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[kitkatgo]

Hello my friends,

I am finally checking out the options (again) of buying vs. renting a phone in France. I have rented in the past (through Verizon, our U.S. carrier), but I prefer not to do that this time.

I would like to have a French cell phone (i.e. with a French phone #) because I need to receive a lot of phone calls from within the country and I don't think they will want to call a U.S. #.

In my research, everyone says, don't rent a phone from the airport; there are a lot of hidden fees. I saw Orange was recommended...and from what I can tell on their website, reasonably priced. Apparently, you can buy a phone for 29 euros that has 30 minutes of time on it. No contract, you just pay as you go.

Does anyone know how easy or difficult this is for a U.S. citizen...to buy one of these phones, I mean?

Also, I get into CDG airport at 7:25 am, and will have to acquire said phone before I have to get to Orly airport for a 4:30 pm flight!

Any advice would be appreciated!

TY

[sue_ca]

why dont you rent a phone here, in the US, with a french line??? i know they are companies that will rent a "pay as you go" phone, with a french number, or local line from over there, thy will ship it to your house here, you will use it at your will in france, and when you are back,just return the phone and wait for the bill...they are some companies here, the ones that i can rembember, one is renta phone.net and the other one is phonerentalusa.com
good luck and enjoy your trip!

[gyl.johnson]

I've run into too many people who have bought a phone in their home country which is supposed to international but doesnt work once in France. My best advice...buy a phone once you're in France. Go to Bouygues telecom. Now, its super cheap just to buy a phone with a "pay as you go" plan. No one will care about your nationality or whether or not you live here.

[kitkatgo]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I just got home from my trip late last night.

I bought a phone at an Orange store (which are just about everywhere!) for 29 euros, and it came with 5 euros credit talking time. I also bought extra time then as well.

Later, to recharge, I bought more time at La Poste (post office) and at another Orange store. You can also buy more time at some Tabacs.

So it worked out very well.