Walkie Talkies in Paris?

Posted by Nancy (Mars, PA, USA) on 04/19/08 02:58 PM

Bought a second set of walkie-talkies at Christmas so we'd be all set with the three (teen) kids and be able to give them some freedom. I found this under traveling with teens here:"Consider buying cheap walkie-talkies in Europe to help you relax when the kids roam (don't bring them from home, as ours use a different bandwidth and are illegal in Europe)." Is this still true (not sure whn this was written? Are ours illegal? If so, where can I find them there (we're between Eiffel and Invalides in Paris, near rue Cler)and how much will they cost me? Dag...Plan B yet again!

[Editor: Walkie Talkies are absolutely illegal in Europe. Leave them at home and, instead, make arrangements to meet at a specific place at a specific time.]

Posted by Tim

Seattle, WA, USA

04/19/08 04:51 PM

66 posts

I looked into this last year when traveling to Ireland with a large family group and found that an American walkie-talkie transmits over frequencies that are reserved for agencies such as the police and are therefore illegal to use in Europe. You will have to buy a walkie-talkie in Europe and the price is comparable to what you would pay here.

Posted by Liza

Edmonton, Canada

04/19/08 07:20 PM

51 posts

I couldn't say for sure, never having shopped for walkie talkies in Paris, but I would think that FNAC stores would have them. Not sure which store would be closest to you, but if you go to www.fnac.com then click on the link on the left hand side of the webpage (you have to scroll down to see it) that says "trouvez un magasin" (find a store)then choose one of the Paris locations from the list.

Okay so I just looked it up on the fnac website, and they do carry them and believe it or not they are called "talkie- walkie" in French, I love that.

They seem to range in price from €50 to €90 for a set of two. I am sure there are other places that might sell more of a budget option, but hopefully this is a starting place.

Good luck, have a great trip!

Posted by Nancy OP

Mars, PA, USA

04/20/08 06:34 AM

213 posts

Tim & Liza- Thanks for the info. Glad I found this out now instead of at customs! I found the FNAC at St. Lazare, which is on our "errand" route the first day (picking up train tickets). The cost is a lot more than I paid for the same thing; start at 70 Euros, over $100, mine with same features were $12 (Black Friday sale, but normally $45). I guess it's worth the peace of mind though.

Jane- Another example of the "Ugly American"! We were talking in whispers in those tiny breakfast rooms, how embarressing! We have an apartment, and on walkie-talkies you can do a simple "beep" (volume set low) to tell someone you need to talk with them and they can "call" you/talk when available (go outside!). It's like cell phones...some people have no manners (one of my pet-peeves too)!

Posted by Carole

Olympia, Washington, USA

04/20/08 10:26 AM

14 posts

I went to Paris with 20 members of my immediate family last year. We brought our walkie-talkies from home and used them everywhere. They were great.

Posted by Tim

Seattle, WA, USA

04/20/08 11:52 AM

66 posts

American walkie talkies will most definitely work in Europe since radio frequencies aren't tied to country borders but let me reiterate - they are illegal to use not only in Europe but in most countries outside the US. The chances of being caught using them are probably quite small but you will be using a radio frequency that has been allocated for purposes other than personal communication and to do so is against the law of the country that you are visiting.