Hi All,

When I get to France and London, what is the cheapest way to call home (US)? Are there phone cards? I am sure it's very expensive at the hotel.

Also, about how much is it to send e mail at internet bars?

Thanks a lot.

You can purchase a phone card that inserts directly into a pay for about 10Euro. You'll get about an hour and a half of "talk time" for local and international calls. Obtain one at any train or metro station or at any of the numerous "Tabac" stores.
We paid about 3.25 Euro for one hours worth of internet time at a small cafe near Pompidou Center however you can go cheaper, 1Euro per hour, at easyeverything... www.easyeverything.com for Paris locations! Sorry..can't help with London, been about 20 yrs since I was there but was in Paris 2 weeks ago!

I bought a an AT&T prepaid phone card at Sam's. It is supposed to be for local & international. But I find the instructions confusing for calls we make in Paris to another Paris phone number. Do I need to use the long France access code? We would be using it from our apartment in Paris to make reservations at restaurants and that sort of thing.
Thanks.

You can also buy something called a "Ticket Telephone" that has a scratchable PIN on the back (short access number, something like 30-69, but once you access it, you do have to put in your PIN. The advantage to this is that you can use it from your hotel or apartment. I bought one for 15 euro in 2001 and didn't finish it up this year, even though my friend talked to her husband for over 20 minutes. My calls are usually shorter. They also have a 7 euro card, I think.

1. As of two years now, I have availed of prepaid calling cards through Rail Europe (www.raileurope.com) - I forget the 1-800 number, but it is posted in their site. These have to be purchased in the States before you leave, and they will provide you with a pin and several access numbers from wherever city you will be in. I found it convenient to use from any phone booth or hotel phone. Remember though, that every hotel has their own rule for charging long distance calls, whether you have use of calling card or not - so best inquire first about charges.

2. I have recently signed up for MCI neighborhood deal. It includes international calls which to my surprise, the charge for a call from say paris to usa, would be the same agreed-upon charge from usa to paris.

3. Then of course there are the internet cafes or internet service at lobbies of hotels. I forget the fee charged per 5 minutes, but is not exorbitant.