Here is the peculiar European cell phone arrangement I've worked out over the years--it's cheap and good:

I carry several GSM phones with me and buy a couple of cheapest available SIM card in whatever country I am in(one for me, one for my wife)--I also carry a phone that always has a Mobal world wide pay-as-you go card that is billed to Paypal as I use it--no monthly fee, no need to buy minutes in advance. I use it from the minute I hit the ground until I get the local SIMs for the other phones. Available free here: Free Mobal GSM SIM Card

I've accumulated the phones over time from online vendors--you can get useable unlocked GSM phones for as little as $20, if you don't mind that they are aren't the latest gizmo. I actually keep a small 4-band in my backpack for those odd times here in the US when my battery is dead and I need to make a call.


A word of warning: DON'T RENT A PHONE OR SIM CARD IN FRANCE -AND, ESPECIALLY DON'T RENT FROM FONEQUEST!!!! You can be stuck for an amazing amount of money, instantaneously--Orange SIMS are available there, and, are good, but the French cf rates are not as good as you'll find in other countries.