IPad Important to have?

Don't know if it is important but the iPad is convenient. We don't carry it around but have it in our luggage for checking email and accessing information we have previously downloaded. We don't carry cell phones simply because we have no need for them. For those more addicted to electronics and being connected 24/7 it may be necessary to carry both. Probably personal preference.

If you put everything you want (city guides, translator apps, etc) on your iphone, I don't think you would need (or want!) to carry an ipad with you as well. I travelled with an ipad mini last summer, and while I found it great for blogging -- detailed writing and posting photos -- I only ended up carrying it around with me on two occasions. It was just too big and cumbersome and I wanted as little with me as possible (so I wasn't weighed down and didn't have to check my backpack anywhere. The ipad is great if you want to download and read books and if you want to journal. But if you take it, you should probably be comfortable leaving it in your hotel room while you're sightseeing.

I love my iPad Mini and i use it all the time. I carry my phone as well for phone calls. I really can't use the phone for browsing the web and reading reviews etc, too small. I find it much easier to email, read books, book rooms, etc., on the iPad.

I don't leave home with out my iphone and my ipad.

I download rented movies to the ipad and bring a set up tiny speakers to enhance the sound and on a few nights during our trip we have a movie night ---sitting in bed with the ipad set up between us. You forget how small the screen is! This adds a little bit of "downtime" and enjoyment to hear some English spoken after straining with my basic Italian all day.

I also use the ipad and / or iphone to Facetime my kids back home.

I keep the iphone with my during the day to take a few photos (I still use my camera though) and at night I download my phones from my camera to the ipad, then I can place a few on Facebook for my friends at home to enjoy, and as a back up to the memory card in the camera.

Personally, I don't read books on my ipad - I don't like the backlight, so I even bring my Nook with me on trips. These 3 pieces of modern electronics are indispensable for me personally.

the ipad is great for doing some web searches when in the hotel at night, planning the next day adventures.

To email on the phone for me is impossible, I'd rather use the keyboard on the ipad anyday.

I have an updated iphone 5, and it's OK for reading and sending emails and even taking photos. But this last time just a few months ago, the iphone was all I had with me, having left my travel laptop the Apple MacBook Air, at home and oh did I regret that.

The iphone 5 is just too small to get big things done, like making a flight reservation to get back home. The screen could Not accommodate All the information I needed to manage on the same webpage and I kept getting timed out. I had to start over a hundred times just to make one reservation. It was a matter of finding the information first and then going directly to that spot immediately after getting back to the same webpage. I had to do this again and again before I could move on to the next webpage. Most unpleasant.

Had the same problems making room reservations. Some places I had to give up on and go with the few websites the iphone 5 could manage. Traveling is so much easier when I have my travel laptop with me.

The people I met up with were mostly from South America and all of them had iPads with them all day long. Never saw an iPhone among them, but then I don't know if they left anything back at their hotel rooms.

Depends a lot on what one wants to access on the street and in the hotel room. In the past I've used a 7 inch tablet for hotel rooms for (1) web browsing, (2) travel ideas, (3) flight checkin, (4) reading an RS Tour book instead of paper, (5) relaxed Kindle novel reading, etc. On the street ... well it's too heavy for a day of walking with all the other stuff in my day pack.

I'm thinking of buying a 6 inch phone (iPhone 6 Plus or maybe Nexus 6) for street use and for hotel use as my wife could use the tablet.

I know it's not recommended to pull out an expensive phone in higher theft areas like exist in Rome, Naples, etc. Am thinking if I do it will be mostly tucked into an Eagle Creek neck pouch which has a side zipper for fairly easy access if I unbutton one button on my shirt for access. Also I would keep it on a lanyard for street use. Or I could put it in my cargo pants lower pocket which is zippered and velcrow'd down. I admit, I'm a bit overly security conscious. Opinions on this methodology from others?

I won't take anything that loads me down and the iPad can get heavy, phones are easily stolen. Maps, tour guides are mucch lighter, and disposable when not needed. I make resevations before I leave for the things I want to see, I have my return air tickets already. I do take a small camera and extra chips. I use the iNet cafes to email back home. For me, I want to immerse myself in my trip and these electronic things just get in my way. diff'rent strokes ..... :)))

pamela,

I suspect the answer to that will differ with each person and their specific circumstances. You didn't mention what you planned on using it for, but I'm assuming E-mail, perhaps photos and storing travel information such as Itineraries, etc.?

Some people can manage nicely with an iPhone and the smaller screen and keyboard for E-mail, photos and travel information, but I find that method enormously cumbersome so prefer to pack a Netbook along. My eyes aren't getting any younger so the somewhat larger screen is a benefit, as is the "proper" keyboard (I also find "virtual keyboards" awkward so that's why I don't use an iPad). I also prefer the larger storage provided by a hard drive, as I use it for photo backup.

If you're also planning to take the iPhone, you'll have to ensure that the model you're using is capable of use on European GSM networks. Don't forget to pack the Plug Adaptors for the chargers.

I downsized to an iPad mini and it goes everywhere with me. I use it a lot for photos, journaling, checking emails, reading guidebooks, etc.; it has also replaced my alarm clock.

I agree that the answer will highly depend upon what you do with the devices. I have only carried my iPhone in the past, and it was sufficient for watching movies/videos, facetiming home, taking/sharing pictures, checking email/texts, reading the Washington Post, and looking up various documents (i.e., reservations, itinerary, etc.). I did not do anything fancy on it really. Now, if I was doing some heavy duty web browsing with purchase, or needed to write something extended, then an iPad may be needed, but I would probably just leave it in the room during the day.

I do want to note that even at home, I do most things on my iPhone rather than the iPad. I occasionally whip out the iPad, but all the things I mentioned above is almost exclusively done on the phone on a daily basis, so maybe try the phone for a week for most uses and see if you can live with it.

We don't carry either although I have a small itouch for checking our email - for free. So far just that one piece of electronics has worked just fine for us. It's really up to personal choice, though, with no real right or wrong about it.

I will be taking my ipad mini with me, but not carrying it around during the day. i want to be able to internet search if I want in the evenings or morning, for all sorts of things.

Do you have to have an iphone to download pics to it, or can you do that with a droid? That's a great idea.

Thank you to everyone for your great comments. I hope others find it as valuable as I have. I do think we will be taking our iPad for sure and will probably leave it in our room most of the time, and one iPhone. Pam

I take my iPhone eveywhere because it has my RS guidebooks, maps, and translation app. I have a MacBook Air that I use at my hotels for writing a blog. It's too cumbersome for me to type on my phone or my wife's iPad.

My daughter just got a new iPad and is giving me her old one, which I will be taking on my trips. It will have no personal information, just destinations, etc. That way if it gets lost or stolen no harm done, well not much, anyway. I will also take off the cover which weighs a lot and use a small back pack. I would not take my iPad with a lot of personal info. I definitely would not leave my phone or pad in my room, ever

I guess I am a security freak :)))

On your phone be sure to get a translation 'APP and use it for a while to get used to it. the ones I have are great.
Sometimes you just need to say a word or two for someone to understand.

I take both my iPad and iPhone with me on trips but leave my iPad in the hotel since I don't have a data plan and can only access the internet on it at the hotel or other wifi spot. This is fine with me. I carry my iPhone everywhere since it's a camera too. I purchased an international plan on my last trip that included free texting (I think only to other iPhones, which everyone in my family has... but not sure). When riding the train or traveling, if I needed to access by email I could do so by turning data on and then switching it off so I'm not constantly roaming.

This trip I bought a keyboard for my ipad so when I'm answering emails at the end of the day it'll be much easier than using 1 finger. It's super-lightweight and will also stay in my hotel room. Don't know why I didn't get one sooner....

To add to my previous post, I also use my iPad to research things while I'm looking at them, and it's easier to read than my iPhone (aging eyes). Guidebooks are also on my iPad, and sometimes I buy an e-book while I'm traveling if I come across an interesting subject.