Guidebooks on Kindle

Ted:
I have posted about this before, but I am passionate about the Kindle for travel! You will save space and weight. I figure using the Kindle saved the two of us about 6 pounds of books, both novels for entertainment and guidebooks. And when you are out in the street, you won't be regretting that guidebook you left in your room because you didn't think you needed it today. The Kindle slipped easily into a side pocket of my cross-body day bag and was always secure and easy to access. The drawbacks are few, and there are workarounds. It's hard to "flip through" but if you use highlights and notes liberally before you leave, it wil make your life easier. If you know you want to reference that great little restaurant Rick mentions in Siena, highlight it and you will find it easily. (to be continued)

Part 2
Another drawback is maps and diagrams. They are harder to read because the Kindle chops them up. I had purchased hardcopies of the guidebooks so I copied/scanned the maps and diagrams I needed. Took a paper set as well as the scanned ones on my Netbook. (There were only about a dozen so it wasn't a ton of paper to carry.) I purchased the most up-to-date Kindle versions of Rick's books though I took my hardcopies from older ones. The maps don't change that much. I figured this was a minor expense to save 6 pounds of weight on our 3 week trip. We only carried good maps (on which I outlined in Sharpie my planned walks, including Rick's recommendations) and one book called "24 Great Walks in Rome" because that book was 1) very small, 2) essential to my Rome attack plan, and 3) not available on Kindle.( FYI, there is a "24 Great Walks in Venice" I just bought for our Dec 2011 trip. You might like it if you are big walkers.) I recommend you buy one book (guide to Venice perhaps) and see how you like it before you go. I know I will never go back to all hardcopy. Packing light is my mantra!

I used to use a Kindle but since I got my iPad I haven't touched it. I have lots of guide books on my iPad. The new Rick Steves' 2011 books are available in the iBooks store but not the Kindle yet which I thought was odd. The advantage to the iPad is you can get books from all the ebook readers, Kindle, Nook, Google and iBooks, probably others too. I have also scanned maps, can transfer my own notes, and PDFs which you can also do on the Kindle. Not to mention lots of travel apps and video entertainment and games for long plane rides and downtime.

Thanks Laurel and Lisa for your feedback. I remember the last time I went and there were no e-readers (and having to use a film camera). We are big walkers, so we definitely would can carry some smaller, lighter books. As much as we would like an iPad, most of our spare money this year will be going for our trip, so unless we stumble into some cash, we will definitely bring an extremely well bookmarked Kindle.

I just checked Amazon and the R.S. 2011 Country books are there for Kindle. (Not city guides yet.) I liked the idea of an iPad, but I was worried about WIFI expense (is there any?) and also about the value and attractiveness to a thief on a street corner. More likely to be ripped out of my hands, perhaps. The Kindle is pretty low profile. In a leather case, it looks like a fancy book to the odd passerby. In combo with a Netbook in the room, it worked great for us. (And we each have a Kindle. No way we could afford to each have an iPad, but individual circumstances vary!)

If you have true WiFi there is no charge. If you have to use the 3G AT & T coverage it can get expensive.

If you do have a 3G iPad you can turn off the 3G while traveling internationally and just use it on wifi provided by hotel etc. You can also purchase a month of international roaming for not too high a price. For those considering bringing a netbook and a Kindle the iPad can do the work of both.

I believe I have Rome and Florence on my Kindle (recently purchased). Venice was not yet released. I'll check again when I get home.

Would anyone know if the electronic version of RS Guide Books are honored for hotel discounts?

EXCELLENT question, Robert! Hmmm.... I've sent this question to ETBD; some merchants have reneged on their promised discounts in the past - reportedly - and some swore they didn't know what the traveler was talking about (even though the discount is in black and white) so I can see some using the excuse that your Kindle or iPad isn't a 'real' guideBOOK...oh, boy. I just found THIS: http://www.ricksteves.com/books/update/ebooks.htm It's a list of available RS ebooks...lots to peruse... I'll let you know what I hear back...as before electronic books, it's really just up to the whims of the merchant.