wifi of sim card

I'm finding Wi-Fi increasingly available in museums. Some are switching from audioguides to downloadable guides, and Wi-Fi is helpful for the visitors who don't have data service.

Lots of casual eating spots have Wi-Fi. It may be more reliably available at chains. When I was traveling with a smartphone but no SIM, I occasionally had trouble using restaurant Wi-Fi because you were sent a text message for activation, and I had no way to receive the text. That was annoying.

I've found Wi-Fi often available in train stations, but I don't always have a reason to check, so I can't say how prevalent it is. Some trains and inter-city buses have Wi-Fi, but that hasn't been especially reliable for me.

Tourist offices often have Wi-Fi, and there are Wi-Fi hotspots scattered around a lot of cities. You might try Googling Wi-Fi hotspots Paris (etc.) to see what you can learn.

I'm not sure about free roaming within the EU. I'm sure someone else can answer that question and can give you an opinion about buying the SIM in the US vs. in Europe.

I posted this message the other day. A mobile wifi device might be an option worth considering. I have used several of these at home in the U.S. and am considering doing so when I travel, especially for the possibly more robust data connection. Wifi calling with a mobile wifi device

Ask yourself, what do I really need?

If you simply need to occasionally check email, the free WiFi sources will be fine. Some of the best free WiFi connections are available at any of the well known gardens/parks of Paris.

The one solution to more demanding requirements would be a SIM from Orange, SFR, Bouygues, or FREE and a prepaid voice/data plan. If you want to use VoIP, which is WiFi calling, Signal, Telegram, googlevoice, Wire, or WhatsApp, you will need a very strong data link, which might be more than what free WiFi sources provide.

French law, which is admittedly often overlooked, prohibits the sale of SIM cards to those not providing identification. This is why the above service providers do not regularly send SIM cards to those residing outside France.

If you want the advantages of having a SIM, stop by an Orange boutique (or some other provider), they used to be at CDG, purchase an appropriate plan, and have them set up your phone for you. Your plan will work throughout the EU.

Wifi calling with a mobile wifi device

I am not clear on the advantages of a separate device. These devices use data connections sourced through one of the above service providers using provider's SIM. Most mobile phones can now be setup as a WiFi hub themselves, providing the same services without the need of separate hardware.

I am not clear on the advantages of a separate device.

Tocard, think of the possible advantages of using a portable wifi device this way:

I do not want to go through the trouble of getting a foreign SIM card. I have a U.S. number that I want to keep available and active so that I can get and make calls and texts, but I do not want to pay a lot extra to use it. For that reason, I will use my phone only on wifi. But instead of having to search for a wifi connection, I will carry the wifi connection with me in a device smaller than my phone. This device can be used by more than one person at a time and may have better data speeds than the sometimes less than adequate wifi available for free.

There are other advantages that are described in the link. I have T-Mobile, so this approach is not as useful for me, but if I had AT&T or Verizon, I would certainly consider it.

Renting a portable wifi makes the most sense when your phone does not have the right radio frequencies used by the local phone companies. Most phones sold in the U.S. usually have multiple frequencies, including most that are used in Europe, but they do not have all the frequencies used elsewhere in the world. Thus fact is especially true in Japan.

What is the cost of the orange SIM and plans. What about the wifi device? Where do you get it and what's the advantage over the SIM card? The Orange SIM works in Italy too?

A great site for info on SIM cards is https://www.traveltomtom.net/destinations/europe/france/best-prepaid-sim-card-in-france There is a link on that page to his article on purchasing a SIM at CDG. You'll save money and get more data by visiting one of the brick and mortar phone stores Tocard mentioned. Just Google the store name in Paris.

The SIMs I've seen have free roaming throughout the EU, so you shouldn't have to buy separate ones for France and Italy. The things to pay attention to when purchasing are 1) countries in which it's valid, 2) amount of data, text, and talk, 3) length of validity. You can also have a SIM mailed to you before you go. The company I've seen most often, and that Tom recommends is simoptions.com.