GPS: For walking, not driving
 

We love our portable Garmin GPS and have used it exclusively for driving (US and Europe map-loaded).

Our upcoming trip to Germany will be "train" only, so no need for driving directions.

Has anyone found it useful when walking around? Maybe to find a particular museum or restaurant, or just even for doing a search for something nearby.

Of course, we'd have to bring the charger with us too.

If you've used one in this way, I'd love to know your experiences.

I used mine last year in Italy. It worked well. I was glad that I thought of using it for walking places.

Pro: It is useful if you have a good line of sight access to satellites.

Con: The GPS loses signal when in narrow alleyways between tall buildings -- not uncommon in European cities.

My model does NOT have the train mode. When using GPS to help me get off at the right station on a crowded train, it is comical to see the GPS trying to follow the train route by jumping from one road to another.

Unlike the hikers' model, my automobile GPS battery lasts only 4 hrs, so I have to limit the usage to only when I have to use it.

I didn't even know that there was a train mode! Mine doesn't have it.

And I'm sure Greg is correct about the battery life... I know mine is about the same. I only used it in pedestrian mode to get to some off the beaten path sites.

And, I used it to walk to my hotel after dropping my rental car.

are you back yet??

I took mine to Paris. It worked very well, when it got a signal. More often than not, it didn't. After one day, I left it in the room.

You'd still need a good map, should you lose the signal and not have a clue where you are.

My husband enjoys holding the Garmin up yo the window on the high speed trains to clock the speed. What can i tell you....he's a retired Navy pilot, enjoys the info.
And for walking, we've used it in Copenhagen, as well as Paris. Agree w/other posters about sometimes losing the signal and personally, I like a really detailed map over the garmin but there are indeed times when the garmin's data comes in handy