This is a BIG conversation!
Most cellular companies offer international calling. It can be very expensive, especially for data. The hotel has wifi, so you ‘ll be able to Facetime, Skype and email with ease a few times each day.
I would welcome comments here as to what others have done in the past. I will have my phone and will be able to send and receive text messages. I generally keep my data disabled, but I’m still able to receive messages. US Cellular’s international data rate is very high. I generally make my updates and all I need do in the hotel. That said, it’s fun to create social media posts when you’re out & about.
There is a wonderful mobile hotspot company that I shared with another traveler on my last trip to Paris. It worked really well. http://hippocketwifi.com
I’ve not used an international calling card, any thoughts?
Also, you can make calls from your room, again at it’s pricey for calling the US, but for for a quick local call, it’s not bad. The front desk is always very helpful in making local calls for reservations and inquiries.
It’s always a good idea to check with your carrier.
Also, if there is info you like to get to another traveler that’s not urgent, it’s easy to leave messages at the front desk.
Making phone calls to and from France
Making calls to France from the US, or making calls within France during your stay, can seem complicated and confusing, but it's totally easy if you know a few simple rules.
Recognizing French phone numbers
French phone number are ten digits, often written as five pairs of numbers (with a space, period, or dash in between the pairs).
Most fixed/land lines in France start with 01 or 09. Cell phones always start with 06.
So an example of a French cell phone number is 06 55 55 55 55. The 06 means it's a cell phone; get it?
Calling a French phone number from within France
The rules for calling a French phone number can vary a bit depending on where you're calling from. If you're calling a French phone number from a French phone (i.e. from your hotel, or from a cell phone you're using in France), you dial the ten digits exactly as they're written.
Calling a French phone number from the United States
If you're calling a French phone number from the US, it's a little bit trickier. You'll need to add some numbers in the beginning, and also drop the first zero from the ten-digit number.
So, let's use the cell phone example I gave above: 06 55 55 55 55. To call this number from the US, you'd dial 011 33 6 55 55 55 55. A breakdown of those numbers:
011 = This means you're making an international call.
33 = This is France's country code.
6 55 55 55 55 = The phone number, with the first zero removed. Why? Who knows?
So remember, when calling a French number from within France, you keep the first zero of the ten-digit number, and when calling a French number from the US, you can drop it. That first zero is often written in parentheses to imply that you might dial it or not, depending on where you're dialing from. So you might see a French phone number written as (0)6 55 55 55 55. It's easy if you know what to look for.
Calling the US from France
To dial a US number from any French phone (fixed line or cell phone), you'll dial 001 and then the ten-digit American phone number. So to call the US phone number 555-555-5555 from a French phone, you'd dial 001-555-555-5555. Easy! You may hear a brief message in French before it starts ringing; this is usually just to warn you that you're making an international call and the appropriate charges will apply.
Excerpt from: http://www.coolstuffinparis.com/phonecalls-in-france.php