We will be in Tuscany for a week in Sept. and plan on using GPS on our iphone 6 for travel. We will have a data plan from Verizon (100mb) but are worried about excessive data charges if we use apps such as Google Maps or iphone maps. Is there an app which will give us turn by turn driving instructions without chewing up data. And if we download maps of Tuscany before we leave the States, can we use these maps offline in 'whatever' app is recommended and still get turn by turn instructions?

Sorry, I'm no help but I'm pulling this TTT because I have the same questions!

I've driven throughout Tuscany twice the old fashioned way... using a map from AAA. Never got lost or had a problem. Even out in the countryside the roads are clearly marked. And if you do get turned around a bit consider it part of the adventure. Pull in somewhere and ask a local. I've never met a local who wasn't more than willing to help with directions, recommend a restaurant or lend a helping hand. Enjoy!

TomTom Italia in the App Store. Works flawlessly for driving and walking in countryside and major cities. Doesn't use any data. Turn cellular data off on iPhone, but don't turn on airplane mode.

It's $40 (I think) but totally worth every penny.

Pro Tip: before leaving for trip, get GPS coordinates for all of your destinations and landmarks. You can easily do this by finding the location on google maps on your PC. Right click the location and choose "what is here?" The Gps coordinates will show in the top left box. Jot them down and input them into the TomTom app.

You want to avoid using addresses. GPS coordinates are accurate and reliable.

To input the GPS coordinates into the app, go to "change settings>manage favorites>add>coordinates"

You can store about 40 favorites which should suffice. You can always delete and add as needed on your trip.

Enjoy. Let me know if you have any questions.

The thing about paper maps is that someone has to be focused on the map but also catch the signage and direct the driver. I have been that person on many trips over 30+ years and find it can be stressful and distracting. There's nothing worse than having the driver say, "Wow. Did you see that?" and you didn't. We now take a Tomtom GPS unit we bought new on eBay. I still use paper maps for route planning purposes, but I've resigned my position as navigator. We've used the Tomtom several times, but if we weren't thinking of future driving trips we could have sold it used on eBay.

Paulmpatrizio,

Thanks for that info! Does the app also talk to you (in English) and give turn by turn directions?

Yes it does. It allows you to pick from any language and male/female also. It has every feature you will need. We even used it in cities for step by step walking directions. It worked flawlessly in Venice, Rome, Siena, the Chianti, etc. while walking I just kept one ear bud in or turned the volume up or just looked at every once in a while.

It even gives you the choice to avoid highways so that you take the scenic route, etc.

As i mentioned previously, you want to have GPS coordinates (you don't NEED GPS coordinates) but you're life will be much simpler.

Each night before bed, I would input the coordinates that we needed for the next day. Took less than 5 minutes.

Another recommendation is to get it well before your trip so that you can become familiar with it.

Paul,

I checked out the Tomtom app and it does say that it uses data, so now I'm really confused. How did you use it without using your data?