Google map or Google Earth?

We used Google map with Verizon on our last trip - worked beautifully for us in about 13 cities. I think Google Earth uses more data downloading the images. we would either get walking directions or just wander and use it to find our way home! It really saved us when Venice flooded one night - we were able to find a route home (it showed EVERY little passage) that was not 18" inches under water!

Sally,

I havent used any of my map apps yet. But i have done a shake down cruize at home and they both appear to work okay.

But you can get a decent paper map of London.

Im going to Prague this year so i will be trying my app and also getting a paper map when i arrive.

happy trails.

A year ago, we had a problem with our Garmin and Europe maps disappeared, data gone. Fortunately, we had signed up for the data plan with Verizon for $25/100MB. Since the billing cycle was mid trip, the data plan cost more than twice what I expected. The first bill with the intl data plan charged $8.00 (prorated for 10 days), plus $25.00 in advance for next billing cycle. Then since we exceeded the prorated $8.00 (or about 33MB) by 1MB in this one day of driving, we were automatically charged another $25. So the entire data plan cost for our 2 week trip was $58.00 plus taxes. I cancelled the plan upon return, but there wasn't any credit for any prorated amount of the $25 prepaid.

100MB is not alot of data, so my advice is to be very selective when and for how long you have your data turned on. Looks like you are in cities and not using for driving, so you should be able to use sparingly. Something I do on my ipod, is when you are connected via wi-fi, take screen shots of google maps, and you can refer to when off line, without data.

Hope this is helpful.

Try this and see what you need:

1 .Turn off everything that uses cell data except the map app. Leave GPS on.
2. Check the data usage total. Record it.
3. Stick in a local destination that's fifteen minutes away or a bit more.
4. Note the time and start driving.
5. Pull over in exactly fifteen minutes, regardless of location.
6. Cancel navigation.
7. Check the data usage total. Record it and multiply by four.
8. Put everything back the way it was prior to #1.

You've got data usage per hour.
Guess how much you'd need for a trip from this base factor.

If you can forgo turn-by-turns, the GPS works fine with cell data off on any number of map apps. You'll have your position and it's easy enough to figure out where to turn just like on a paper map.

Keeping the GPS on will suck the battery down faster than stink. You'll need to keep it plugged in while driving and use it sparingly walking around.

As Karen said, screen shots can solve a lot of problems.

Sally,

i just bought "Mapswithme" app. you can get the free version, but there are limitations. I bought it so i can try and test the uploading of the "my places" in google.

just so you know, the free version allows you to upload maps and that the app itself is usable "offline".

when i go to work tomorrow am, i plan on trying how it works "offline".

happy trails.

Thanks Ray, it will be interesting to see if it works and can help if I can't used google map.

Among the Lite drawbacks is that it doesn't have a search function (which uses no data). Pro costs five bucks.

Depending upon how much storage your device has, you might have to dump one nation and download the maps for another as you move along. Using England as an example, with the preloads, all you can see of London is the ring road and sketchy detail inside of it. When I had England in the system, it'd show where I was at mid-block and name all but the smallest alleys.

@ Sally,

"Thanks Ray, it will be interesting to see if it works and can help if I can't used google map."

i used the "Mapswithme" app this AM to work.

• it does a decent job of tracking the drive.
• note. no turn by turn navigation. There is no planning for your path. Its just tracks.

setup. OFF - Wi-fi & Cellular
ON - GPS

The drawback with some of the offline maps is they do not include every street either - European cities have so many little streets & alley ways that may not be included in an offline version. If you go that route I would compare it to a google map for each city you plan to visit and see how detailed it is. Often times an app might have good maps for the US but not so much for other places.