Need Internet, mapping ability only using cell (not wifi) in Europe. Any help for electronic newbie?

I am not sure if this will help but we extensively use 'pocket earth' on our apple devices with the maps downloaded for off-line use. the maps show an amazing amount of detail. i believe you can do a similar thing with google maps, but I have not tried as pocket earth works well for use.
I only use and buy off-line capable apps, eg: translation apps like word lens, jibbigo etc. to me apps are generally useless to me if they require wifi to work when your travelling.

We also have carried a dedicated 'globalgig', mobile broadband unit, that creates your own access. but ususally, like you, we get by with free wifi provided at hotels and stores.

hope this helps.

I recently purchased an ipad mini and as part of the 50% off deal pay $10/month to Verizon for a data only plan. I only use data if I'm traveling and have no wifi access as to not overuse our family data plan.

This may not help you now, but might help others. When I was in France in December I signed up for Verizon's international plan- 100MB for $25/month. Since the charge is prorated based on your billing cycle, it only cost me around $8.00 for my 9 day trip. You need to call when you get back to stop the intl plan. As to not risk going over the data, which automatically would trigger another $25.00 charge, I used cell date sparingly. If I was out and about and needed to use google maps or the Paris subway app to figure out how to get someplace, I'd turn on data, do my search, then a screen shot, and then turn off data. Surprisingly, hardly used any data at all, so the $8 was well worth the money.

Thanks to both. I downloaded pocket earth but not so much luck getting it to work. Probably my fault. Will keep playing. Does it show metro and bus routes (like Google maps)? Also will look into mobile broadband unit for train travel. Wifi gets advertised but they have always said no so far when on the train. Thanks for responding quickly.

good to see that you got pocket earth, please persist with learning it. it has helped us navigate approx 20 weeks worth of car travel in europe and we use it at home as well. you can turn on and off the 'layers' of things to see eg: walking paths, accommodation, post offices etc etc. the wikipedia info is also very helpful. also you can use your fingers to measure straight line distances. lots of features.

it has certainly kept us sane while travelling, where car gps etc has failed.

CityMaps To Go works great. However, you must first be in a WiFi area to download the maps you need.

I loaded City Maps for Rome and this will work great. Just what I needed. Thanks!

City Maps is great! Just download when you are in a WiFi area and they are available on your device thereafter. I used the app last fall for London, Cardiff and Paris and it worked wonderfully. Have already downloaded the Barcelona and Madrid maps for planned October travel.

T-Mobile offers free internet data abroad!