Prepaid SIM card in France: call and surf abroad

Wi-Fi only at the reception or for an additional charge, in addition in poor quality? Unfortunately, you will encounter this more often than you would like on French campsites during your stay. Of course, the elimination of roaming charges within the EU has simplified many things.

But depending on how your German contract is set up, it may make sense to go for a French prepaid SIM card, as it's simply cheaper. Especially if you, like me, hang out on the internet virtually 24/7 :-). Even if you plan to stay in the country for longer than three months, it's worth getting a French cell phone provider, as roaming charges to your German carrier may apply. I present you the most important offers here:

French prepaid SIM cards at a glance

Orange

Orange is one of the leading telephone companies in France and has launched the tariff " Orange Holiday " tariff. For €39.99, you get a SIM card with a French phone number and 30 GB of Internet. You can use the card all over Europe. You can buy an Orange SIM card in an Orange store, RELAY or tobacco store. If you need more credit, you can buy a top-up card for €20 or €40.

Orange Holiday

• Price: 39,99 €

• Tariff duration: 14 days

• Included data volume: 30 GB

• Download speed: 4G+/LTE

• Free minutes / free SMS: both unlimited in Europe, additional 120 min. + 1000 SMS worldwide

• eSIM: available

Offers similar to those from Orange are also available from the other French telephone companies, such as SFR or Bouygues Telecom, each of which can be found in the companies' stores or in tobacco stores. You can also order the SIM card in advance from Amazon:

Lebara

Lebara offers low-cost mobile calling plans without a contract in the Orange network. All tariffs include unlimited calls and SMS to France and differ only in the data volume provided. Options include 20, 40, 100 or 130 GB.

130 GB

• Price: 13,99 €

• Tariff duration: 30 days

• Included data volume: 130 GB

• Download speed: not specified

• Free minutes / free SMS: both unlimited within France

If you want to get a SIM card before your trip, you can order one on Amazon, though more expensive here:

Bouygues Telecom

Bouygues Telecom is the third-largest mobile carrier in France and also offers several prepaid options under the name"B&You". Currently, there is a Summer Edition with 200 GB of Internet as well as calls and SMS within the French network for €19.99. Unfortunately, it is not clear how long this offer will be available. The B&You 130 Go 5G rate option is also interesting:

Forfait Série Speciale B&YOU 130Go 5G

• Price: 18,95 € + 5,00 € for the SIM card

• Tariff duration: 1 month

• Included data volume: 130 GB

• Download speed: 5G

• Free minutes / free SMS: both unlimited within France

• eSIM: not available

Réglo Mobile

If you are in France for a longer period of time or more often, it is worth to check the offer of Réglo under the magnifying glass. You can get this prepaid SIM card in E.Leclerc -supermarkets, simply activate it at the supermarket checkout. The network of SFR is used. All offers are non-binding and will only be extended if credit is topped up. Also, after the term, the tariff can be changed as needed.

130 GB

• Price: € 9.80 + € 5.00 for the SIM card

• Tariff duration: 1 month

• Included data volume: 130 GB

• Download speed: 4G+

• Free minutes / free SMS: both unlimited within Europe

200 GB

• Price: € 13.80 + € 5.00 for the SIM card

• Tariff duration: 1 month

• Included data volume: 200 GB

• Download speed: 4G+

• Free minutes / free SMS: both unlimited within Europe

You can find more detailed information about the individual offers here: Tariff data sheet | Réglo

Free Mobile

The still unbeatable offer comes fromFree Mobile. For €19.99, you get unlimited calls and SMS/MMS, plus 210 GB of data volume that you can use in your mobile router, for example. You can buy this card at the machines from free . And then we're off!

However, the menu is only in French, so be careful not to accidentally sign up for a subscription. To be sure, you have to tap "Valide 1 Mois" in the second step of the menu. After that, you will be asked for your data such as the size of the SIM, your email address and your French address.

In the latter, you can enter any address, including that of your campsite. You pay by credit card and that's it. If you are unsure, you can check out 321off for a manual as a PDF that will guide you step by step through the menu.

The free SIM card can also be used abroad, for example in Spain or Germany, although the data volume is then reduced to 35 GB. To take full advantage of free, which maintains its own network, you need a 4G-capable smartphone.

Forfait Free 5G - 250 GB

• Price: 19,99 €

• Tariff duration: 1 month

• Included data volume: 210 GB

• Download speed: 5G/ 4G+

• Free minutes / free SMS: both unlimited

Travel WiFi

At Travel-WiFi you can buy prepaid SIM cards, both as a physical SIM card and as an eSIM, and rent your own WiFi hotspot. There is a SIM card " Euro SIM " where you get 20 GB at 4G speed, two hours of calls and 1,000 text messages for 14 days.

Euro SIM

• Price: 39,95 €

• Tariff duration: 14 days

• Included data volume: 20 GB

• Download speed: 4G/ LTE

• Free minutes / free SMS: both unlimited within France

eSIM Europe

• Price: 46,00 €

• Tariff duration: 30 days

• Included data volume: 30 GB in Europe

• Download speed: not specified

A real highlight is renting your own WiFi hotspot . Your WiFi hotspot gives you unlimited data volume (though 4G access is limited on some plans), and you can connect up to five devices over your private network.

The hotspot, like the SIM card, will be delivered to your vacation spot or home address, and you can specify the return delivery right at the time of ordering. You can order all offers via the website, pay with credit card or Paypal. There are three rates to choose from in France:

1. Adventure Plan with 1 GB Internet/ day for 6,24 €/ day

2. Escape Plan with 5 GB Internet/ day for 7,14 €/ day

3. Voyage Plan with 10 G Internet/ day for 8,03 €/ day

Network coverage in France

Basically, I find the network coverage in France much better than in Germany, but there are still a few white spots on the map! Despite all this: You will only really have problems in a few places. You can query the network coverage of the individual providers below according to coverage or quality:

• Orange

• Bouygues Telecom

• Réglo (SFR)

• Free Mobile

Conclusion: prepaid cards in France

Easier than you thought! It may be worthwhile to order a prepaid card in France. This is also easy to do for you as a camper. For a one-time stay, the free card is unbeatable. If you travel to the country often anyway, the Réglo Mobile offer from E.Leclerc is also attractive.

More information

The Netgear Nighthawk M1 is particularly recommended as a WLAN router, and there is also a more detailed article on it: Internet in the camper: Netgear Nighthawk M1 in long-term test

Those who do not necessarily care about the speed can also reach for these much cheaper devices:

Everything you need to know about mobile communications and the Internet while traveling can be found in the following articles:

• Internet in the motorhome and caravan - the guidebook

• Strengthen WLAN on the campsite

• Internet reception while camping - these routers ensure a stable connection while traveling

• Podcast: Internet on the move

Status of information: August 2023.

Cover image (montage): © CamperStyle
Flag: © daboost - depositphotos.com
SIM cards: © serezniy - depositphotos.com