ChgoGal

Hi, elliott25.

I had used my Garmin nuvi in London on pedestrian mode, but it's not always great in large cities...takes a while to find the satellites. And the battery runs out fairly quickly. I recall it lasts about 2 hours on the street (and I would turn it off as soon as I found my location).

However, when it does work, the Garmin is great when you need to search out a drug store, a coffee shop, a hotel (you can search by category, or type in the name). Or bringing a small tablet, you can pop into any place with wifi, and search for something.

I've taken to carrying a good, paper map, and carrying my hiking compass with me. It sounds silly, but when you're in an entirely new place, it's hard to know which way is north immediately.

(And don't be shy about asking the locals.)

Have fun in your travels!

thursdaysd

A paper map is certainly less likely to be stolen! And a compass is handy not only when the sun isn't shining (I use the sun for direction finding, but it is disorienting south of the equator!) but when using metro systems.

bvlenci

It's true that you can download Google maps for offline use and get turn by turn directions without data, but you can only get directions for automobiles. I had never done it, but I just downloaded the maps for a 20-km diameter around my house and then turned off wifi and data services. I was able to get driving directions to the next town, but when I tried walking directions, it told me that "walking directions are not available offline." (My translation from the Italian.)

You can still see the map, with your currect location and your destination. You can enlarge it as much as you can the online version. As you walk, it moves your location point.I don't know if this would be sufficient to help you find your way.

Or you could get the driving directions, but in a city with one-way streets, they might be very roundabout. The driving directions are fine where I live, because they would be more or less identical to the walking directions.

ParisAmsterdam

Maps.me will also let you are download maps so you don't need a data plan. Since you say you get lost easily download a free compass app for your phone as well.