Prepaid Internet Access
 

For those seeking an inexpensive way to have mobile internet access, I just wanted to share that the advice we received to visit an Orange store at our locale worked beautifully. We purchase the prepaid Pass Let's go and the dongle is interchangeable between our two computers. Additional time can be added to the 6 hours that you receive with the equipment. We had a bit of trouble installing on the first computer, returned to the store and with their limited English and my limited French we were able to resolve the problem in no time! This is a perfect solution for those staying in apartments/villas without wi fi.

If you are staying in Paris there is free wifi with about 400 hotspots. There are also lots of cafes with free wifi access.
http://www.aussieinfrance.com/2011/1...aris-and-wifi/

Interesting idea! Thanks Jo_Ron.

SFR has a similar offer http://www.sfr.fr/mobile/offres-deta...-mo?vue=000mg0 . Plus SFR hotspots are more widely available than orange (IMO). Which means you can surf without impacting your 3G+ limit.
Maybe, before going for one or the other, check which hotspot you can connect to in your apartment, or place you stay.

Unfortunately, we do not have a hotspot in our apartment in Nice, so we needed to do the dongle to have internet access. While we have enjoyed the access to free internet in Paris on other trips, we found on our last trip here that it is not as easily accessible in Nice. Many restaurants have it, but the parks do not and that was always a big plus in Paris. Didn't realize until after we purchased the Orange equipment that SFR had a similar offer and will check it our before our next visit. 25 Euro/mo for unlimited access was well worth the cost to us.

Tbh I would never pay for internet when holidaying abroad. Firstly, as mentioned, free wifi hotspots are incredibly numerous these days. And secondly, I'd prefer to just be enjoying my holiday (= I don't see internet access/contact with people from home while on holiday to be a necessity).