We are spending the weekend in Paris and then on to Zurich for the rest of the week. Should we purchase a cell phone in Europe or buy an international phone before we leave? Our US phone won't work...too old.

If you do a search here, there are plenty of threads related to this

too bad yours is so old. We just upgraded our service for the month we were in Italy and it worked well. Also brought with us our Mobal phone which I bought ($40.00) but never used it since my DH upgraded our cell. Phone cards work well I am told.

I'm preparing for a trip to Paris and I had the same question. I've found a number of companies in Paris that rent cell phones weekly (and then, after the first week, daily). Two, off the top of my head, are Blue Marble (a bicycle tour outfit that rents phones even to those not on their tours) and George V Telecom (haven't heard back from them yet but our concierge told me about them). In any event, we expect that we'll be able to rent two phones in Paris for approx. 25 euros a week and then pay approx. 0.50 euros per outgoing call (incoming are free) - there's a deposit required, of course, too. I'm going to book them from here and then pick them up when I arrive.

I suspect the same thing will be available in Zurich?

thanks to all who responded

why would anybody rent a phone when they are available EVERYWHERE for everyday use that also works most places in the world. crazy and braindead.

Richardsonsnm, you've gotta be the crankiest poster ever. Wondering what pleasure you are getting from participating here..? :-?

Awesome comment, Travelnut. I'm relatively new to Fodors and I'm SLAYED by all the people who ridicule and admonish people for certain attitudes. If one feels strongly AGAINST certain things (like travelling with cellphones or dressing with style while on the road, etc.), why on earth would one even open a post that had as its subject line the very thing they find absurd or somehow contrary to their own beliefs?? If I come across a BIRDWATCHING post, I'm going to skip right by it - I would NOT reply only to say that birdwatching is boring or an awful waste of an afternoon (I don't necessary believe that, by the way). I, too, would like to hear Richardsonmn tell us what pleasure he gets from chiming in.

Okay, there's my rant. I just don't get it.

Back to cell phones - I have a phone that suits me fine at home - I have NO inclination to upgrade it to one that works all over the world - maybe when it gives out, I'll consider it - maybe not.

richardsonsnm

1) because not all phones work everywhere and thee call charges can be cheaper with rental

2) because it is better for the planet

3) because not everyone has a phone - some couples (thinking my parents and a lot of their friends here) only have one phone between them - so hiring an extra one for a holiday makes sense in case they become separated

4)Because they want to and don't care if you think they are brain dead.