IPODS

Dianna,
I use my ipod to watch videos while at the airport including video podcasts.

Rick and iTunes have museum walks and city walks too.

Its also good to use when working out.. yes, just because we're on vacation doesn't mean a workout can't be squeezed in.

I like to take a little radio when I travel. I love listening to the local radio stations. If they are in English it's interesting to see what issues are discussed on the news and even if it's not in English it's fun trying to work out what the songs are about. I also love listening to the terrible adverts for local businesses!

I have a walkman mps that also has a radio in it. I took it to france and listed to music I downloaded and also the local radio stations. If I had thought of it before i left, I would have downlaoded a book on tape for the plane ride.

I also would have downloaded Ricks podcasts of museums and listened to that instead of carrying the guide book.

I always take my iPod with me. I use absolutely when traveling on the plane. I've actually used in restaurants when I am sitting alone, but the people next to me are having a really loud conversation that I really don't want to hear! I listen to it on trains and other times when I'm traveling. I will try the downloads next time.

Pam

I take it with me, but I'm a musician, so it comes with the territory.

I've found great audio guides for Vienna and Rome, and downloaded all the Rick Steve's stuff on Itunes.

I also like to use it as a back up hard drive, and put copies of all my trip information, itineraries, confirmations, etc.

I always take it with me...I listen to it alot on the plane and the train.....
I know it is one more thing to worry about but once I did not take it and I missed it

I have an Ipod Touch which is great for listening to music and playing games on the plane, and also a way to check email, etc. when I get access to wifi.

I always travel with my ipod. I listen to it when I can't sleep due to noise from the street (or a snoring husband) it's helped me fall asleep several times. I wear the battery down at night!

I also listen to it on long plane rides.

I have music, yoga videos, NPR programs, language programs and an audio book loaded on mine...I use my iPhone now, but sometimes travel also with my old iPod.

Dianna,

YES, absolutely! On past trips I travelled with an IPod Nano, but I've since upgraded to an IPod Touch which is much more versatile. That's an essential travel accessory and considering how small and light it is, no trouble at all to pack along.

Some of my things I use my IPod for:

• Listening to music on long train trips to pass the time. If there are others in the compartment, and I'm able to communicate with them I'll usually spend some time visiting, but if I'm alone that's when I use the IPod. If there are those that I DON'T want to visit with (which happened on my last trip), I switch on the IPod and tune the obnoxious ones out!

• Listening to music during the flight if I'm bored (which doesn't happen too often).

• Getting some sleep in noisy Hostel Dorm Rooms. The IPod works better than Ear Plugs, especially when used with Noise Cancelling Ear Phones.

• Listening to Audio Guides in Museums. I have several of Rick's tours, and which ones I have loaded on the IPod depends on where I'm going.

• Showing photos of family or whatever to those I encounter along the way. The Touch model has an excellent display, so it's great for showing photos.

• Web browsing or E-mail in those locations where Wi-Fi is available. It's a bit awkward to use the small screen, but actually not too bad for short messages.

• Other App's - Paris & London Metro Guides, Currency Converter, Language Dictionaries, Language audio courses and RPN Calculator (which I prefer to other types).

• Movies: if the in-flight entertainment system "crashes" on my next flight (as it has in the past), I've got one movie loaded for "emergency use" (The Bourne Ultimatum). Also a few rock videos, which help to pass the time.

The IPod's are a fantastic travel accessory!

Cheers!

If you have an iPod TOUCH, you can load Skype on it and use it as a phone if you are in range of Wi-Fi.
Maggie

Good question! I am a music fan so I always travel with an ipod and prior to this I use to travel with a walkman. Before I leave on a trip, I purchase a new album (or CD, or itunes download) to listen to on my trip. I try not to listen to it to much before I leave - just a time or two to make sure I like it. When I am on the trip I listen to it on trains, planes or when I head out on my own (now that I travel with my wife I am not alone much but when I was younger I always took at least a day out of my trip for some solitude time - best way to get to know yourself!). Anyway, what this has done is imprint a memory of the trip in correlation with the album. Now evertime I hear these albums or songs it reminds me of the different trips I listened to them on and I really enjoy that. The memories are precious to me and the songs really bring them back.

I took my new iTouch on my last trip to Europe and LOVED it. Not only did the 10 hour flight seem to go by faster while listening to music, but I was able to access my email every couple of days and take care of some business. I also kept a log of how much I spent, our itinerary, notes, lists, etc... right on my iTouch.

I've brought my iPod with me on two trips to Europe. And I plan on bringing it again!

Before I left, I purchased a splitter and my friend and I were both able to enjoy Rick's podcast through the Lovure! It also is handy when you're sitting on a plane or train and you both can watch a movie together!

I had mentioned to my children that it would be fun to have one for listening to books on long flights or when I can't slee. They got me iPod Nano for Mothers Day. I know I'll be happy as soon as I figure out the little sucker.

Another thing I use my iPod for is to listen to meditation CD's and podcasts before I leave the hotel for the day. It helps my daily practice to listen to these, as I am usually thrown for a little bit of a loop when I arrive on a new continent; it helps to be grounded and present.

I use an iPhone. The iPod aspect is essential for me on planes--I listen to audiobooks using in-ear earbuds that block out plane noise and conversations. I usually fall asleep while listening.

All the other aspects of the iPhone are handy on the ground--I use maps and currency conversion the most, plus I load the phone with PDFs of my itinerary and scans of relevant guidebook pages. I also have print books loaded in Stanza to read during down times.

I took my iPod with me on both trips to Italy. I loaded a book on CD and a great playlist of Italian music. It was easy to recharge each evening (just needed the proper plug adapter) and it was relaxing to listen as I took the train from city to city.

I would NEVER EVER leave home without my iPod Classic (80G), and I love it even more since I bought noise-cancelling earphones. They plug into the airplane audio too.

I listened to Rick's audio guides in Venice and Florence (terrific), and I bought some other walking tours on audiobooks too. I have several audiobooks on the iPod which I enjoy listening to on trains, especially. But when I'm sightseeing, the books tend to be distracting, so music is better. I like to coordinate music with the sights, too: Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel in Paris and Gregorian chants in the cathedrals, for example.

I use it to fall asleep, play games when I am bored, check my email, and listen to travel guides.

I agree with the others......gotta have it when I am traveling. I use it mainly for the time on the plane or a train ride or napping on the beach. The other thing I liked is having a small, portable speaker. It's about the size of a deck of cards so doesn't take up much room. Ipod plugs right into it. When I am in my hotel room, I like having some music. I make "playlists" for the trip and have them for different moods....upbeat music to get in the mood to go out and I even titled one "balcony sitting" (yes...really...don't laugh!) b/c a friend and I, when traveling together, always love a hotel room with a balcony/terrace....sitting out there with a cool drink and some snacks and maybe a book...after a long day of siteseeing...and listening to some mellow music.
And I have to agree with Bob......if you have certain songs you hear a lot on a trip, then you can hear that song years later and it can really bring such a wave of nostaglia over you and you can "feel" being in that place again.
Ipod....don't leave home without it. ;-)

I always have my Ipod, for my next trip I will be getting an Ipod Touch, for the Skype app. It will pay for itself, as my cell will become emergency only.

If you go on Apple.com, they're having a clearance on the old shuffle for $49... and major mark down on the refurbished Nanos (as low as $99).