Use Italy book, Kindle version, or both?

After my first venture into Europe I highly recommend the digital format of the book.

Here are the two reasons:

1. Packing light. Why carry a book and a tablet when you can carry just the tablet?

2. The digital format of the book comes with a search function (I've yet to find a kindle book that doesn't have a search option built in) Its much faster to type in a search for the city/landmark etc. rather than trying to remember a page number in a book!

The only thing I'd say is to also bring a small pad of paper and a pencil. I found occasionally it was helpful to write down an address, phone number or website from the book...

I also like having the kindle app on my android phone so I can flip seamlessly from the book to the accompanying audio guides for the different locations.

Les, The text material on devices seems to be aok. However, it has been our experience that the maps can be from barely usable to unusable. Probably depends on the device. You might want to scope out how well the maps will do before making a final decision. TC

I pull out just the pages that I need from the RS book and staple or tape them by location. Then we just review the few pages on our train ride to the next location. But, I also print out interesting items from other sources on the internet along with a small map. I guess I'm a paper person since I don't like to carry any gadgets with me when I'm out walking. I leave my ipad in the room.

If you're wanting to use the tablet for audio tours, it sounds like that's a good option - just keep it secure or have a back-up plan if it's stolen (at least your itinerary details & favorite gelato stops mapped on paper!).

Les,

I generally prefer the paper version, as it's more "comfortable" to use and that's more what I'm used to (can you tell I'm older). However, I have used the E-book versions on my Netbook and iPhone (using the free Kindle app in both) and they work reasonably well. Using the iPhone in public places could attract the "wrong type" of attention so I try to minimize that when possible. As someone else mentioned, the maps are sometimes a bit awkward to use in the E-book versions, but by expanding them and scrolling back and forth, I can generally get the information I need.

I also try to avoid tearing books apart, but have done that on one occasion. The travel store here sells small plastic binders than can be used to make a "mini-booklet" of the pages that were torn out of the guidebook.

Completely agree with TC. I used a Kindle when they first came out, but now it's all on my Android tablet. The maps are tough to read sometimes, but you really need a good foldable map anyway. I draw my routes and highlights on a Streetwise map with different colored Sharpies. Why carry heavy books when you can pack light?

One from column A, one from column B person here. I use both electronic and paper, more of the former than the latter. I would not get both an electronic and a paper version of the same book. I would use the electronic version along with any number of other online sources to decide where I wanted to go and make a paper or electronic list, perhaps with the RS page numbers or book location depending on how your device works.

I used to take a flip phone, a digital camera, a Kindle and some paper printouts or pieces of books on our trips. I find my Kindle too heavy now that I have a smartphone with the Kindle app. With the abundance of Wi-Fi, my smartphone will be all I carry until something better (not bigger) comes along. I resisted a smartphone for a long time, but I love the versatility of being able to use one device to replace 3 other devices and being able to load books on it both for travel and casual reading. I also love being able to use email and text messaging and the phone as well as the camera. We set up global discount options with Verizon for our trips. We do not use data roaming. It's just too expensive.

With Wi-Fi in our room, I can locate myself and find directions to where we want to go from the hotel. I can save those and use them offline, but sometimes I just write the address down. I'm more of a big picture person, so I typically purchase a laminated Streetwise map (on sale now here at the RS store) if one is available for where we are going. Most of them have the detail I prefer, including streets, transportation stops, major tourist sites, a street index, etc. I see that there are ones for Milan, Florence and Rome. I highly recommend them.

My husband takes his smartphone, but rarely uses it. He is addicted to his normal size iPad which also has the Kindle app on it. But he only takes the former, never the latter when we leave the room -- unless we are going to do something fun like laundry. Most of the laundromats or cafes near them seem to have Wi-Fi if he wants to use it rather than just read.

If you do decide to get a paper book, don't cringe about cutting it up. That's coming from a retired librarian. Most books are carriers of information, not sacred objects. The easier for you to get at that info, the better.

I use only e-books and paper maps (Streetwise are my favorites for cities, as Laurel said). You can highlight and bookmark: I copy and paste some info into Notes or Pages.

I am of the old school that prefers a paper map, usually locally obtained from hotel or otherwise. I don't like carrying around a tablet or consulting my phone for everything, so I have cut up RS guidebook as reference back in hotel room.

Maybe the Kindle version is better, but the Italy RS guide I got from iBooks had a nonfunctioning index and a table of contents that was strangely formatted so that it went on for page after page after page. In addition, the search function was slow – at least on my phone. I found it very cumbersome to find anything in the e-book, even if I had previously bookmarked it (because there were so many bookmarks after a while). And paper maps were certainly necessary; the maps in the e-book were generally unreadable. However, I do find the phone to be invaluable for storing supplemental information in PDF format about specific sites that I'll be visiting.

For guidebooks, I have Kinkos cut the spine off the book and bind the pages I need in small sets. That way I'm never carrying much paper, and I leave the booklets behind as I'm traveling.

Cut the book apart. Travel light with the low tech pages and have the information with you when you need it.

Thanks very much for all the great replies and keep them coming if you think of something else! I like the fact that there is a fair amount of agreement and diversity of approaches here.

Sounds like a digital version of the Italy book works out well. With 2 Nexus 7 tablets we would be protected against the theft of one of them. I use my tablet all the time and it's amazingly versatile plus it's pretty cheep to buy. Good for bringing other reading material, email, the occasional photo, etc. I think I can be safe bringing out the tablet while in tourist sites and storing it securely in a pack. Dropbox would be a good way to store some travel docs and temporary mapped locations. Other ideas for apps, etc. ?

I like paper travel books too and currently have the Italy 2015 from the library. I just might buy it and cut it up. The RS site has a low cost Guidebook Page Binder that looks good here: RS binder

We've used the Streetwise maps before and I forgot completely about them so thanks again for reminding me. Will probably buy the Rome one. I notice they are on sale at the RS site here!

We have a Nexus 5 smartphone but it seems setting up for phone service in Italy might be a hassle for only 2 weeks. Plus we don't figure we'll really need to make calls. I'm not very good using the phone as a camera. Seems the small digital cameras are easier to hold. My old Cannon Elf fits in a little belt case and has a convenient wrist strap for handling securely. I could use the Nexus 5 as a camera and audio tour device ... will have to ponder that one.

four of us traveled in Italy this summer with Rick's book loaded on one persons smart phone, free paper city maps available from the hotels, I bought rick's laminated Italy map, and also I had bought the DK eyewitness book (my personal favorite) which stayed in the room in my black roller bag. that and a few free brochures picked up as we went was a PERFECT combination.

For Android users there is the free wifi app Hangouts Dialer. I think that it works in Europe. Google Voice apparently is US only. So the Hangouts Dialer might be a good cheap wifi phone idea.