Stay Connected in Paris: SIMs, eSIMs and Portable Hotspots Unveiled

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  • Опубліковано 30 тра 2024
  • Stay connected when you visit Paris. In this video I'll present the best SIMs, eSIMs and Portable Hotspots solutions available for France, and where to easily get them!
    #Paris #stayconnected #noroamingfees
    Timeline:
    00:00 - Intro
    01:01 - SIMs or eSIMs?
    01:36 - My eSIM choice
    03:05 - SIM cards: where to buy them at CDG and Orly airports
    04:50 - SIM cards: where to buy them at Gare du Nord
    07:12 - Renting a WiFi Hotspot
    08:10 - Conclusion

КОМЕНТАРІ • 47

  • @Dee-108
    @Dee-108 2 місяці тому +4

    Thank you so much! My husband and I are hoping to go in May and we were wondering about this very thing❤

  • @mohamedsalem6014
    @mohamedsalem6014 Місяць тому +2

    Thanks, honestly ur doing a great service to French tourism

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  Місяць тому +1

      Glad you think so! I try to do my best...

  • @Tracy.Leavitt.007
    @Tracy.Leavitt.007 Місяць тому

    So so so helpful!!! Thank You!

  • @fruitarian
    @fruitarian 2 місяці тому +2

    I'm a fan of your channel. Your voice is pleasant, the editing is gentle on the eyes, without a lot of flashy cuts. You make it interesting and relevant.
    I'm an American and we eat different animals, over here. And the milk from it, as well. Americans aren't really used to goat's or sheep's cheese.
    Some animals are going to be too cute to eat, like rabbits and some animals are going to be too gross to eat, like snails. It sure is hypocritical, though.
    Would you make a video on how to adjust to your eating animals, from the ones that are going to be easier to stomach to the ones that will be more gross? For me, most of the animals the French eat seem impossible. That I will just avoid them, while in your country. Though, pheasant and ducks seem less intimidating, while snails, frogs and rabbits seem more intimidating. Isn't that strange to describe something as intimidating, when it is dead? If it is dead, how can it hurt you?
    You were kind enough to include price information in your restaurant recommendations! But, you can also organize your restaurant recommendations and the dishes, based on how the dishes will look to foreigners, and rate them on easy, medium or more adventurous, based on the type of meat the animal came from or any other factors that would make the eating experience unsettling. And of course, some restaurants will serve the same animals and some will be vegetarian or vegan. And some dishes just won't contain any meat, like french onion soup.

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  2 місяці тому

      Hi, and thanks for the comment.
      In most restaurants in Paris, you'd find one or many vegetarian options, if not vegan, today.
      And, to be honest snails, frogs or even rabbit is not something you'd find most often at Paris' restaurants. When it comes to meat, it will be mainly beef, then chicken, pork and lamb.
      To speak the truth, I maybe eat snails once a year, never eat frog's legs nor rabbit as I dislike it. So, at restaurant, it will be either meat (beef, pork, chicken or lamb) or fish (salmon, cod, sole...)
      Anyway, I'm in fact thinking of making a video on vegetarian and/or vegan restaurants in Paris.

    • @fruitarian
      @fruitarian 2 місяці тому

      @@paristoptipsThanks for responding! There is a lot of info on the web about vegetarian and vegan restaurants in major European capitals. They will find it out, for themselves. But, it is nice to get info from a local. It will probably help a lot of people, if you want to make one.
      I thought they make hamburgers out of duck meat. And Gerard Depardieau in Manon of the Spring, who is obsessed with rabbits. Has French culture become more watered down due to international influences? But, it is reassuring that my ideas about what French people eat are exaggerated.
      Bouillion Chartier does not serve normal meals for normal French people? Actually, what would excite me more than a vegan video would be the best spots for French Onion soup, without a lot of formality, reservations, etc. Especially, if you can get your videos down to 3 to 5 minutes. They run pretty long. I don't like the short videos, like TikTok style and I don't like really long ones, either. But, something in between. Not that there is anything wrong with the length of your videos. Just my personal preference.
      Part of my request was not just due to my own, and probably other people's fears about the meat in France, but also seeing trying it out as an essential window into French culture. Just like how we would see Japanese people, if we aren't willing to try raw fish.

  • @louiscy
    @louiscy 2 місяці тому +1

    Amazing, when I was in Paris in 2015, obtaining a prepaid card was a pain.
    According to Orange, a registered address and an ID was required for a sim card.
    Also, on top of the price of the plan, a small fee would be charged for the sim card.
    Fortunately, the lady at Orange was very helpful and prepare all the necessary formality for me.

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  2 місяці тому +1

      Still, you would need to complete a Know Your Customer (KYC) process should you decide to keep using it after the first 30 days as per French law.
      It's French, so it's meant to facilitate things for travelers.... but not too much 😁

  • @jasmin0930
    @jasmin0930 2 місяці тому +1

    Great information and options for staying connected while traveling in France. Thank you.

  • @monainsandiego
    @monainsandiego 2 місяці тому +1

    I bought the Solis portable hot spot for our last trip. It worked on the Viking river boats , w only a few dead spots. Better than the ship’s WiFi. Until last year, trying to decide on sim vs Mobil hot spot, or just using the Verizon international plan was the most agonizing part of planning a trip. Happy w Solis and I buy the ‘day passes’ when they are on sale. It works in the EU and USA. I tried sims and e-sims until last year too. Was never happy with them.

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  2 місяці тому

      Thanks for this very interesting feedback!🙏

  • @Ape4Apes
    @Ape4Apes Місяць тому

    This video has been helpful. For years I’ve been using a LeFrenchMobile sim when traveling to France or elsewhere in Europe. But LFM is shutting down, and now I must find another solution 😢. I may have to learn about eSIM options, since my new phone supports that. Guess it will be easier than swapping out a tiny sim in the airport.

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  Місяць тому

      Yes, that's clearly easier to use.

  • @elmadi7391
    @elmadi7391 Місяць тому +1

    I love your channel, very informative. May I ask which SIM card company I should buy where I can use it in Paris and Milan? Thank you.

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  Місяць тому +1

      As per the video, I'd go for Orange or Boutygues Telecom, they cover both France and Italy.

    • @elmadi7391
      @elmadi7391 Місяць тому +1

      @@paristoptips Ohh, thanks for your advice. That is my feeling too to go for known carrier, but I need to ask you since you are a Parisian. Many thanks 🙏🇫🇷

  • @StevenSSX
    @StevenSSX 2 місяці тому

    Thank you Alain for yet another excellent and helpful video! You have one of the best travel channels on UA-cam and have helped me with my planned travel to Paris immensely! Are there any prepaid SIM cards that have talk, text, and data for over 22 days in both France and Italy? The Lyca ones look very good but it seems that they are calls/text from France only.

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  2 місяці тому +1

      Great to hear!
      Both the Bouygues and Orange SIM card cover all EU countries for talk, text and data.

    • @StevenSSX
      @StevenSSX 2 місяці тому +1

      @@paristoptips Thank you!

  • @yummemys4608
    @yummemys4608 12 днів тому +1

    Hello... Thank you for your videos. Is lyca mobile reliable being the cheapest?

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  11 днів тому

      Honestly, I've never tried it.
      But it uses the Bouygues Telecom network, so it should be reliable.

  • @SD._
    @SD._ 2 місяці тому +1

    Thank you for the video. Much appreciated. I think it would be cheaper to purchase 3 mobile UK simcard that works across Europe. That is what i will be doing 😊

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  2 місяці тому +1

      Yes, if the UK plan includes all of Europe.
      Most do...

  • @Vancouver_Dan
    @Vancouver_Dan 2 місяці тому +1

    Another very helpful video. Merci! One caution - mu wife found the eSIM she used in France last year to be very glitchy. Ultimately we purchased a plan from FREE. We were told it would also be good for the Italy portion of our trip - but we ended up being charged for data used in Italy. My point: read the fine print.

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  2 місяці тому

      Absolutely!
      Free is sometimes very cheap, but their service level is not as good as Orange and Bouygues

  • @Matthew.Pequegnat
    @Matthew.Pequegnat 2 місяці тому +2

    Or if you have T-Mobile it should work moderately well, being a German company, its fine in France and the EU without roaming. Although its works belter on my wife's Samsung than on my iPhone.

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  2 місяці тому +1

      Maybe! Everyone's phone plan being different, the first thing to do is to check what you already have.

    • @Matthew.Pequegnat
      @Matthew.Pequegnat 2 місяці тому +1

      Absolutely, I found with AT&T a local sim card was a must. @@paristoptips

  • @williamkingsley118
    @williamkingsley118 2 місяці тому

    Bonjour - should you buy a Sim card at the airport or wait until you're in town for a better deal? Merci

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  2 місяці тому +1

      Orange and Bouygues prices will be the same everywhere. But if you want to try these alternative solutions, wait for you to be in town, if you have time to spare looking for a Sim card.

  • @ADAtrips
    @ADAtrips 2 місяці тому

    Question : I live in Hawaii USA, I have a T-Mobile phone. Do you think I should buy a Sim etc anyway? I am coming to Paris soon. Depends on the weather etc. Aloha

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  2 місяці тому

      You have to watch what your current plan offers, and if there are specific options for France. Roaming fees can be dreadful.

  • @stufromoz8164
    @stufromoz8164 2 місяці тому +1

    G'day everyone from the land of spiders and snakes and other assorted creepy crawly's. Great vid Alain, very handy info for travellers . OOH thanks for the shot of Garnier. I cant wait............

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  2 місяці тому +1

      I'm happy if it can help! Even for people from the land down under 😁

  • @ForvoQuizlet
    @ForvoQuizlet 2 місяці тому

    How much data would you need for about 10-14 day of using the phone for GPS, location services getting around on site visits?

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  2 місяці тому +2

      You don't need data for using GPS, provided you have downloaded the map before on Google Maps.

  • @kazhamo
    @kazhamo 26 днів тому

    How well does Google Fi work in Paris?

    • @paristoptips
      @paristoptips  26 днів тому

      Sorry, I don't have a clue.
      I didn't even know what Google Fi is before you mentioned it.