phones are extremely You can find the silver-and-
number displayed on the card, useful when travelling abroad. If orange Telecom public telephones
enter the bar code informa tion, you have a tri-band/GSM phone on the streets and squares of all
then proceed with the overseas it should work in Italy, the main towns in the
number. A recording will tell you but check with your Veneto, as well as at
how much credit is left before mobile provider that railway and bus stations.
each call. These cards expire this is the case before In Venice there are
three months after the first call you leave. Your hand- public telephones at
you make. set will need to have most vaporetto landing
If you opt to use the phone in “roaming” acti vated in stages and in privately
your hotel room, ask before hand order to use it abroad owned call centres.
about the charges, which tend and be aware that you Coin-operated phones
to be steep. A cheaper option will be charged extra have virtually been
is to use the privately owned for making and phased out in favour
call centres that are scattered receiving calls while of phones that take
around main cities. away. Reasonably Tabacchi sign phonecards.

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