Having an active mobile phone while traveling is essential today. There are many options: from using your existing phone-service/phone to having unlocked phones and using a local SIM card.
How to dial:
1. You need to know the country code. 33 for France or see https://countrycode.org/ for others. When you dial always enter +, followed by country code
2. Local numbers in France and other countries often begin with 0 [followed by 1, 9 or 6 in France], the 0 is always dropped. So 01 xx xx xx xx becomes +33 1 xx xx xx xx.
3. Calling back to US or Canada – dial +1 xxx xxx xxxx
ATT – you will need to subscribe [$$’s] to an international plan for calls or texts. Make sure data roaming is off [to avoid extremely nasty bill when you get home] and connect to WiFi whenever possible. Making calls? See http://soc.att.com/28VEsSF
T-Mobile – no subscription and 20¢/min for calls from EU. Texts free. No data limits. See http://t-mo.co/28WF5Zt
Verizon – like ATT you need to subscribe at $10/day/line + charges/call or text or data. See http://vz.to/28VFEFx
Rogers – various deals but basically $10/day http://bit.ly/28WnRKK
Other useful resources can be seen here and here and here
Other Options: [if you have a wifi connection]- many cafes have this for free and of course it is available in our apartment
WhatsApp: Go to app store on you Android or iPhone and download – also see here. Receiver must have WhatsApp installed and active. Can also do video calls
Skype: Down load app – calls free if both have Skype or a few cents/minute if not. Voice and video calls
Facebook Messenger: Download ‘Messenger’ from App-store. free calls and video
Facetime: For iphone and iPad users
Bottom line: Understand charges and choose plan before you leave. Use data service minimally UNLESS you are connected to WiFi to avoid massive charges [except T-mobile]. Unlocked phone and local SIM is useful but you will also have local number that you probably can forward your existing US/Canadian number to. Enjoy!!
Posted by Ralph
First published at http://parisnicevacations.net/
#travel
#Paris
#Nice
#cell phone
Created via http://host-writer.com
