How to Use a Cell Phone in France

While you're visiting France's Eiffel Tower, or eating a croissant at an outdoor cafe, you want to make sure you can use your cell phone in an emergency. Using a cell phone in France is easy if you follow these steps.

Things You'll Need

• Plug adaptor
• Transformer

Instructions

1. Purchase the correct plug adaptor from an electronics store before you leave home so that you can charge your cell phone while in France. France uses plug type "E."

2. Charge your phone with a transformer that can handle 230 volts, which is the voltage used in France. Your cell phone likely will fry if you do not use the correct transformer.

3. Call your cell phone provider to make sure that they offer phone coverage in France. request an upgrade to international roaming.

4. Consider renting a cell phone or SIM card to use with your personal cell phone if your cellular company does not offer coverage in France.

5. Learn how to dial locally within France. Unless your cell phone has the same area code as the number you are calling, dial "0," the area code and the phone number.

6. Learn how to call the United States from France. First dial "00" (this is the international prefix to dial outside of France). Then dial "1" (this is the international code used to dial to the U.S.). Follow that with the area code and phone number.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to charge your cell phone each night.