What am I missing? We have always along very well with the cheap maps given out by the hotel. We can tear 'em up, mark 'em up, and get a clean one the next day.
It's all personal preference, of course. The Streetwise maps are sturdy, laminated, very detailed and fold up quickly to stick in a back pocket. They don't get wet or torn up and last forever. I've used them on many trips and, just as much if not more, before the trip to get a sense of where things are before we go.
I admit that, on our trip to Italy last year, when I had Streetwise maps for Venice, Florence and Rome, I used my phone more. One reason for that is that I have a horrendous sense of direction and always, always, always turn the wrong way when beginning a walk. The GPS apps where I can follow along and see which way I'm going help me get started in the right direction. What I don't like about using the phone is that I find myself just looking at my little blue dot on the phone as we walk along and paying less attention to my surroundings. The best solution for me would be to use the GPS to make sure I'm starting in the right direction, then put it away and periodically check my handy Streetwise map to reaffirm my bearings.
