try these people, i use them

http://www.zeroforfait.fr

w.

Eurobuzz is not something I have seen here before. I will have a look for my interest but I am afraid I won't be able to advise you.

Lots of people from USA use Verizon. Or if you have an unlocked triband or 900/1800 phone, you can purchase a SIM card in France to use in it.

Have a look at http://www.callineurope.com

For 60 bucks they'll deliver a phone right to your door.

Calls per minute are less expensive than most pay as you go phones and they bill right to my credit card so I never run out of minutes.

They are based in the US and have always been a pleasure to deal with when I've had a question or needed to make changes. I've used the phone on 2 trips to France and one to Greece and it's worked flawlessly.

Rob

Thanks all, lots of options to consider.

Our current mobile provider is a CDMA network so my option is limited to buying a new phone with international service through them or picking up a cheap disposable or two.

Normally I dont carry a phone on vacation, but this trip we are taking my folks and another couple along so some communications would be nice.

I appreciate all the input, you guys are an invaluable asset.

Mark and Nita

I used to use Callineurope, but I switched to Eurobuzz for my last trip.

I was annoyed with the hidden charges that callineurope apply - for instance they wanted me to pay a fee just to keep my account alive ($40 I think).

Enjoy Avignon!

L

True, CallinEurope recently started to charge to keep the phone in service but I see EuroBuzz has a rate of 79 cents a minute versus CiE's 39 cents.

Eurobuzz also charges the same 79 cents for incoming calls which neither CiE nor other European carriers normally do. So you're basically paying more than double what you'd pay for a CiE phone.

I'd rather pay a 20 dollar charge than pay double the per minute rate AND get ripped off for the same 79 cents a minute for incoming calls!

Rob

I just purchased 2 Eurobuzz phones to use during business and holiday trips to Europe. I have used them in the UK, and will use them in July in the Netherlands. The experience to-date has been great. I turned the phones on when I arrived at Heathrow airport, and they connected to the cell towers immediately - no problem throughout the 12 days in the UK. When I returned home, I checked my attached credit card, and the billing from Eurobuzz appeared within 5 days.

There are no additional charges once purchase is made, even if the phone stays idle for months at a time. You only pay when you use the phones. I would highly recommend them.

I've just been using http://www.eurobuzz.com/ and would definitely recommend them. The service worked great while I was in Europe and the charges for calls might be slightly higher but the quality of the line was much better than others I've used beforehand. I've just been to France and all their rates are on their site and was much easier to estimate the cost than all the extra hidden charges I've found elsewhere. MalachiUri did you use Eurobuzz too, or did you try one of the alternatives?

The bigger French Post Offices ( La Poste) now offer a great range of 'pay as you go' mobile phones, which you can top up all over the place - as well as SIM cards (if you have an unlocked phone) . These are perfect for tourists and will be much cheaper than using your own phone for roaming.

Another tip - you heard it here first - is to buy a phone and service from the very competetive Monaco Telecom. You don't have to go to Monaco to get one- although you can - but can order on line. Apart from the cachet of having a Monaco phone number you get cheaper calls!

http://www.monaco.mc/Pages/Accueil/nos_boutiques/boutique

Ed