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Rick Steves Audio Europe did you download all of them

We are going to Italy on the 17-day best of Italy trip.
There are so many things available to download in the Rick Steves Audio app.

Did you download these ahead of time?
If so did you use as many as you downloaded?

Thanks!

Posted by
2559 posts

It was several years ago, but I think I downloaded them before the trip and listened to many before I went. I particularly remember the one of the Sistine Chapel. This was pre smart phones and I was loading to my iPod. I got shared ear plugs so my daughter and I could sit on the bench in the back of the chapel and just look up and listen and share the moment. I learned so much.

Posted by
3312 posts

You'll need a internet connection to download, so yes, do that before you leave home.
I only download things that I think will be useful, and some things are best to listen to before the trip.
I rarely use everthing I download.
It's easy to delete things you no longer need.

Posted by
4122 posts

Are you going on the RS tour? If so, I would look at the detailed tour itinerary and see what walking tours and site visits are included. If the tour covers it, you probably don't need to download any of the walking tours, but for places you have free time you might want them. For example, but there's a detailed audio tour of the Accademia and the statue of David. But the tour visits with a guide, so you'll listening to your guide in real life and won't need the audio tour. The only time I've used one of the RS audio walks was traveling on my own (without a group).

The app has both guided walking tours but also general interest stories and interviews from Rick's radio show. It would probably be impossible to listen to every single one of them while on tour - because you'll be doing tour things during the day. You can always go back and listen to episodes after the fact.

Posted by
8422 posts

I think its a great app. I typically download everything of interest for the cities/countries I'm visiting. I find that I listen to them during down town like plane, etc. I also listen to some before I travel when I'm driving or cleaning.

Yes, I download them at home where I have good WiFi. They don't take up much room

Posted by
215 posts

While it's true that the audio tours don't take up much room in the scheme of things, on one trip I neglected to download a couple of tours I would like to have taken. After I got there, I was unsuccessful at several locations where I had "good wifi" for other purposes in being able to download the tours. So definitely if you think you might want them, do it ahead of time. The downloading troubles while in Europe consisted of the files starting to download but collapsing in midstream. You could be blessed with good wifi, but based on my experiences so far, probably not that great.

Posted by
8422 posts

There have been times where I click multiple ones to download and a few stalled out. I've realized that I can only choose 2 or 3 at a time. Then, make sure that the ones you selected, actually downloaded.

Posted by
1188 posts

I try to download everything I might need before I go. There are lots of time in airports, airplanes, etc. Listening to them once gives me a "lay of the land" even if I don't remember all of the details. Don't worry about how much you download, it is free of course.

Posted by
118 posts

I download them at home and listen to them on the bus rides while enjoying the scenery.