Can you buy a phone card in Paris (as in London) which has a series of numbers on the back which you use to then call your home number AND use that card in your hotel? I did this in London with no or very little fee for the call.

I don't like pay phones in Winter. I need to think some more about the sim cards and cell phones. The phone card you can use out of your hotel would really be all I need.

If you need to make a call to a French number from a pay phone buy a phone card specifically for France at a Tabac. If you need to call the US (or an international destination) buy an international phone card at a Tabac. International phone cards almost always come in 7.50E and 15E denominations. The brand I like best for calls to the US is "Minutissime." A card for 7.50E gets one hour of talk time from a payphone or 3 hours from a fixed phone. When I called a French cell phone with the same card I got maybe half that time. It's very expensive to call a cell phone from a phone booth or fixed phone.
I live in France and RARELY see a phone that uses coins. I would rely on a phone cards and I've found the ones that you DON'T stick in the phone to be a much better deal.

111op--There is a steep surcharge for calling a cell phone in France and Italy, and perhaps in the rest of continental Europe.

I'm one of those neanderthals who doesn't bother with carrying a cell phone overseas. But what I do soon upon arrival is purchase a couple of phone cards for use at public phones. This is to me as valuable as money. It will allow me to make phone calls to banks and credit card companies, or even back home should emergencies arise.

Morgan- I disagree. I was in Paris in April, and while very unusual, there are still payphones with coin slots, mostly at the airpots At Genmeva, and at CDG. It's very tricky. Richard, if I were you, I would pick up the lowest denomination phone card you can find, even if that means at the airport. I never did actually get the call put through with coins- there are town codes, and I just couldn't seem to get the 2 and 3 digit codes right. I think I got my coins back once or twice There are coin phones at CDG, but I eventually made my call with my few remaining minutes on my phone card. Also, I mentioned on another post, sometimes the phone card instructions lapse into french.

Hello Fodors, I would be happy to pass on my france telecom phone card to someone. I just got back from Paris last week and still have time on my 15 euro card, probably enough for several international conversations. I have no idea how much time as the message is spoken much faster than my American ear can comprehend. It will expire January 31,2005 I will be happy to give you the numbers needed or send you the card and all instructions. I have received so many benefits from this forum would like to help make someone's travels a little easier upon arrival at the airport. Deborah

"Message: I'm one of those neanderthals who doesn't bother with carrying a cell phone overseas."

Hmmm. I wonder what that makes me, since I also refuse to carry a cell phone at home. I guess I'm different, but I have no idea what all those people are doing on the phone all the time. I bought a phone card because I needed to call the person meeting me at our apartment on arrival, but then I never used it again in two weeks.

As far as payphones in France go - carm198 nailed it, while tedgale is a sleep artist.

Well, Patrick, some people stay in touch on the phone. Some people stay in touch on the computer. Can you imagine there are people who never post on bulletin boards? Same thing.

Some people fly for business. Some people never leave the office for business. Can you imagine that? Same thing.

Some people don't own cars and use only public transit. Some people work out of their cars. Can you imagine that? Same thing.

I am in Canada and trying to call a cell phone in Paris. Everytime I try, I get a busy signal, but I don't think the line is actually busy. Any tips on calling cell phones in Paris?

Cell phone numbers in france look like this:

06 XX XX XX XX

When calling a french number from abroad you drop the zero. So u would dial international access plus 33 6 XX XX XX XX. 33 is the country code for france. Hope that helps.

Remember those dreadful days when to make a local call in France:

You placed your "jeton" -- telephone token -- in the tricky little slot atop the payphone, dailed the number and when someone answered, pressed a button to release the jeton into the machine and pay for your call.

If you were 2 seconds too late, the phone-line was cut.

(Or am I misremembering this -- confusing it with the Italian "gettone" system of tokens.)

In an even more ancient time, in the UK you pushed button A then later button B -- I've only seen this in old movies.

But remember the palmy days when to make a transatlantic call ni France:

You went to the post office, gave someone the desired number, waited for about 2 hours until your call was placed -- after which, hearing your name called, you entered the cabin and took your call.

Can't remember if you paid for 3 minutes up front or afterward. That bit probably took another 2 hours.

Those were the days when it took about a year to get a new phone number in your name. So people took over the phone lines of deceased flat owners, departed tenants and so on. The phone directory was largely a work of fiction in those days, as I recall -- people gave you the name of the person who USED to have their phone, so you could find them in the book....

DeborahAnn
I'll take you up on your telecard offer.
I'm going for a few days in January.
Even if there's just enough money on it for a quick call from the airport, that would be great.
If the offer is still good, email me at
[email protected]
thanks

Elaine, I will be happy to send you the card. Deborah