I am traveling on the Greek mainland and am interested in having access to internet searches and google maps in remote area. I know the devices have com along way, but do the portable WIFI devices you can rent in the airport pick up in remote cities or, even more importantly, between cities?
you could check out Skyroam. We used it in Spain and I think it works in many countries.
Mogget,
Using a portable Wi-Fi device will probably be more expensive than just using a smartphone with a data plan. Both devices use the same cell towers. You could check with your home cell network to find out what roaming plans they have available, or use a local SIM if your phone is unlocked.
A local SIM card works well for what you are considering.