Ipad?

You can use the TomTom app on your iPhone 6, as it has a GPS chip, so you don't need to buy an iPad just for that. Of course, the larger size of the iPad makes it easier to see, but the trade off is that it takes more space and weighs more.

The main question I have is, what are you looking to do with the iPad that you feel will be better with it, vs with the iPhone and laptop? If you indeed have uses for it during or after the trip, fine; otherwise, save the money and weight, and just bring what you already own.

The critical thing is who your U.S. carrier is as you have to weigh the cost/benefit of using your iphone or if you need to change out the Simm on the phone to a French carrier. A GPS sucks data if you are using it through a carrier. Check with your U.S. wireless carrier about data costs in the E.U. and then make your decision.
Me, have always used a GPS (now a Garmin loaded with N.A. & E.U. maps for $197) rather than listening to someone shout directions to me using a phone. If you buy an Ipad with a simm, you can use that as a GPS fairly cost effective if you change the simm to a French carrier when you arrive.

Just don't let that iPad roam, unless you've got an economical European plan in place or you're in a free wi-fi area like your hotel.

I use my ipad mini for:

• reading books (free from the local library with Overdrive app), magazines (Next Issue - great for long train rides!), newspaper to keep up with what is happening at home (I have home delivery so can access it on my ipad), guidebooks (RS Rome last year was on my ipad - one less thing to carry)
• maps for cities (City Maps 2 Go is a great offline app - you need to connect once in the city when you arrive, then it uses GPS to pinpoint you without needing wifi - you can also pin places you want to see - which is great for exploring an area and not missing something)
• banking (tho I generally have bills lined up to be paid while we are away), facebook, keeping track of expenses, alarm clock, white noise app for covering up street noise when trying to sleep in a particularly noisy apartment, watching movies on the plane or at our accoms, backing up photos
• I am NOT with a carrier - I use free wifi and always make sure where I am staying has wifi, I download movies, books and magazines before leaving
• having used my iPod on a trip before I got my iPad, city maps when walking on an ipod weren't much fun - too small - and reading isn't that great either (unless you have a phablet - ugh, hate that word).

If you do decide to get one, get one with adequate memory - mine is a 32GB, and it is almost full - generally if I want to download a movie instead of streaming, it will fill it up and I'll have to delete some things. Hubby got an iPad air and went with the 64GB...for the extra whatever you pay in the states for the memory (we pay about $100 more to double the memory) just get the more memory...I'm not sure if they even still offer a 16GB, but don't even bother - won't take long to fill it up...

I also have a wifi-only iPad and have used it for several years when traveling. I use it for an alarm clock, a journal (Pages app), some photos, email and online bill-paying (never had a problem with it), ebooks (never carry paper guidebooks and it's easy to purchase other reading online as well without adding more weight), you name it. I recently downsized to an iPad mini to save a little space/weight. One thing I use it for that is really helpful is taking a photo of the train schedule posters in train stations, so I can check routes and stops. When I arrive at the destination city, I delete the photo (and take a new one).

The lighter smart phone that you already have is the most convenient, most portable format you could bring. I consider my iPad 2 to be too heavy to carry for any significant amount of walking around a city. Paper maps (of a generous scale) and road signage are also good, so you don't have to rely exclusively on the GPS. Review road rules at http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/driving-europe-tips.

I used a tom tom italy 2 years ago on my iphone5 and it was great. I wouldn't get an ipad just for this. I was driving alone and the talking part got me everywhere without having to look at the map much. I suggest you bring a car charger and plug it in because if you are driving all day, it uses lots of battery. I'm using a tom tom france this june for 2 weeks in provence. Have fun. sue

iPad and tablets are great for downloaded books and music, and for web surfing. Free wifi is surprisingly widespread. Just don't do things involving critical passwords (like online banking or accessing office email) on wifi. My wife and I had tablets and we used them a lot in our hotels. Keeping up with weather for one thing, which is a major planning factor when you're on vacation.

Just be aware that you probably won't be able to access American TV on your tablet while you're overseas, so if there are shows you absolutely positively have to see you better set your DVR and make sure there's enough storage space. You also can't stream a lot of videos on Amazon and Netflix since you're outside the US, but you can usually download stuff onto the tablet before you leave and can watch it anywhere.

You guys are great! Lots of good input.....this is a tough decision for me! Since I drive and navigate, paper maps don't do me much good. I can use the iphone with an app instead of a GPS & save buying something I know I won't use back home, so I think the GPS option is out (although it sounds like they're a lot cheaper than they used to me). The ipad gives me a better format (I think...I've never had one) than the phone in terms of surfing for restaurants/shops/phone numbers on the fly, dealing with email, & writing faster journal entries if I'm too tired to handwrite in my leather journal (I'd have a keyboard). Since I'm in Real Estate, IF I buy an ipad, it should be the larger one (better for clients) although I'd prefer a mini. If I'm in the middle of sensitive deals when we go I won't have a choice but to buy one, but I don't want to work/pay bills/or have any contact with reality while we're on vacation, especially since this may well be our last family vacation (the oldest is graduating college) so I'm hoping I'll have everyone taken care of before we leave. I definitely won't take a laptop...way too big & heavy. I wouldn't carry the ipad around either, it would either stay in our hotel room or car.

If this rambling brings any other thoughts to mind, please share!!!
Thank you all so much!
Jenmol
(BTW, Ray -you're hysterical....clearly a toy junkie!)