cheapest way to call the U.S. from Paris???
 

1st timer to Europe. If using a calling card is the cheapest, where can it be purchased?? instructions on card in English?? if so, what #'s or code to dial before area code + ph.#??? Thank you in advance????

Also, I would like to attend catholic mass while in Paris. Any church offers mass in English or Spanish??????Thanks!

Claudis- I used the hotel phone and made a 3-4 minute call for under 3 Euros. I guess that is not too bad. It does depend on how much you'll be calling the U.S.

I did buy a calling card for about 7 Euros as soon as we arrived and never used it. It gave me about 100 minutes, far more than I needed. But what I found out was that the hotels we were at did not accept them on their phone system. I surmised that the phones are another profit center for the hotels like in the U.S.

Catholic Mass at Notre Dame at least once a week in English. Fabulous place. We went to the 11:30 Sunday Mass and it was in French. Picked up a little, but it was an enriching experience to hear Mass in a language other than English. Go to the Notre Dame website and you'll find the Mass schedule.

The gift shop is located right inside the church, so there is a LOT of activity happening during Mass. People coming in and out to buy souvenirs. Cool experience! Enjoy the trip. You'll love it.

ttt

any ideas anyone????

I haven't ever seen an English language mass listed on the Notre Dame schedule, so wonder if that is an ad hoc thing. Anyway, this is their web site if you don't know it:
www.cathedraledparis.com

There is an English language church (I think it's Irish), St Josephs www.stjoeparis.org

There is a Spanish church (Immaculate Heart) in the 16th arrondisement at 51 rue de la Pompe and they have Spanish mass at 7 pm weekdays and Sunday, also at noon on Sunday, and at 7:30 pm on Saturday.

Thank you Cristina. I take that the church of the Immaculate church is Catholic??? Many Thanks!!

To your question about the cheapest way to call the US, I was going to answer, collect! Then I thought better of it. Like msuguy, we thought the rate for using the phone in our hotel room was reasonable enough, so didn't bother with the less expensive phone card.

As to your other question, my wife and I aren't catholic, and speak no french beyond the absolute necessities. Regardless, hearing matins sung (in french) by nuns in Sacre Coeur was a wonderfully spiritually unifying experience. It helped remind us that our spiritual community is much broader than we sometimes think.

How are those for nonanswers!

Get an inexpensive telecarte at the corner tabac and use it in the many public telephone kiosks. We found this to be a very inexpensive way to call USA, with very little hassle.

Some hotels will add a VERY steep surcharge onto your telephone calls -- beware.

Rick in Maryland

Rick Emt, do you know what codes or numbers we must dial first before dialing U.s. area code + ph. #.

DIal 001, then the area code, then the number.

I've found that buying a prepaid phone card at one of the many newsstands is the cheapest way to call across the ocean. They have ones designated specifically for North American calls.

yes, the Spanish congregation church Le Coeur Immaculé is Catholic (I don't think any other religion would have that name for a church, when you think about it).