Dreams come true. Coming to bike and watch the Tour de France...Advice request.

[cetuximab]

My wife and I started road biking when we were dating 14 years ago.
(Our 10 year anniversary was to race/ride the Tour de Tucson.)
We have dreamed about a longer bike vacation like this for years.
We are going to bike some of the epic climbs and watch a few stages.
FEATURED CLIMBS:
Col du Galibier
Col du Télégraphe
Col d'Izoard
Alpe d'Huez

We will arrive in Paris a few days early, then ride the train to Grenoble for the Alps to Paris tour.

Advice request #1: Verizon has couple international plans. One of them you can buy a month of international access (talk text and data). Anybody tried that plan in France? Years ago there was a few threads that advised to just buy a prepaid phone when you get to France. That was several years ago... My brother recently went to Costa Rica and the international plan worked without a hitch. But France is a different country (mileage may vary)

#2 Any suggestions on things to see in Paris. I spent a couple years in London 20+ years ago, but never crossed the channel. We like history and visiting places that have a backstory.

#3 Any advice on things to see in Grenoble. Head there a day early and explore. I love the mountains and small towns.

Thanks in advance.

[Clean39T]

Congrats on getting an epic trip together - please take a camera and use it liberally..

[enr1co]

Congrats on your anniversary and trip decision!

For our needs with a recent UK and France trip we just rented a mobile/pocket wi-fi hot spot with hippocketwifi.com to allow us internet access to info, maps etc using our current devices, i.e. Iphone, pad etc.

Only intended to use our phones in emergency for talking since the roaming charges w/ Verizon were $$$$. Cost for the pocket wifi was ~$9 /day for coverage in most of EU and worth the convenience.

[oliver]

You can buy a sim card contract for a month (or however long you're staying) and cancel when you leave. Here's one: http://mobile.free.fr/

Not sure how easy it will be if you don't speak French but it seems like Parisians are more willing to use English in the last few years.

My favorite museum in Paris is Musée d'Orsay but that's because I'm a big fan of (post) impressionism. Musée des Arts et Métiers is also cool.

[jinbok]

Sounds so epic - congrats!
My recent trip to London/Paris - I just used pre-paid SIM cards and used it.
Verizon international plan was too expensive!

[PQJ]

Do you need to be able to make calls outside of France? If not, just get a local sim and pop it into your device. You will be able to include a data plan. Make sure you get your phone unlocked before heading over.
As far things to do and see in Paris, man, I don't even know where to begin. It's one of my favorite cities. So much to see and do.

[choke]

Regarding Grenoble, you might give member maxn a PM.....he lives there.

[jlwdm]

Enjoy your trip as it will be an amazing experience. The Tour is a spectacle and so much more amazing than any other race. Get your riding in but take in everything there is about the Tour. I went with a bicycle touring company for the last 10 stages of the 2001 Tour and it was truly a special experience.

I am on Verizon on my phone and use a Verizon International Plan when I go to Europe. I did not think it has been very expensive, but I was also looking for the best service as I need cell, text and email services at all times. I have my one company with just one partner and no employees so I need to be available.

Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with wonderful museums and architecture. Just pick some of the common tourist choices as there are so man you need to see on a first trip. My wife and I were engaged there and have been back many times.

I can't help on Grenoble.

Again, really enjoy all of the Tour as it is amazing. It is so much more than just a bicycle race.

Jeff

[kramnnim]

I used VZW's international plan in 2013, didn't allow much data but worked fine once I got the phone settings sorted out. I planned to get a sim card for a cheap unlocked phone for our 2016 trip (for local voice calls) and didn't get around to it...ATT's international thing was fine. Jut had to be careful with data usage when away from wifi.

Not really in to art/paintings, but I like to see old things...Louvre was more interesting than I thought it would be. The Army museum was pretty cool.

As far as watching the race goes...if you have any interest in talking with the riders, the stage starts are cool. If you get a copy of the road book, you can see what hotels the teams are at and see the mechanics at work after the finishes...

Flat stages aren't very interesting to see in person. Unless it's a TT, then at least you see many small blurs, instead of one big one. (or the last stage with the circuit) I'm guessing you'll be at stage 17? And will be in Paris for the final stage?

[velotel]

Grenoble has some excellent museums if you're into that. I only know that because my wife knows; I'm not much a museum guy. You could also ride the small gondola up the Bastille, check out the museum there, go for a hike, enjoy the views, eat. There are two restaurants, one at the top of the gondola, we've eaten well there but not in a long time, and up higher on the hill is le Per Gras, normally a better restaurant. Also just go to the tourist office and ask what to do. Normally they're very helpful. Can't help much more than that. I live here but only go to Grenoble when I need to for something thus very much not a tourist perspective. If you're here with bikes, some excellent rides out of town.

[R3awak3n]

I used the internationa verizon plan in Portugal last year and it was great. $10 a day so its not cheap but you get to keep your number and use your phone just like you are home. I have unlimited everything so I got that too. Really the only downside is the $10/day, rest it works great. You will get whatever network/networks verizon has a contract with which means you will have network most of the time since it will switch. Internet was great too, 4g where it was available and then switch to 3g, just like being in the us.

Trip sounds awesome

Have fun

[lnarachi]

Le Bourg-d'Oisans is located in the valley of the Romanche river, on the road from Grenoble to Briançon, and on the south side of the Col de la Croix de Fer.

We stayed at a lovely little cyclists B&B called "More than 21 Bends" run by a lovely English couple. He also has a bike rental shop in town with decent carbon ultegra road bicycles..Really nice folks.

The big Casino supermarket in town is well stocked, but they raise the prices 20% for the tour I am told.

The locals in Le Bourg-d'Oisans hate/love the tour - it makes money, but the crowds, the RVs all over the place and the booze-fest has some of them leaving town during the tour.

The butcher in town has the best Pork Pate de Campagne I have ever had.
There is also a farmers market on Sunday mornings...delicious prepared foods sold out of the booths...