Telephone

"Do we sign up for international plans with our carriers or do something while in France?"

You can either use your current carrier with an international plan, or get local SIM cards, depending on your needs. Here's Rick's articles on both options, to get you started: http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/data-roaming and http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/phones-tech/cell-phone-europe.

Remember that all your devices will work on WiFi, so what you do for data plans depends on how much you plan to need data access when you are not in WiFi range. Most hotels in France have WiFi, in the lobby if not in all rooms (of course, you have to check your particular accommodations).

"Also, will I need the laptop?"

That depends. Compared to an iPad, a laptop adds a keyboard, a USB port, a camera card slot, and a large hard drive. It also adds size and weight. If you're going to use the extra features on the laptop, or if you each want your own device, it's worth taking. If not, just take the iPad, as it's thinner and lighter.

The laptop you may want to have to download pics to. I am not sure about the IPad.

EuroBuzz www.eurobuzz.com is a SIM card/cell phone plan I am going with on my 2015 trip. The company's SIM card will work all over Europe. These are the features as I understand them.

1. No roaming fees; no monthly charge. You are chg'd 75 cents per min on phone calls & 75 cents per outgoing text. Incoming texts are free. No roaming fees!

2. You are given a USA phone number so you can be reached by ppl in the States AS WELL AS a European phone number. Those #'s are yours to keep for your next trip, even if it is many yrs down the line.

3. You can put the Verizon plan on 'vacation hold' while you are in Europe.

4. OPTION 1 - SIM cards cost $9. Your phone is a quad phone that can be unlocked. Substitute the EuroBuzz SIM card for your current SIM card after you unlock the phone & just before you leave.

5. OPTION 2 - cell phones You can purchase 1 cell phone (ready to go when you land in Europe) for $29; 2 for $39 at this time from Eurobuzz. When you come home, put the phones away until your next trip.

Here is the most recent review I have seen on the forums & the recommendations go back to 2010.

Posted by Eileen
Texan in CA
04/19/14 06:15 PM
3666 posts

We really like our EuroBuzz phones and service. They worked very well (and as advertised). Great battery time.

I haven't used the phones in two years, but when the expiration date on my credit card was expiring recently, EuroBuzz sent me an email so I could send them the new expiration date - very helpful for me.
This is the same company as Mobal - Mobal is for worldwide usage, and EuroBuzz is for Europe, only. Just read the website for the 
info . . . 

We made calls within Europe, to the USA, and texted each other - all calls, esp. to the USA, were very clear. Billing to our credit card was as expected, and showed up on the very next billing cycle.
We were very pleased with everything. Yes, with more effort you may spend a tad less with some other solution (depending on your current phone, where you're traveling to, etc.), but this was an effortless and inexpensive way to go for us. And...my expensive phone stayed at home ;-)
Remember - you can't use this from the USA, but of course you can charge it at home before travel.

(Part of EuroBuzz email to me.)
If you've got any further questions about the EuroBuzz service then you can contact us by the following ways...
Read our FAQs at www.eurobuzz.com/europe-cell-phone/
Call customer services toll-free at 888-792-7647
Email customer services at [email protected]
We hope you have a great trip whatever you decide,

The EuroBuzz team

P.S. Don't forget you get a 60-day money-back guarantee with EuroBuzz, so why don't you try it yourself first, and then decide
whether you want to keep it?

Just visit www.eurobuzz.com/europe-cell-phone/ or call 888-792-7647 to order.

My 2-Cents Worth