1

Since you've posted on this forum before you may have done a search and been dismayed to find no posts on cell phone rental. In Europe they call them mobiles.
There's lots of posts under that name, and I'd suggest checking them out as good questions have been asked and answered--what company, what service etc.

As someone from the US who found I did need a mobile after using the cards the first year, I bought a phone in the US and a SIM to go with it...rather pricey but worth it I thought. In the long run it was as 12 years later the phone still works.
But to get a phone in the US for use in Europe---not worth it, not now.

You can buy a mobile and SIM for under 35 euro (probably less) and it will be with a pay-as-you-go plan.
You usually get 5 euro credit with the SIM and after that you buy minutes when you need them. If you want to keep things simple, you can buy more minutes where you buy the phone and they'll program them in.

The thing to remember is:
mobile to mobile is the most expensive
mobile to landland is much cheaper
text to text is the least

I was able to call a landline in Canada for 15 minutes for less that a 5 minute call to Amsterdam (from France) to a mobile.

With a new phone you'll need to charge it for a minimum of 15 hours to get good battery life thereafter. Not enough charge at first and it won't hold a charge well.

You CAN buy a used three-band phone on ebay (I've bought French SIMs there with no problem) and then just buy the SIM when you arrive. (that info discussed before as well).
You'd need an unlocked phone (so you can put in your own SIM) and if the phone is used you'd probably have to buy a charger also (very inexpensive on ebay also.
You don't say what you'd use the phone for, so that would influence the type you'd need (again, search, it's been discussed).
The advantage of buying in the US is you can arrive in France and it will already be charged. If you buy it there, you can talk on it while it's charging.

Hope this gets you started on getting more answers to your questions.
Good luck, hope it's a good trip.

2

Many thanks. I did indeed forget the different terminology (cell vs. mobile). Thanks for reminding me.

3

Good advice from sfgirl. If you want minimal fuss once you are there, your current provider may have a loaner/rental option. Verizon does. You keep your US phone number - depending on your needs, that can be a good or a bad thing.

4

I just got a phone from Telestial for $19. Can't beat that in that it comes with a charger and an adapter plug for France.

http://www.telestial.com/