Charging phone in Paris in public

Posted by Hannah (New Zealand) on 06/01/16 03:53 AM

Hi,

I have a quick question about charging my phone in Paris. Most of my friends have been to Europe already and have said that while wifi is abundant you can't charge your phone in cafes or in public libraries/places when you run out of battery. I've done my best to research this and while I have found some phone charging booths are available (according to the internet anyway) I'm not sure where they are exactly in proximity to most tourist attractions (I tried google mapping it).

I'm using my phone to navigate as I can't read a map to save my life (my friends once had to ask the police to retrieve me after dark because I couldn't find my way out of a park) so I was wondering how I can charge my phone if it dies when I'm in Paris.

Thanks.

Posted by Ken

Vernon, Canada

06/01/16 04:21 AM

32219 posts

Hannah,

I have seen people charging phones in places like McDonalds on occasion, but there are very few power points so that's not going to be a reliable method.

One practical solution would be to pack along an external battery pack with USB connectors such as these products.....

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZQ4JQAA/?tag=thewire06-20&linkCode=xm2&ascsubtag=WC67037
http://www.amazon.com/Jackery-Portable-External-Panasonic-Aluminum/dp/B00EA1P8OI/ref=lp_7073960011_1_22?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1464754736&sr=1-22

There are numerous other models on the market. I assume you'll have an inexpensive data connection for your phone?

Posted by Letizia

California

06/01/16 05:36 AM

1625 posts

I used something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Lipstick-Sized-Generation-High-Quality/dp/B005X1Y7I2

The only problem was it got really hot if I charged while the phone was in my purse, so I kinda had to set it in my lap. If you turn off your data that REALLY helps save the battery, and you are 100% sure you are using wifi.

I took screen shots of my google maps when I did have wifi and they worked great even with no wifi since they are GPS, guided me where I needed to go!

Posted by Kim

Paris

06/01/16 05:42 AM

9633 posts

Yes it certainly sounds like you need a supplemental battery pack, I too have one of the lipstick-sized ones and find it works very well.

Funny thing: the new bus shelters (i.e. almost anywhere there's a bus stop) have a USB charging port on the side for exactly this reason. they are on the exterior side, about waist level, right by another repetition of the numbers of the buses that use that stop.

If you look at this link, you'll see the charging point in the second photo.

http://transportshaker-solucom.fr/paris-transports-a-lheure-digital/

And this one shows you have to lift up the little cover to be able to plug in your cable.

http://www.journaldugeek.com/2015/02/27/a-paris-les-nouveaux-abris-bus-embarquent-un-port-usb/

Posted by chexbres

Paris

06/01/16 09:40 AM

2466 posts

If you just need to plug in your battery charger, you can do this at any cafe where there's a working outlet. Most cafes offer Wi-Fi anyway, so are not upset if you plug in - as long as you buy something.

If you'll need an adapter for your charger, you can easily find one in electronics stores, airports, train stations, hardware stores - you'll just need a two-pronged round-pin system.

Posted by Frank

Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

06/01/16 01:41 PM

23305 posts

If having a charge phone is critical (and it appears it is) for you, then you need a portable battery. A lot of the popular free wi-fi sites will be jammed with tourist on the web. Even if you are allow to plug in somewhere, there will probably be a long line waiting to use the wall plug. There are supplemental batteries that will easily recharge your phone several times a day. Cheap insurance if you need the phone.