So I just purchased an 8gb 2nd gen Apple Ipod Touch. I'm going to Italy (Rome & Florence) and Paris in December and I'm bringing this with us in lieu of a phone and a laptop. We don't want to bother with international costs with our BB's and we don't want to lug around a laptop and this is basically everything we'd need (communication via email, maps, translations, music, movies, web browsing) in one. I've read some reports about wi-fi access in the places we're going and I want to hear about people's experiences with this. I've read that Google Maps on the Apple products works with Skyhook Wireless's (http://www.skyhookwireless.com/) programs, and that I can locate myself without being "connected" to a wi-fi network...can I still map out directions to places in town with this? Or I also read about another product that's basically a GPS keychain that can bluetooth connect to the Itouch to give me my location on the map without wi-fi access (http://freedominput.com/freedom-acce...chain-gps-2000). Can anyone add some input on what they know works?

ALSO! What apps do people find most useful when traveling to these places?

thanks!

I'm probably not a ton of help w/ most of your questions. Just wanted to be sure you checked into the International data plan for AT&T w/ the itouch. We checked into it for our iphones and it was cost prohibitive. Simply put, it can end up being extremely expensive.

We are going to use internet cafes and purchase a calling card and/or prepaid cell phone to use for our trip this Sept...and good old maps for when we have a car. We also pre-printed directions from google maps.
This is what we did last time went to Italy and it worked very well and was inexpensive.

If the cost isn't a factor, it's probably very helpful to have the device.

The touch is very similar to the iphone in appearance and functionality, but it doesn't run off a data plan...it's more like an ipod (data storage and music playback) and a laptop because it connects to the internet thru wi-fi (when it can find it). I am going to bring some small maps with me in case it doesn't work but I was hoping someone with some insight into this could give me some feedback. I was thinking of downloading some Apps from itunes and emailing myself some pre-determined maps so incase i can't get internet I will have those readily available offline.

Does anyone have suggestions on Apps to download that made getting around in Rome/Florence/Paris easier and maybe even more fun?

Thanks!

StuartShaprio, I am really interested in this also. I have an Ipod touch and have been unable to get the wireless connection to work when on holiday in Europe. To be fair I am really not very technical but I do know that here in Belfast you can use it in Starbucks and McDonalds if you buy something so I would imagine it is the same in other countries.

When I was in Norway the hotels I stayed in advertised free wireless connection but I was unable to get my Ipod touch to work and too be honest didn't enquire about it.

I use it mainly for music, podcasts and I also used the notes to record my daily journal every day.

I would be interested in doing what you have suggested and if you get this to work would you please post back.

Thanks


Helen

I don't know the answer to your more "complex" ( to me, that is--technologically challenged) questions, but can say that my Ipod Touch worked very well in the apt. where we stayed in Paris in April. Apt. had free wifi. It was super for checking up on and sending emails, Google maps, restaurants, as an alarm clock,etc. Since we had Wifi in the apt., I didn't try to use it in cafes, etc., but can't imagine it would have been a problem.

Cambe, next time you are in a hotel that has Wifi, I'd inquire; it probably isn't difficult, and it's so convenient.

Good luck!

posting to get back to top, does anyone have more info on this?