using iPad mini in France

Do you have cellular data on your mini? If you do I think you can buy a SIM card with data. If not, you'll need wifi to go online.

There are wi-fi hot spots in many places. Restaurants and cafés increasingly offer it. Just ask as you go and they'll provide you with their username and password. A local hotel may also be willing to let you use their wi-fi in their lobby, if you sit and order coffee; this is what I did for a week when I stayed in an apartment in Menton that did not have wi-fi.

There's at least a couple of apps in the App Store that identify hot spots and provide passwords. Download these and map some out near where you'll be, before you leave home. The one I have is called WiFi-map (free).

I don't bother with data plans or SIM cards for my iPad Mini when I travel, since hot spots are so readily available now. Besides which, I'm on vacation... I don't want to be 'wired' (or reachable) ALL the time! ;-)

I have a wifi-only iPad and have almost no problem finding a hotspot. Many hotels have computers that guests can use if there is no wifi available. I've never been without it for more than a couple of days. In a pinch, Western Union offices will have computers available for rent, one or two euro per half hour or hour.

There are a lot of places in Paris where you can access Wifi. Here is a link to the city's page about it:
http://www.paris.fr/english/english/how-to-access-the-wi-fi-free-of-charge-in-paris/rub_8118_actu_109289_port_19237

The deals change each year so I suggest you post your question on the Trip Advisor France forum to get advice from locals. Include where you'll be in France so coverage by the service providers can be considered. I've seen prepaid data of 1.5 GB for 30 days for €30 in the past.

In villages and smaller towns wifi may not be available in restaurants, stores, etc. We had a house in a village in the south where no wifi was available. It was necessary to drive a few miles to a town and the nearest cafe with wifi.