Cell Phones in France.....Verizon?

I was just in France. I took my Samsung A71 Galaxy, and was assured by my provider (Shaw, in Canada) that the phone would work, so I bought a month-long roaming pass. Long story short: I couldn't make or receive a call unless I was using wifi calling. I really don't know what the issue was, but I can say that other people on our tour were having similar troubles. At least I could use the data.

Next time I'll probably go back to buying a local sim card. Definitely cheaper than the plan I paid for (and couldn't use).

Good luck.

If you want to use your phone in Europe take out tier international plan.
If you want to just make local calls within Europe, get a European SIM card to replace your Verizon SIM Card. My husband gets Verizon’s Intl plan and I get a European SIM card. The Verizon Intl plan is for reasons you describe and has been valuable to us.
The Euro SIM is used for Google Maps, calling hotels and restaurants etc.

Using a french SIM would be a minor inconvenience to acquire and set up. But your needs would be met for under 20 euro, versus the $100+ that Verizon would take you for.

I like the Verizon international plan because my phone works just like it does at home. I prefer easy over figuring out Sim cards or other options i've read about.

I'm already spending thousands on my trip. So, an extra $100 to have confidence will phone will work, is not a big deal for me.

I use the Verizon travel pass too and it works seamlessly. We used to mess around with downloading maps, using WiFi, etc but a couple years back my husband pointed out that $10 a day for the convenience is well worth it. It's just a drop in the bucket relative to our total trip cost.

I can’t answer all of your questions but I can address a few.

• I am currently using the Verizon $10/day international plan. I’m traveling for 30 days but will be on a tour for part of that time plus don’t expect to use it every day.

• Definitely keep your phone in Airplane mode. I leave the phone in airplane mode unless/until I am away from wifi (hotel, restaurants, museums) and need data for maps, using a taxi app, etc.

• I just switch off airplane mode and it automatically goes to data and starts a charge for that 24 hr period.

• I get a text message from Verizon a few hours later that says “Your 24 hours ends at xx:xx EDT”. This caused me some confusion in October when I first used it because I was having trouble translating that to Paris time, lol since the other time zone I think in is Pacific time. This time I’ve added a city in the Eastern time zone to my world clock app and it’s helped me keep track. You can tell my level of aptitude with technology from that, lol. If you live on the Eastern time zone that may not be an issue for you.

• I’ve only flubbed up one time and took my phone out of Airplane mode when I didn’t need to. Not sure what I was thinking but I can have one less glass of wine if I really start to worry about that $10 goof.

• I’ve not rented a car so no experience with maps for travel. I HAVE been using Citymapper app a LOT here in Paris which is contributing to more days of usage. Thanks Kim in Paris, lol.

• I suggest having your family download WhatsApp for communication. It will work on wifi and is an easy way to keep up with people. I’ve used it with a couple of groups of people and some individuals and it’s worked well.

Here now and use my Verizon service like at home. The $10 is easy. Also Pam makes a great suggestion to download WhatsApp. When you are on wifi, you can make calls back home at no charge, and they can call you. You can also send messages that way.

Forgive me -- I can't seem to read all of your wonderful replies when typing a response, so I'll have to toggle back and forth....

Danilo, I'm sorry you had such problems....impossible to avoid, even with the best planning :-(
Suki, I wish having two phones/two people was an option for me ;-)
Scudder, I'll give the SIM cards some thought. Thank you.
Carrie, & Patricia -- Yes, the cost definitely changes perspective when one considers the total cost of a trip to Europe! I just don't know if I'll have enough data using the Verizon International Plan (5GB), vs. the Travel Pass ($10/day) plan.
Pam -- thank you for the very detailed response! May I privately message you? I'm still unclear on the airplane mode, and a few other things ;-)

Yes, you are welcome to PM me. I am in Paris now and getting ready to go to sleep so no answer until tomorrow, lol!!!!

I've only used Travel Pass for $10 per day because we usually go for 2 weeks and it is so easy. While people say it is easy to do the SIM card thing, I just don't want to deal with that when I arrive in a new country and while I am trying to get my bearings etc... Worst case, you are on the hook for $250 compared to the total cost of 25 days in Europe. Seems reasonable to me....

I've always used the Verizon Int'l cell plan because I want people to be able to reach me with my U.S. phone number. Easy-peasy. But another option just for driving navigation is to bring an old school car GPS unit. I have done that on most trips simply for navigating while driving (not while walking around). I find it simple and free (since I already own the unit). But make sure you download the European maps for the areas to which you will be traveling before you leave the U.S. I own a Garmin unit, and I can connect it to my home computer, load the maps, and bring my windshield mount.

I used my Verizon phones in France and they work just fine. However, one day I got a text from them saying that I had reached my daily 0.5 GB international high speed allowance. Which is odd since I have an unlimited plan here in the States. they generously offered to let me buy an additional 0.5 GB for $10.

I'm not familiar with a folding Michelin map, but I'm guessing it will have too much info for a casual tourist. I prefer the Streetwise line of folding laminated maps.

"Worst case, you are on the hook for $250 compared to the total cost of 25 days in Europe. Seems reasonable to me...."

wow ... not to me, when it's so damned easy to walk into a cellular provider storefront and get an in country 30-day SIM card with ample minutes and data for between $30-$40..

I’m working through the same issues for an upcoming trip.

One question I didn’t see — if I have the phone in airplane mode, will I receive incoming calls or texts? If I do, will it start the clock for the $10 a day plan?

Thank you!

If you have an iPhone set to Airplane Mode, you will not receive anything cellular related and therefore you should not incur a daily charge.

Again, if you have an iPhone set to Airplane Mode you can continue to use wi-fi, and can continue to send and receive iMessages.

Periscope, thank you!

Hi Serendipity, since you are bringing your paper Michelin map, have you looked at Via Michelin, their online route planner:
https://www.viamichelin.com/
Sometimes it is more detailed and updated than Google, in my experience. I know it can be time consuming to try a new route planner, but might be helpful in rural areas. And yes I also take the Michelin paper Atlas when I do road trips in France.
Have a great drive!

Great suggestions:

Jimmy666 — Thanks. I’ve waited years to make this trip, so I’m feeling that a “splurge” for the convenience is worth it.

PharmerPhil — Glad you liked the Verizon plan. I have no GPS unit, so must put my money on cell phone assistance.

Phred — Yes, I read about this....currently, $5.00 for an upgrade. Did you find the slower speed a problem?

Periscope — I’d probably feel more comfortable doing this, if my only cell phone wasn’t a relatively new and expensive one…..perhaps I’ll wander into one of those stores and check it out, when I’m there.

Donna — Glad I’m not alone, trying to work through all of this! I’m told that you’ll still receive incoming texts — as Periscope wrote — and that they won’t trigger the $10/day TravelPass Plan.

Periscope — Thanks so much for clarifying Airplane Mode for me (and Donna)!

Barbara — Wow. I remember looking at this 3 years ago, but had totally forgotten about Via Michelin. I’ll definitely start experimenting with it now. It looks better than Google Maps….gives travel times and kms in an easier format, plus clearly identifies gas stations & parking lots. Thanks so much for this tip! Does it have an offline function -- similar to Google Maps -- so that routes be downloaded when on WiFi, and then pulled up later when on the road?

“If I have the phone in airplane mode, will I receive incoming calls or texts?”

I’ll add to periscope’s answer that as SOON as I turn off wifi and go on to data I start getting those spam robo calls. Very annoying.

"I’d probably feel more comfortable doing this, if my only cell phone wasn’t a relatively new and expensive one"

@ Serendipity

You're only swapping out the SIM card, not altering the operating software. I've done it many times on a 6, a 7, and my current 11 pro.

I also purchase a data only SIM card, usually with 20 to 25GB of data for 30-days, for my iPad, because I want nothing to do with wi-fi while in Europe.

Building on periscope’s point, data in Europe is less expensive than in the US. Your iPhone 11 has dual SIM, correct ? One eSIM and one physical SIM. Before you travel, be sure that Verizon is using your eSIM and that your phone is unlocked.
Then you will keep your options open to buy a SIM for data when you are in France. For 20 to 30 Euros, you can get 20-30 Gb, more than you’re likely to use, but it buys you safety and convenience when you’re on the road alone. Orange has very good coverage throughout France, and they have stores in most major towns.

It appears that commentators are in two camps: one suggesting the purchase of a local SIM card, and the other extending one’s U.S. cell service plans for use abroad. I appreciate Barbara’s response that I could make sure my phone was unlocked, set up a Verizon TravelPass plan at home, and then check out local SIM access before deciding to initiate that Verizon plan. My hotel & in-country tour reservations and French contacts (and family at home) have my U.S. cell phone number on file….all of which would need to be changed should I go the SIM route (a new phone number), correct?

Periscope, could you share what you find problematic about using WiFi abroad?

Oh, it's just a security issue thing with me, I've had a couple of friends "picked" off by not being sufficiently aware of unsecure wi-fi. And for $20-$30 bucks I don't have to worry about security or sketchy hotel connections.

Ah. Yes, one needs to be very aware, cautious, and vigilant. Thanks!

Regarding the Michelin map. I love that map, but in 2019 we only used it one time in 4 weeks. (that was when there was a detour). What we used was the built-in GPS on the rental car. It was annoying to get used to, like getting used to any new app, but I was very pleased. I leased a car from Europcar, but don't remember the model. I would check with your rental company to see if it's included.

@ Serendipity - So, here's my set-up. I purchase data only SIM cards. I don't worry about hotels contacting me, and in your case just make the contact your email address. As for family and friends who want to keep in touch or some emergency they do it through iMessage. I have Skype minutes if someone needs me to call them. The reason I use Skype minutes is because they are cheap, they allow me to phone landlines both in-country and back home, and most importantly, in case I need to yell at my credit card provider for freezing my card.

Thanks, carolboltz. Securing a CONFIRMED car rental was my biggest anxiety, planning this trip. We’ll see how lucky I am re a GPS system…..it’s a compact automatic vehicle, so, crossing my fingers ;-)

I mentioned this in another thread, since you're in-country for a month, it might make sense to buy your own GPS and keep it in the car, and perhaps donate it back to the rental agency when you leave. Or bring it home.

Also I don't think anyone mentioned this, another option is to buy a cheap unlocked international GSM phone on Amazon now and then buy a SIM card when you get to France. Whole new separate phone, with separate card. Or buy the Carte Orange card while you're at Amazon.

I'm using my Verizon plan in France now. In airplane mode I do not receive texts. Sometimes I can send them sometimes I cannot. I have not been able to make sense of this. I'm using an iphone X, I believe.

"In airplane mode I do not receive texts"

If you are referring to SMS texts, you won't receive them when in Airplane Mode, because SMS uses cellular to send and receive, and Airplane Mode blocks all cellular.

I have been to France twice using Verizon's Travel Pass, with my husband who also used it. It truly is so easy. You just have to turn the phone off for two minutes once you land in France, then turn it back on and it geo-locates itself and then you are able to use it just as at home. I don't bother with Airplane mode because I have found I need some non-wifi services almost every day so I just add 10 bucks a day onto my trip budget. I always call them a few weeks before leaving to make sure that Verizon knows the dates of my trip and that it will be activated. You can call French phone numbers locally no need for country code so making a dinner reservation for instance is simple. It's a great plan in my opinion. We are going again in June and I just called Verizon today to put it on their radar. Good question! I like hearing what others have to say about it either way I always learn something.

JR & Pam - WhatsApp sounds good: hope to check this out before I leave.

Phred — Yet another option. Thank you.

Carolyn & periscope — I read that texts from an iPhone to an iPhone will still work in Airplane Mode….?

Gabriel3rdst — Thanks for your reply. I’ve decided to secure Verizon’s $10/day TravelPass — which I don’t expect to need daily — and leave my SIM options open (thank you, Barbara & others) if I’ve misjudged. And, use hotel WiFi cautiously: to touch base with family, catch up on necessary emails, perhaps try downloading maps (Google, MapsMe, Via Michelin) for using offline the next day.

1. Does TravelPass begin immediately, the minute I take my phone off Airplane Mode? Or am I asked first, whether to start using it? I’m guessing the former, since I assume it will register at that moment if I’ve received any calls, texts, or emails.

2. Is it necessary to keep the Cellular Data toggle off, in addition to keeping the iPhone in Airplane Mode, when not wanting to access TravelPass?

So incredibly grateful for all of your replies — thank you!

" I read that texts from an iPhone to an iPhone will still work in Airplane Mode….?"

I'm pretty sure that just refers to iMessages and not SMS texts.

"Is it necessary to keep the Cellular Data toggle off"

Not necessary, but if you aren't planning to access Cellular much, or at all - it doesn't hurt.

“Does TravelPass begin immediately, the minute I take my phone off Airplane Mode?”

It goes into data as soon as you go out of Airplane mode. You’ll immediately see the bars of service show up.

I’ve not had to turn my phone off when entering a country. In fact today I was on the train from Paris to Belgium and had data on. I got a text notification saying “Welcome to Belgium”. I laughed because I was watching the map to see if I could tell when we crossed the line, lol.