Can the French phone cards that you buy there be used to call the U.S? If so, does anyone know if it's cheaper than using a long distance phone card (not prepaid) from the U.S? Thanks*

I don't know if it's cheaper, but it sure is a whole lot easier. Yes, they can be used to call the US - or anywhere else internationally - and the ease of use more than makes up for the difference in price, if there is any, between using them and using a calling card.

You can buy a Ticket de Telephone, which has a scratch-off code and works like a prepaid (50 or 100 FF) telephone card (dial an access number, then your code, then your number): the cost is 1.94FF/min (8am-7pm), 1.42 nights and weekends. I found this info at the following (I knew it existed and know people who have used it):<BR>http://www.budgetelecom.com/fise_fix_asp/ticketft.asp<BR><BR>So far I have used MCI International Weekends plan ($3/mo + $.17/min to and from France; $.09 on weekends, but it looks as if the scratch card is cheaper (.12 and .05). And, unlike the Telecarte (which I couldn't find rates on), you can use it from any phone (in hotel, for example). Plus if I am reading the info correctly, you can use it from the US also. Sounds like a deal.

I think Sue's option is the better choice. I bought the standard telecarte from a Tabak shop. It worked well, too.<BR>But I had to go to a public phone to use it. The telecarte is widely available.

While we were in Paris, we purchased a telecart phone card from a Tabac with 50 units (about 15 minutes)for around 49 francs. The prepaid phonecard can be used at any public pay phone. It was very easy to use and much cheaper than using the hotel phone or a US phone card.

I had one of those what-was-I-thinking moments: 1.94 FF/1.42 FF = (approx) $.25/.20. So MCI is cheaper than the Ticket de Telephone, but I would definitely use the scratch-code Ticket de Tele. over the Telecarte, which can only be used at a public phone.