A How to use apps on Iphone5 in Italy

I don't use a ton of that stuff on my phone, but I did want a translator, currency converter as well as a distance calculator, and I had to be sure all the apps were to be used 'off line'. I had one currency convertor that required internet. Also, my translator is jibbigo and it works offline, I think google translator does not work off line. I think there is a map program...something like mapswithme, that lots of people use. You need to search off line apps. XE currency convertor is what I have and of course it goes with the most recent rates before you go off line... but its close enough.

Turn cellular data off. See if it works.

Speaking of cell phones, I see in todays Seattle newspaper that T Mobile is eliminating, or certainly reducing, most charges for using their phones in Europe. Of course, what to look out for is contained in their fine print.

thank you so much.

We used an iPhone 4 and an iPhone5 in Italy this August. The tours didn't require "internet" because they were already downloaded. However, make sure your roam feature is off or you could be racking up the data without knowing it. Our tip: There wasn't really a need to use the data plan, but having it was a good emergency backup. We simply did the downloading in the hotel where we had free wifi. If we looked up something on a map - away from our hotel where we had wifi - then we used data. To avoid this, download map in the hotel, take a picture of it by pressing the center button and the top button on the phone at the same time (it will snap like a regular iphone pic) and voila - portable map. This was also handy for restaurants - I would look it up online, find a picture of it, take the pic on the phone and then I could see what we were looking for as we went to dinner. All without turning on the phone for data outside the hotel. We bought a data package from ATT, just in case. We didn't really use it - kept the phones off in our pockets except for pictures and then used the wifi in the hotel to check e-mail and currency rates, etc. Plus - the rates aren't fluctuating drastically to the point where we needed to check them more than once a day.

Marie....nice little iPhone trick, Thanks

The Rick Steves apps were downloaded to our Kindle Fires, we each have one. It was a saving grace when we got into the Friday night Vatican Museum openings on Sept 27. We had a 1900 entry and there were only around 300 people in the entire place. Amazing what Rick can tell you about it, especially the entire Sistine Chapel ceiling. We sat in a nearly empty chapel listening to Rick describe each panel. Nearby tourists edged closer to us to hear the explanations. Thank you Rick for making our understanding possible. We had downloaded the FREE tours of all of Italy--Rome, Venice, and Florence -- and we used every one. Let Rick be your guide.

Like Ed said.