Which is the best travel SIM card for France?

France is a popular travel destination, and if you’re planning to visit, then you won’t want to wait until you’re home to tell everyone all about your adventures. So you need to augment your cell phone to make it usable in France. Buff it up a little with a fancy, foreign SIM card.

Citizens of the European Union may or may not need a French SIM card, depending on their mobile plans. Most E.U. mobile providers let you use your data in different E.U. countries, even if the charges can sometimes get a bit extreme.

Those visiting France from elsewhere in the world will undoubtedly need to swap their SIM card for access to any data while abroad. But there’s a sea of different SIM cards out there. How do you choose the perfect one for your trip to the Eiffel Tower?

When you swap out your phone’s SIM card for a travel one, you’ve got two basic options: local or global.

Local French SIM cards

A local SIM card is just what it sounds like. It’s a SIM that lets you use data in a specific country just as if you were a local citizen. You can pick one up when you arrive at your destination, so be sure you don’t urgently need to use your cell phone the second your plane lands. Language skills will benefit you in this situation, as well. The card is going to give you prompts in French, and you’ll have to know how to ask for it at the store, too.

If you go for a local SIM card, you’ll probably want to choose the network with the best coverage. Orange is the network leader in France, though there are several other telecom companies not far behind.

Free Mobile is the smallest main provider in France, but it’s still pretty popular with tourists because of its low prices and many promotional deals.

Be sure to have your passport ready as most French phone companies will ask to see it before you can purchase a local SIM card.

Can you reuse a local SIM card?

You can certainly reuse your local SIM card if you ever return to France, but it won’t be as useful in the rest of the world.

Many local French SIMs will work in other E.U. countries, but there may be a limit on how much of your data is available to you outside of France, or you may run into extra charges. So a local card might suit your needs if you’re making a single, short trip to France with no immediate plans to travel elsewhere, or if you’re going to be popping in and out of France (and only France) frequently. If you’re travelling abroad or will be spending significant time during your trip outside of France, you would be better off with a global SIM card.

Global SIM cards

These SIM cards, also known as international SIMs are far more flexible than a local card and are the preferred option for the savvy traveller. They work in most major travel countries without any fuss. So if you travel frequently, you won’t find yourself amassing a trove of SIM cards. The card you buy for France will work just as well the next time you’re visiting friends in Russia.

It’s also worth noting that some countries, like Japan, don’t allow tourists to purchase local SIM cards at all, so if you plan to globe trot a bit when you’re done with France, you will likely need a global SIM card eventually.

How is getting a global SIM card different?

Getting a global SIM is something you can do before you leave for your trip, so you’ll know your new phone number in time to give it out to friends and family. Your worried parents won’t have to wait for you to contact them. You’ll also be able to accept calls from abroad without any extra charges.

You’re also able to set your phone up with a global SIM in the comfort of the English language. So it’s a bit less stressful for many people.

Global SIMs are also not going to stick you with any roaming charges, which are a risk with local French telecom providers (especially if you step across the border into Spain or Germany).

Picking a global SIM

There are a lot of global SIM providers to sift through. Which countries are covered will vary, as will costs. Many have data expiration dates or require monthly top-offs to keep your data active. BNESIM offers excellent coverage in 170 countries (including France, of course!) and their data doesn’t expire, making them an excellent choice for your money. BNESIM is also a one-size-fits-all SIM card, so you don’t need to worry about accidentally buying a standard card when you needed a nano.

France is already a reasonably pricey country to visit, so it’s worth it to get a good deal on a SIM card. You don’t need mountains of data charges sinking your travel budget.