Phones & laptops in France?

Using Skype is really easy and really cheap. Using a cell phone is going to almost certainly be more expensive but does require carrying less equipment.

If your smartphone has Skype on it, then you should be good to go - just use the hotel wifi to make your skype calls and send emails. As far as texts go, they'll cost you around $.50 per text depending on your plan. I used an iPhone4 in Europe last year for 36 days. I turned off data roaming and kept it in airplane mode most of the time. Had my phone calls unconditionally forwarded to a Google Voice # so that I wouldn't register any incoming calls on the international towers. Using the GoogleVoice # allowed me to read my voicemails, even those from my main AT&T line. I used Skype on Wifi to make calls to the states - it wasn't perfect but it worked ok. didn't get a chance to try videoskype or facetime from there. If you plan to use data while you're there, make sure to sign up for an int'l data plan and monitor your usage.

Just as a side issue to this, if you are intending to use an internet cafe, bear in mind that the keyboards in France are different. "AZERTY".
Roger

I used Internet cafes in Paris & Venice this year. The keyboards are different. My issue was one of my main passwords had the $ as a symbol in it. Guess what is NOT easily accessible on European keyboards? So while it is good to have a strong password, be mindful of what you have and if you have to use a foreign keyboard, what you might encounter.
Good luck

Be aware that you may not always be able to get a good enough Wifi connection to use video with Skype. It's possible to just call without making a video call, though. An internet cafe could be a good option if you want to make a video call on Skype. The ones I've been in always had at least a few computers with webcams. If the staff speaks English, and you are a touch typist, ask them what command you can use to switch to the QWERTY layout. It doesn't mean they physically change the keyboard, you will then be able to type as you normally do.

I've taken a netbook and a smartphone. Next trip, I'm just taking the smartphone. It works. It is a bit more work, but the trade off in weight and size is worth it to me. If all you have is a laptop, that is even more true. I have used Skype on my phone to make calls. It generally works, but the call quality can vary. I have even made Skype calls over a 3G connection. If your phone is unlocked -- AT&T should give you the code to unlock it, if not -- you can buy a French prepaid SIM card. That may permit you to make calls or send email over a phone connection that may be cheaper than if you used AT&T's roaming services. The data usage will definitely be cheaper. If you do take your phone, find out how you need to set it to shut off background data usage so you don't come home to a gigantic bill.

We used "Milk" internet cafes in Paris and they had skype already installed on some computers. Cheap rates, but you HAD to have your headset already. We used two in the Latin quarter/Sorbonne and BTW, both locations had some computers with American keyboards, all you had to do was ask. In Amsterdam and in the south of France we used internet cafes that had closet sized rooms (for religious reasons) for international calling, I'm sure there are same in Paris if you look.
Can you get a good rate on your phone- there are many threads about different phone service providers- I've used verizon loaner phones but many here endorse other methods.

Enjoyed good answers on calls back to US, but what about calls within France? We will be a party of four and will often divide into pairs to see different sights. We will have two AT&T iPhones that we can share. We would just want to do brief calls or texts, e.g., "Where are you?" Also, might like to call local relatives in France with their own cells. Any suggestions for best, most economical way to do this? Or can we just rent local phones (staying in Lyon 2 weeks)?

For calling home..... A smart phone on wifi with Skype and some prepaid skype minutes. About $10 will buy you 6 hours to any land line anywhere. To stay in touch with other travelers.......Unlocked quad band phones with pre-paid sim cards would be the way to go. get your att phone unlocked here and buy the sim cards when you get there. You'll need your passport to buy them because of terrorism laws.

Bob, I just got back from two weeks in Spain , and took my AT&T Iphone, and a netbook. I used Skype to make calls to home and other places on both my netbook and Iphone. On my next trip I will take both. To keep in touch with my Cousin, who was traveling with us, I purchased, for $10, a one month 50 count "free texts" from AT&T. We would text back and forth all of the time...it worked great. I only used up 42 of those texts. I only had to call her one time: when the police told me to move my car when the girls were out scouting to find our hotel. The rest of the time we just texted each other Go to the AT&T web site and do some reading, or call them on the phone. They do a great job explaining all of your overseas options, on the web site, or in person. http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/international/roaming/affordable-world-packages.jsp Since I had to keep my number "live" for important calls from the US. I spent $5.99/month and purchased the World Traveler package, and had the per minute charges reduced from $1.99/minute to $.99 minute. Bear in mind that ANY call or voice messages made to your number will cost you that $.99/minute,even though they may go to your voicemail. At nite I left my phone on, but switched off the sound, so that I would not get calls from the US when I was asleep.