Can You Hear Me Now? A Guide to Using Your Cell Phone in France

can you hear me now???

Hi everyone! We’ve had a guest ask for info on using your cell phone in France... There are certainly many options...

Firstly, know this: If you do nothing at all, your phone will likely work just fine from Europe, albeit the pay-per-use cost per minute, data, & text rate will usually be significantly higher.

Which option works best for you depends on who your carrier is and how much you think you'll use your phone. We provide you with free Wi-Fi at the Villa... which means that you can use your home plan's amenities at the Villa without any extra cellular charges!

So, if you don't plan to use your phone for much, you'll still have Wi-Fi available at the Villa. But if you're planning on "being accessible at all times," want to be able to receive emails, calls & texts from the US while out and about, want to post to Facebook, Instagram, or perhaps use your phone as your GPS mapping program, then you'll probably want to have some sort of international plan in place.

many of our guests use their phones 

for their map  program

People often ask us what we do personally; Terese and I have Apple iPhones and we were always on the AT&T system...  and we always signed up for their ATT International Day Pass. The International Day Pass is currently $12 per day on the days you use it. It includes unlimited talk and texts and then uses the data from your home plan... (and they charge for only the first 10 days of usage per each billing cycle). If you're a couple using two phones, and the second phone is on the same account, AT&T will only charge you $6 per day for the second phone (again for a maximum of 10 days per billing cycle). 

But we've just recently switched to T-Mobile, where they offer free unlimited texting & basic data with voice calls at 25 cents/minute. They also offer high-speed data passes (like a 10-day pass for $35) if you need faster internet.

Here is a quick look at the other major options:

• Verizon has similar plans. Their TravelPass is currently $12/day for most international destinations and is very similar to the AT&T plan mentioned above.

• T-Mobile, on many of their Go5G and Magenta calling plans, offers free unlimited texting & basic data (though throttled to 2G speeds, which can be quite slow for modern apps!) with voice calls at 25 cents/minute. They also offer high-speed data passes (like a 10-day pass for $35) if you need faster internet.

And, lastly (regardless of who your carrier is), if your phone is "unlocked" (it probably is), you can alternatively buy a prepaid physical SIM card in Europe or simply download an eSIM (a digital SIM card via apps like Airalo or Ubigi) online before you even leave home. This is probably the least expensive option for data-heavy users... 

Ultimately, we suggest you consult your carrier for their advice on what will work best for you individually.

And again, you can always use WhatsApp for free with the Wi-Fi at the Villa!

Again, while we always try our best to provide up-to-date and accurate information, plans change all the time. We strongly suggest you check with your own carrier for the best plan and details for your individual needs.