Phones in France/Spain

I am bravely taking 12 girl scouts (ages 15-17) to France and Spain in June. Most of our time will be spent in France. I would like them all to have cell phones so that I can keep in contact with them, but don%26#39;t want them bringing their phones from home (too many contacts). I would like them all to purchase cell phones when we arrive at CDG. Suggestions? Also, will there be a problem with the phones in Spain?

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There is a big issue with them bringing their phones from home. Firstly, they will need to have GSM phones, set up for Global Roaming. That means that they will be paying the international forwarding rate for any calls to their US number. Secondly, if you want to call them you will be paying for an international call back to the US and they will be paying for an international forwarding call. It can get pretty expensive.

Definitely buy local prepay phones on arrival or at least prepay SIMs if their phones will work in Europe. Many GSM phones are locked to the issuer network.

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You%26#39;re serious? Cell phones are expensive in France, even the pay as you go phones -- and while a phone you buy in France will (probably) work in Spain, you will change carriers and begin to incur international calling and roaming charges (read: blindingly expensive).

I%26#39;ve just checked on several French mobile-provider websites, and phones with no contract start at 39E -- that%26#39;s about US$40 -- and there%26#39;s no airtime included. Count on 0.25-0.30 per minute for airtime (that%26#39;s 35-40 US cents per minute)

Now double that, because you%26#39;ll have to have a Spanish phone, too.

Buying a SIM card can be a bit of a gamble -- you%26#39;re not buying a phone, so it%26#39;s cheaper (about 10E) but the card and the phone have to be compatible and/or unlocked in order to work together -- otherwise, you%26#39;ve coughed up for a computer chip that does zilch. You then have to make sure that each phone is compatible -- not all US phones can be used worldwide.

There are a couple of options, however -- you could have the parents authorise international calling (I remember T-Mobile in particular had a plan that had reduced airtime if you enrolled for free, and another plan that was something like $5/month that had even cheaper air time...alas, T-Mobile doesn%26#39;t operate in France, but I remember because they were my provider when I lived in the US)

You could also have JUST texting -- texts will cost you about US$0.50, but sometimes that%26#39;s all you need.

You could just make sure that they all listen and meet up at the proper times, etc....and that they carry YOUR phone number (and a phone card) so that they can call you if necessary.

I%26#39;m not convinced that 16-year-old Anglophone kids who%26#39;ve never been to Europe should be turned loose on the street without adult supervision (= the adults have the cell phones and use them only when needed).

(9 years of GS -- finished as a Senior, by the way)

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Sorry -- I made a typo -- 40E for a French prepaid phone is about US$50.

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We don%26#39;t plan to have them run loose on our trip, but I do want them to be able to contact me in case they got lost. Several of the girls have been to Paris so some have experience, but they are teenagers and sometimes they get, shall I say, distracted! Thanks for your help. I think I will look into the texting only feature. They all text at lightning speeds. I will also have them check on their own phone plans. Thanks again!

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You%26#39;re looking at a real headache if you think you can get all the girl%26#39;s phones they use at home to work in Europe.

Some will be GSM but locked. Some will be unlocked. Some will be CDMA which won%26#39;t work in Europe and some will be GSM but the wrong bands for Europe.

Then there%26#39;s the question of how much it will cost to make calls.

It could end up costing parents a fortune. ;^(

And when you arrive in Paris I%26#39;m sure nobody will have the time or the inclination to try to figure out their new, bought in France cell phones.

My suggestion... get in touch with callineurope.com It will cost about 60 bucks a phone ready to work when you land.

Rates are among the lowest in France at 39 cents a minute.

That%26#39;s cheaper than a 50 cent text. Incoming calls are free.

They have other features like for 10 cents a day you get a US number that forwards to the phone in France... little or no cost for parents to call and zero cost for the girls to receive the calls...

Talk to callineurope... they may be able to do you a deal.

Bon voyage!

Rob