Cheap SIM cards for iPhones in Paris
 

We would like to buy sim cards for our iPhones while in Paris. My husband and I would only use them to call each other to keep in contact when we go different ways, so we don't want to pay a lot and we don't need a lot of minutes or any data. We'd appreciate any suggestions or ideas!

Who is your current carrier?

Verizon

If you don't want to wait till you get to France, Labara will send a free SIM which you activate, set up an account, and add funds to online via credit card or PayPal.

They have excellent rates. Putting 10€ on each phone should be more than enough for any vacation if you're only making voice calls to each other.

The catch?

Their policy is to send them only to France addresses, but I have found that all you need to do is put France on your address (rather than USA) and spell your state the French way (Pennsylvanie rather than Pennsylvania, for example) and the postal workers will realize that it goes to USA.

There are threads on Fodors with more detailed instructions.

ssander

One more thing...be sure to select the right SIM size for your phone...they offer all sizes.

ssander

I am in France now- with a Verizon phone. I have done this several ways:
1-you can have Verizon put you on an international plan where you don't use your phone very much and pay $25 additional for the month you travel plus a fee for each call/text and no data. If you go this route, have an online chat with Verizon to make the change to your plan.

2-Get a French SIM card. Unlike Spain(orange) and Italy(TIM), French SIM cards are NOT cheap. You will end up paying 10-15 euro for the card and 40euro for 2G data and calls and texts that are good for up to 2 months at Bouygues- and this is the best deal from all French telecom companies. The Bouygues advisor will put the SIM in your phone for you but your phone must be unlocked.

Good luck! Bon Voyage!
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Bookmarking-thanks

This is confusing! Can you get the Lebara SIM card in France or do you have to get it in the mail? Verizon seems really expensive for the little time we will use it. We're only in Paris one week.

You can buy Lebara in France, but IME it's harder to find than Orange, SFR, and Bouygues.

Verizon is very expensive but one could say that it is less expensive than it used to be.

I think that it would be harder to find a Bouygues boutique than a Lebara outlet.

If you want to find a Lebara or Lycamobile seller, go to one of the train stations. The areas around the train stations are full of SIM vendors. You can purchase a Lebara SIM for as little as 10€ which includes 5€ of talk time.

A simple solution which is moderately priced is the SIMS available from leFrenchMobile. Their tariffs have lowered dramatically in recent years:

http://www.lefrenchmobile.com/en/sim...or-france.html

I just did this today, so I am not sure why people are responding with weird replies, this is so freaking easy. I am in the 11th, and I have my verizon iphone 6. I went to the store next to my building and asked for their $20 (euro) plan. What did I get? Well since I had bought a sim card last month, I just had them add 500 international minutes, text messages, and 1GB of data for $20 bux. There are mobile stores everywhere here, and it's not hard. Just walk into one, and ask for any of the plans on the Lebara website, and in like 10 minutes, you'll be able to use your phone. 20 euros for 500 minutes of international calling PLUS 1Gb of data. Verizon wanted HUNDREDS of dollars for this. Bump that!

LucaBella...

Thanks for the tip.

I got a free Labara SIM online, added 10€ (PayPal), and I have tested it here in the US successfully. (Note: I've done this before and 10€ was sufficient for voice & text during my week in Paris.)

You're saying I can get 500 min & 1Gb data added to it for 20€ when I get to Paris? (Note: I'll be in Italy first, and I'll use it there only to contact my wife, which will be rarely, since we go around together most of the time.)

You said, "...ask for any of the plans on the Lebara website..."

Does that mean the store clerk goes online and adds the plan to my phone? I don't have to do it?

Are such plans also available on the Lebara website...that would be easy for me, since I already have an account.

ssander

Hi, again, LucaBella...

I just went to the Lebara site and added 1Gb data (good for 30 days...I'll be back from Paris before that) for 9.99€.

Thanks so much for your tip...I had no idea data was so cheap.

ssander

It only takes about 10 minutes in an Orange or SFR shop to buy a SIM with a tourist credit deal, and they do all of the work for you for activation, etc.

k...

Thanks for the tip...but I need the phone to be working when I hit the ground in the airport...I'm never sure if there will be a convenient place to buy a SIM in the airport, or if there will be a long line.

I know that on one occasion, a few years ago, the Orange store in Spain was really busy, and maybe short on staff that day.

I did buy a SIM for my old phone a couple of years ago at the Orange store on Rue Rivoli near the St-Paul Metro without much of a wait.

My last three trips to Europe (UK and Paris) I have ordered and activated the SIMs before leaving the US.

I will say that topping up at the Orange store in Spain was a breeze...entered my phone no. in the automatic kiosk and put in a 5€ note, and voila! Instant topping up.

Not sure how that will work with Lebara, though I doubt I'll need to top up...my wife and I usually go everywhere together...have to call a restaurant or two, maybe, and now I also have a Gb of data.

Thanks, anyway.

ssander