Buying a phone or bring my own phone in Paris and emergency number

Hi George. I believe Rick mentions the French emergency number in his Paris book. I did a Google search and according to Wikipedia (and Rick) the emergency number for EU countries is 112. The UK has its own emergency number: 999. Numbers in non-EU countries like Switzerland might be different.

George, To begin with, it would help to have more specific information on "my own phone". What type/model of phone are you using, and which carrier are you with (Rogers, Telus, etc.)? Are you using a Smartphone, such as an iPhone, Android or Blackberry? While you could buy a SIM card in France, the costs would be higher if using this in other countries as you would be "roaming". The rates have been moderated considerably due to pressure from the E.U., but still something to be aware of. You could also consider buying a SIM from one of the "travel phone" firms such as Roam Simple, Cellular Abroad, Call In Europe, Telestial or Mobal. They typically use a phone number based in the U.K., with rates arranged in "zones". The rates will be consistent for calls made within a particular zone. Billing is often post paid (calls charged to a credit card), rather than PAYG. Check the respective websites for more detailed information. The emergency phone number may differ to some extent in each country. Nigel provided great information on U.K. numbers. If you'll be in Italy: 112 Police, emergency (Carabinieri) 113 Police, emergency (Polizia di Stato) 115 Fire and rescue service (Vigili del Fuoco) 117 Italian Customs/Financial/Border Police (Guardia di Finanza)
118 Ambulance and first aid service (Italian Red Cross included) You didn't say specifically which countries you'd be visiting on your "best of europe trip", but you could ask Hotel staff in each location or check a phone book when you arrive in each area. You may also want to make a note of the Canadian Embassy locations in each of the countries / cities you'll be visiting. Happy travels!

112 works thoughout Europe, even the UK. The British have always used 999 so many are unaware of 112 but it does work. Swiss are a little different: Emergency calls: 117 Police 118 Fire 144 Ambulance 1414 Swiss Rescue General inquiries: 1811 General inquiries, e.g. doctors, theatres, etc. 140 Breakdown service 162 Weather report 163 Road report
187 Avalanche Report

Ah, but I just noticed you are using a mobile phone. The system is unable to know where you are if you are unable to speak if you call it from a mobile. For it to know your address it needs to be a landline.

Nigel - good to know about the 112 number in the UK.

To Nigel, Sarah, Ken and others with thanks. Ken we have telus mobility, it seems that all your recommendations are pricey upon further inquiry. We might go with skype instead and web online.

Ken's suggestions might sound pricey, but if it is a true emergency, does price matter that much on a 5 minute call? The benefit of things like Mobal and Eurobuzz is that they are postpaid - charged to your credit card IF you make a call. Until then there is no charge (except the initial purchase of the phone/SIM). I carry a phone with a Eurobuzz SIM just for those emergency situations. I don't have to make sure I have a SIM for whatever country, don't have to make sure I have minutes, or let people at home know that my number has changed because I changed SIMs. How well is Skype going to work for you in an emergency?

George, Thanks for the additional information. As you're with Telus, your existing phone may or may not work in Europe. If it's a quad-band GSM model, you would have to ensure that it's unlocked, which would allow you to use other SIM's. You'll have to check with Telus. Depending on which phone handset you're using, you could also roam with Telus. The rates are a bit steep, but if you're only going to be using it for "emergencies", it's an option to consider. If you choose to roam with Telus and are using a Smartphone such as an iPhone, Android or Blackberry, you'll need to be EXTREMELY careful about data roaming charges so that you don't return home to a $37,000 bill as one customer from Vancouver found out last year. You might have a look at the phones and calling plans offered by the "travel phone" firms such as Roam Simple, Cellular Abroad, Call In Europe, Telestial or Mobal (there are others but these are the ones that come to mind). These are usually offered on a post-paid basis, often have a UK phone number and have consistent rates in the countries of western Europe (some locations in eastern Europe are in a different "zone" and therefore the rates are higher). You could of course also buy a SIM in the first country you visit, and use that in other countries. However, when used outside the country of purchase, the rates would be higher as you'd be "roaming". These are typically offered on a PAYG plan, so you'd need to top-up the minutes when required. As Nancy mentioned, using Skype or whatever will be of no use in an emergency. Cheers!

Having a phone with you is great in theory. In the real world it is hard to use an unfamiliar phone that has audio instructions that you can't understand. Skype from your hotel room is the best option to talk to the family back home. A trip is a good time to cut the dependence on a cell phone. If you are having an emergency it's a little late to figure out how to use the phone. If someone at home is having an emergency there isn't much you can do anyways.

For emergency purposes and for limited use, using a cell account that works in the U.S. and Europe is what I think is the easiest solution for most people. Not sure what I'd recommend since you are in BC instead of the U.S. T-Mobile prepaid is now apparently letting customers roam in Europe. The rates are awful, but if it works, you could take a drive down to Seattle and pick up a prepaid phone. Prepaid phones usually don't have radio bands for Europe, though, but I know there are some phones sold with the necessary bands. But check out the prices before making a bunch of calls. Can't make this into a click-on link, but paste this URL into your browser's address bar and then click on the appropriate links: http://www.t-mobile.com/international/roamingoverview.aspx?tp=Inl_Tab_RoamWorldwide. Don't know what kind of credit balance you'd need to make this work. If anyone tries this and it works, please let us know.