Long Distance Calling

Making calls in France is expensive and long distance calls are no exception. And the rates for landlines and mobiles vary drastically. FYI: If you buy a card for local calling, DO NOT let anyone sell you the France telecom télécarte, 7,50€ for 50 minutes, total garbage.

Anyhow, if you don't have semi regular access to a computer (thus being able to sign up for Skype or whatever internet provider is offering the best rates), the cheapest way to make long distance phone calls is by using the "Callback" feature of a long distance phone card at a phone booth. Dial the toll-free "callback" number from any phone booth. Hang up when you hear a busy tone and wait for the screen to flash and say "DECROCHEZ", then follow the prompts.
Note: sometimes you might need to enter 00, which is the international dialling code in France to numbers outside.

Most phone cards are about 7,50€ and the amount of calling time can vary quite drastically. So far, the best one I found is: Call Box - Europe/USA - 7,50€ for "150 unités" which I bought from a store right across from the Casino outside the metro Guillotière. Each time I've hung up and made a new call, it tells me that I have 200 something minutes for the call.

Alternatively, in the 7e arrondissements, you will notice that there are many dodgy-looking shops that offer phone services. What these are are little in-store phone booths where you can make calls at, I'm told, even better rates. My friend swears by them, plus you get some privacy, a relatively quiet atmosphere and a little stool to sit on.

If somebody wants to call you from Canada:
This website timeanddate.com can convert a local number into the digits somebody would dial from wherever they find themselves in the world.
For example, according to timeanddate.com, if the President of Afghanistan wanted to take advantage of the good rates offered by the Centre International de Séjour de Paris (tel: 01 44 75 60 06), he would dial: 00 (international dialing code for numbers outside of Kabul) 33 (France's country code) 1 (omit the zero on the area code) 44 75 60 06 (actual phone number).

As the French say: c'est pratique!