Phone set up for Le Puy route

[Chuck Cunningham]

I will be doing the Le Puy route and will be needing to get my phone set up for French and Spanish. All input appreciated. Will one sim card do both? Where to purchase? Providers? And about anything else you can think of. Thanks in advance.

 

[kmrice]

Unless things have changed since last year, you will need two SIM cards. Last fall, we got a Orange SIM at an Orange store (we went to the one in Montparnasse, as we overnighted in Paris; there is probably a store in Le Puy.

The first chance to get a Spanish SIM is in Burlada just before you enter Pomplona. There is a Vodaphone Store on the right and, I believe, a store for a competitor on the left. We went with Vodaphone and the salesman was very helpful.

 

[Chuck Cunningham]

Unless things have changed since last year, you will need two SIM cards. Last fall, we got a Orange SIM at an Orange store (we went to the one in Montparnasse, as we overnighted in Paris; there is probably a store in Le Puy.

The first chance to get a Spanish SIM is in Burlada just before you enter Pomplona. There is a Vodaphone Store on the right and, I believe, a store for a competitor on the left. We went with Vodaphone and the salesman was very helpful.

Thanks I will be overnighting in Paris also .

 

[Chuck Cunningham]

Thanks I will be overnighting in Paris also .

Okay so you get the proper sim card for whever you may be then do you have to get provider from over there or will verizon work?

 

[kayagee66]

I got my Orange sim in a 'mall' opposite the train station in Lyon. it was busy so you'd probably need an hour.
I got my Orange sim in Spain in Pamplona. In a big department store. A quick google search of Orange store Paris etc will give you all the locations.
You will need to have your passport with you when you buy your sim, in France and Spain.

 

[kmrice]

Thanks I will be overnighting in Paris also .

If, like us, you are catching a train to Lyon from Gare Montparnasse, there is an Orange store, Boutique Orange, very near the station at 11 Rue de L’Arrivee.

I should have mentioned before that you will need a GSM phone which is UNLOCKED. Verizon phones, at least when I had them, were not GSM capable. AT&T and T-Mobile, and, I believe, most other American carriers, are.

AT&T phones bought on plans generally cannot be unlocked until they are fully paid for or the plan is complete. If the phone is not unlocked, you cannot use it for European service. If it is unlocked, all you do is swap the existing SIM for the new one, punch in the code that you get with the SIM, and you are good to go.

Make sure the phone really is unlocked; I thought I had gotten mine unlocked by AT&T but when I tested it (fortunately, before I left the US) by borrowing a T-Mobile SIM, it was not. I had to repeat the procedure provided by AT&T to get it really unlocked.

 

[kmrice]

Okay so you get the proper sim card for whever you may be then do you have to get provider from over there or will verizon work?

1. Verizon has a plan which you can use for making calls in Europe on your Verizon phone. But: a) it is expensive, and b) I have yet to meet anyone who actually got it to work. I've met several people who signed up and paid for it only to find when they got to Europe they could not get it to work.

2. I don't believe Verizon phones, at least American Verizon phones, are GSM capable, which means you cannot swap out the SIM for a European SIM.

3. If you have an American Verizon phone and it is not GSM capable, consider getting a cheap GSM capable phone for making calls and then use WiFi for internet access.

4. Note that, if you have a GSM capable phone, it will not work unless it is unlocked.

 

[Chuck Cunningham]

1. Verizon has a plan which you can use for making calls in Europe on your Verizon phone. But: a) it is expensive, and b) I have yet to meet anyone who actually got it to work. I've met several people who signed up and paid for it only to find when they got to Europe they could not get it to work.

2. I don't believe Verizon phones, at least American Verizon phones, are GSM capable, which means you cannot swap out the SIM for a European SIM.

3. If you have an American Verizon phone and it is not GSM capable, consider getting a cheap GSM capable phone for making calls and then use WiFi for internet access.

4. Note that, if you have a GSM capable phone, it will not work unless it is unlocked.

Wow... I see it pays to ask questions.. thanks.

 

[Chuck Cunningham]

If, like us, you are catching a train to Lyon from Gare Montparnasse, there is an Orange store, Boutique Orange, very near the station at 11 Rue de L’Arrivee.

I should have mentioned before that you will need a GSM phone which is UNLOCKED. Verizon phones, at least when I had them, were not GSM capable. AT&T and T-Mobile, and, I believe, most other American carriers, are.

AT&T phones bought on plans generally cannot be unlocked until they are fully paid for or the plan is complete. If the phone is not unlocked, you cannot use it for European service. If it is unlocked, all you do is swap the existing SIM for the new one, punch in the code that you get with the SIM, and you are good to go.

Make sure the phone really is unlocked; I thought I had gotten mine unlocked by AT&T but when I tested it (fortunately, before I left the US) by borrowing a T-Mobile SIM, it was not. I had to repeat the procedure provided by AT&T to get it really unlocked.

I think i may just buy phone and all in France. I emailed my host and he said he believes that you can get a "throw away" type phone at CDG or at one of the many "7-11" type stores. I think this will be easier for me than trying to figure out all the techie stuff. Also here is a link from Travels with Rick Steeves about phones in Europe:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/disposable-cell-phone-france

 

[Chuck Cunningham]

disregard

I think i may just buy phone and all in France. I emailed my host and he said he believes that you can get a "throw away" type phone at CDG or at one of the many "7-11" type stores. I think this will be easier for me than trying to figure out all the techie stuff. Also here is a link from Travels with Rick Steeves about phones in Europe:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/disposable-cell-phone-france

Disregard last post. Just bit the bullet and ordered a cheapo, dual sim, GSM, flip phone on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLU-Diva-Fl...SIM-Flip-Phone-T9-Key-Board-NEW-/122030869869

 

[Chuck Cunningham]

Forgot to mention price on above is $23.00