I have rented an apartment that does not appear to have computer connection.
So I guess I'm going to have to try to find a WI FI connection for my laptop. Since I haven't used WIFI can someone advise whether I should buy the WIFI apparatus for the laptop here in the USA or in Paris?

Same question for the cell phone.

Last time I bought a French telephone card which was impossible to figure out beside the fact that I had to walk and walk and walk to find a public phone on a main avenue in Paris ! Very few around.

I have an ATT Blackberry phone unlocked currently with a T Mobile Sim card in it.

What Sim card would I buy in France for calls in France, Paris and Nice, and perhaps a call to or from the states for emergency or to check on the house..etc. ?

Advice ?

WIFI is WIFI, doesn't matter where you buy the card - you might want to check to see if your laptop has built-in wifi capability as most new ones do...if you do have to buy a wifi card, buy it in the US you'll at least have the US warranty on the hardware (US warranties aren't valid in Europe and vice-versa, at least not for photography equipment as we discovered much to our dismay...)

Thanks Biker Scott,

I'm thinking about those advertisements I see on TV
about this thing you attach to the laptop port - by ATT - and you can connect anywhere=
I'm wondering if that applies to France also.

You're right . My laptop is older - I'll check.

Eh bien, mahya, je vais t'aider .
Tu as quelques options, mais à mon avis, le meilleur option pour téléphoner, c'est d'achter une carte "Hyperlibre" chez Auchan.

0.39€ par minute

http://www.auchan.fr/univers/article...hannelN3=37919

You need to talk to your cell company to determine if your phone will work in France and what card is necessary if that is possible.
AS for wi fi, you computer's description will indicate if it has a built in wi fi network card. If not, you can buy an add on one at any office supply store.

thanks all. Lots of good suggestions to check into.

From the nature of your questions, it doesn't sound like you are going to France for business. How about leaving your old laptop at home? You can use public internet points for e-mail.

Hi Zeppole,

I didnt bring my laptop on either of my last two trips to Paris, but it wasn't fun wandering around looking for an internet place -and then since their keyboard is different than ours,,,made typing and re-typing errors excruciatingly slow.

I'd rather have it on hand so I can look up all these good recommendations on Fodor's on the spur of the moment -

Hey Zeppole,

Did you ever go to any of those Paris Soiree dinners on Sundays at Jim Haynes or Patricia Collins?

or Know anybody who did ?

No, I haven't but I think I saw some people on the Slow Travel site did, but I could be mistaken.

Did you see I answered your questions about the Seine boat trip on that other thread?

You might like this web site:

http://goeurope.about.com/od/pari1/P...ertainment.htm

and this

http://gridskipper.com/65980/the-lat...in-restaurants

This also might help you

http://www.paris.fr/portail/Economie...t?page_id=7799

But you do realize that you will need to march around trying to find wi-fi hotspots -- plus you'll be doing that with your laptop.

I understand the keyboard problem, but I still don't think it's worth it -- especially since they've now announced that airport security has the right to confiscate your laptop.

t-mobile (your US one) works perfect in France, and 99 cents/minute if you have the international connection. So you should be great w/the cell phone.

For WI FI (pronounced "wee fee" in French), if your lap top doesn't handle it because it's old, just keep in mind using French public internet (abundant) watch what you're typing, because the keyboard's a tad different.

As for what logos says, just make sure the 39 cents (euro) covers phones o/s France, i.e. to US.

Here's a thread that discussed dinner with jim. I met a woman in Paris (last trip) who did one of his dinners. She said it was just OK but wouldn't do it again.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34835767

If you will be calling home and are bringing your laptop you might want to install Skype which allows free voice over IP calls. All computers need to install Skype. It's very easy to install and to use. Since you'll be using WIFI connections in public places also buy a headset to talk.

Definitely buy the wireless card in the US and test it out before you leave home.

Zeppole,

you are a fount of information, thank you, I have bookmarked all of the sites you mention and will read more when there is more time - the restaurant one in the 5th makes me sorry I didn't book in the 5th arr., but there's always next year.

Do you have any similar sites for Nice and the French and Italian Riviera?

Adrienne,

you too. good suggestions and good info. I'll look into Skype. And the Soiree site.

And SurferGirl

thanks for the info, will check out which Wee Fee card I'll be able to use. Is T- Mobile more popular, more locations, easier over there than ATT ?

Zeppole,

"Did you see I answered your questions about the Seine boat trip on that other thread?"

No, I didnt see that - the last I saw was your mention of the canal cruise - and that you found it boring
but it's the type of thing I might like - I love gardens, and trees and cruises, boating - but perhaps will only take the 1/2 day since you found it boring...

(wish I knew how to put things in italics on here ).

Here's the info on the boat trip on the Seine. Again, it is different from the canal trip (which is very urban, no gardens).

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35148203

I've not spent very much time on the French Riviera. The coastal Italian Riviera is divided into two parts, the part between France and Genova, the best parts of which are mostly not at the sea but in the hills above the sea and can only be seen with a car. It is famous for its gardens and industrial flower growing, and is sometimes called the Riviera dei Fiore (google search that term)

and

there is the Riviera between Genova and Tuscany, which include the now-famous le Cinque Terre, the always famous Portofino, Portovenere and other pretty towns right on the sea.

If you do Google searches for Riviera Ponente you will find good websites for the area closest to France. For areas below Genova, search for Riviera Levante.

Oh, I thought you had taken the Seine, Marne River trip.

Sorry , I'm confused between the canal trip and the river trip. Still the river trip sounds intriguing,

I've taken Batobus. Was not thrilled.

If you were not thrilled by the Batobus, I think you are unlikely to be thrilled by the canal tour -- and perhaps not by the Seine boat tour -- since most of the trip is through urban Paris.

Fodorites,

Back to the Wi-Fi matter:

I found out there is a free WI-FI connection about 900 feet from the apartment - do you think I would be able to pick up that WI-FI connection from that distance ?

M

900 feet? Extremely unlikely.

Generally speaking b/g wireless range will be 150 feet max indoors and 300 feet outdoors.

You'll have to go and sit closer to the access point I'm afraid.

Rob