I'm off to France for 8 weeks work and am trying to work out what I should do with my phone for those 8 weeks? I'm on Orange (or EE if you prefer) and don't know whether it would be better to contact them find out what my international rates are and just to use that, with data roaming switched off so that I'm not burning through international rate data usage? Or to try and get a cheap sim only PAYG type sim (assuming they're sold in France) to use whilst I'm over there. The main concern is that I have an iPhone 4S and wasn't sure if the phone would be locked to an Orange sim and not accept another sim? Anyone got any advice?
The best solution is probably to pick up a £10 cheapo phone with a prepaid sim once in France and use that for making your calls within France. Calling France-UK is expensive not matter what you do.
Firstly, before you go, log in to your Orange account and enable international roaming. If you don't do it before you go, you can't change your mind later. I made this mistake last time I went on holiday and then picked up dozens of missed messages on the return ferry. Once you get to France, you can make up your mind about whether to use your UK Orange sim or to pick up a PAYG sim over there.
Cheers guys. Do you reckon I might be able to use my phone with a French sim over there? I've got no problem picking up a cheap PAYG phone but would feel a bit lost without some of the functionality of my iPhone.
If its almost certainly locked if its on contract. Phone up orange to ask. If you can unlock it it would work fine. Even putting in a French PAYG sim in data will cost a fortune so you won't be able to use the iphone mobile internet features.
There's a list of things for me to look at just wondered if anyone had any experience. Thanks for the link sorted a few things out might grab a data pack for emergencies and turn my e-mails off my phone to limit data use. I don't have to worry about the hi viz or breathalyser as I can't drive so I'll leave that to my workmate
Wrong. That is only if you bought it from Orange. I know all phones4u phones have been unlocked for the past 2 years regardless of provider and contract. It could be the same for carphone warehouse etc as well.
+1 to all the driving suggestions - breathalysers are available here (UK) and all the other stuff you need - better to have them than get fined. Back on topic though - get a French phone and sim - it'll should be a hellova lot cheaper than using your UK mobile abroad if you plan on using it a lot. Find out from Orange what the costs are though - last time I went to France I got a text from O2 and the prices were lower than I thought (apart from data which is still pricey even though the prices have gone down)
I just came back to the UK from France in mid december and you really need to hunt around to find them. I'd suggest to not bother getting them, chances are you wont be pulled over and even if you are just play dumb saying you didn't know. Personally I'd been driving all over France for about 3 years without any of the required items.
Are you sure the british ones are accepted? Aren't warning jackets and Warning Triangle and medikit mandatory in the UK?
