Purchasing sim card before traveling

You'll need to purchase one after you get there from a phone store. If you have problems, you can at least go in to deal with it face to face. Their phone co. hotlines are going to be in the local language--often unintelligible language to you.

I just signed up with new service with T-Mobile--$50 monthly unlimited voice, text and data in North America. For $15, I signed up for their international plan with $.20 voice service, unlimited text and data and unlimited WIFI voice service. When I return home, I'll cancel the international plan. Best of all is the service is seamless with your home cellphone service. My grandkids will call me at home, and it answers over there--but at 3:30 am.
T-Mobile is owned by the German phone company and is the national carrier for a number of European countries. So their service is good over there.

Have purchased a sim card abroad for many many years - the point is to buy one here in order to have the phone number BEFORE leaving.

I'm not sure you can do that; I may be wrong. I brought my unlocked phone to So. Africa, and purchased the sim card at the airport where they also installed it. Also did so in Germany at a train station - I'm sure you can do in any city. We purchase sim cards for our phones and iPads when we get to whatever country.

not sure about the US but in Australia we can easily buy a TravelSim, Gosim ( at our post office etc and on line) and many others that work in Europe etc. they no doubt cost a little more ( call costs) than a local sim in each country, BUT you can try them out before you go, let your family know the number, and you don't waste valuable travel time when you are there, trying to buy one and getting it to work. particularly with so much free wifi, you can just use your phone as a backup and a small amount of calls, for not a huge outlay. unless your a mobile phone 'tragic' :)

hope this helps

There are several internet services that will set you up with a SIM card and offer additional services (Telestial and Simcorner might be two to check out, others will pop up as well)

Basically they will mail to you in the US, some offer call-forwarding of your US number to your new European number or other options.

You will need to evaluate cost, typically these plans are more expensive than just getting one there, but yeah, you will know your number and can give it to others ahead of time.

It's going to cost you a lot more if you buy it in advance rather than getting one when you get off the plane in France. I'd wait.

I'm with T, it will cost more than just waiting until you're in France.

Some of the popular email programs (yahoo, gmail, outlook) have an auto reply feature. Perhaps you can use that to disseminate your number once you get it?

Go get a t-mobile sim before you leave and you will have your phone number.

T-mobile is contract free so just pay for the month you use it. International data is included (up to 3G speeds but you can pay for faster) and if you do the international plan mentioned, then the calling price reduces.

Tagging onto this thread....thanks for the advice Glenn. Was going to wait until I got to CDG to get my SIM and museum pass, but will look into your suggestion!☺

Jenn,

Unless you really need to I would not choose to get a local SIM card at the airport. My thought is that if I have a problem I want to go back to the store and get it fixed.

jenn, one of the sim card companies, that I mentioned, recently sold 2 sims for $30. (usually $25 each) but the thing worth knowing is they offer free, unlimited texts between sim cards. we bought some. what a great idea for a couple who are travelling and/or to text back home for free. ( eg: set one up in an old phone for someone at home- eg; the kids or elderly parents) we will give them a go on our next trip in May.

gray,

You could have a look at "travel SIM" firms such as iRoam, Cellular Abroad, Mobal or others. Many of them are equipped with a UK phone number and everything could be set up before you leave. I've found that these work best with basic phones (ie: no data) for voice and text. Billing is often attached to a credit card, so no worries about having to top-up a PAYG plan. These will work in most countries with consistent rates. Check their respective websites for details and costs.

Don't know if this is still available, but in 2013 I was able to order a Lebara SIM card online which was mailed to my home before I left. You can check their website to see if this is still available. They do have English speaking customer service.