Rent GPS & maybe Cell Phone - need suggestions?

Rent a GPS. Read other comments about them below. Read the Transportation section of this page.

We bought a pocket size one a month before we left to learn how to use it. Should have. Gotten one even sooner as we didn't have all the features learned before we left. Loved the unknown feature of it telling us when we were approaching speed cameras. There were lots of them! Great for use in the country or areas not to hidden by buildings. Well worth getting by either rental or purchase.

Bob,

Regarding renting a Cell Phone, you might have a look at Cellular Abroad, Call In Europe or other firms that provide these services. They rent phones which are equipped with a "travel SIM" which provides fairly consistent rates in most parts of Europe. Be sure to check their websites so that you're absolutely clear on the costs.

I'm not sure whether renting a GPS is a good option. You can obtain a Garmin Nuvi 270 equipped with both North American and European maps for US$179.95 (on sale at Amazon). You might be better just to buy a unit (which can also be used in pedestrian mode, although battery life might be an issue).

Good luck!

Buy a Garmin (TALKING) with European maps. They are cheap and you can program and learn to use it ahead of time. I use my iPhone in Italy, but always end up with a $700 phone bill when I get back even though I have international roaming and data roaming plans. Any calls, to or from, or local are considered long distance and are charge as such. Get a prepaid calling card or phone when you get there.

In Italy they have what is called a Welcome Phone Card for international calls. You can get them at most Tabacchi or newstands. From hotel phones you get approximately 3 hours of call time for 5 Euro and for 9 Euro you get over six hours of call time to the states. From payphones the time is much shorter about 1 hour. Using that and a local telephone card for Italy you can call anywhere much cheaper than cell phone rates.