Steves Planning Map vs. Guidebook-Included Map?

I think the one in the book is smaller, but the real advantage to the separate one is that it is on heavy-duty plasticized paper, that won't crease or tear like a regular paper map. May even be waterproof, if someone can confirm.

Thanks, Stan. It hadn't registered with me that the map included in the guidebook is not described as water-resistant! The maps sold separately would be sturdier. I think I'll order the set of 5 maps. The price is very good.

Also if you are a AAA member you can get maps at your local office. At least I was able too a couple of years ago, not sure if this is still offered. Standard paper maps not the heavy duty variety.

I knew AAA had US maps; didn't know about foreign ones. Won't help me, though, because I'm not a member; I've never owned a car (though I do drive). This is a good reminder for others, though. Maps are expensive if you're visiting multiple countries.

The plastic covered maps are much sturdier. We went to Paris in 2014 and by the time our week was over with, so was my little map! For the next trip in 2015, I purchased one of the sturdier ones and it's as good as new after the trip.

I've found Google Maps to be all the maps I need to plan a trip. Once I have my itinerary set and schedules downloaded from the Bahn I don't need maps (the train driver knows the way). If I need a map to find my room from the train station, I download it from Google to my netbook before I go, but with my netbook and Wifi, I can generate any maps I need on the go.

Rick Steves' guidebooks are excellent, though selective, but I don't think his "planning maps" are worth paying for separately. They don't have nearly enough detail to be useful for real navigation or destination-specific planning. For pre-trip planning I use Google Earth. On a trip to a country, particularly driving, I look for a Michelin map or one issued by the AAA equivalent. For cities I use the laminated "Streetwise" maps (which I've heard will no longer be published) or a detailed city map or street atlas. The planning maps included with the RS guidebooks are helpful in conjunction with reading the guidebooks but not much otherwise.

Hello acraven. I agree with all of the replies. If you will drive a car long distances in France, I recommend acquiring the Michelin map of FRANCE. For travelling, in railroad trains, I like to bring the railroad map (for passenger trains) for the entire country that I will travel in. The railroad map is provided by the Railroad system (passenger trains) of that country.

The RS maps are tailored for use by people using the recommendations, sights, and city destinations that are mentioned in the guidebooks. For example, they show the rail lines that link some of the towns, not just highways, and they simplify by not showing every single town and road. Just as the guidebooks do, they concentrate on what RS thinks are the highlights. So, they are not a good substitute for a road map if you're driving, but great for planning purposes. Reading paper maps is a rapidly disappearing skill, so not everyone is good at handling "full information" maps.

Thank you for all the additional thoughts on the limitations of the RS maps. However, I will not be driving (can't handle a manual car and am a solo traveler), and I imagine most roads taken by intercity buses will be on the RS maps. If necessary, I can write in the names of smaller towns I think I might visit.

It is usually enough for me to know the general area I'm heading to. My main goal is to avoid unnecessary zigzagging. I've found that when visiting smaller cities and towns, bus travel generally works best between points within the same administrative area.

I'll try to locate a complete railroad map; that would be handy.