I am posting in the B-W forum because -
1) We%26#39;ve gotten a lot of helpful advice here!
2) B-W is where we%26#39;ll be most times, although we will briefly be in four (4) different countries - Germany, Switz, France, Lux.
The route is Frankfurt - circle the edges of B-W, including Rheinfalls (Switz), Alsace (France), Saarland, Luxembourg and then back to Frankfurt.
We%26#39;re coming from the US.
GIZMO question #1 - GPS. We want one - is it smart to buy one device for BOTH the US and Europe? As we will only use it for 17 days in Europe - is there a different, smarter option?
GIZMO question #2 - Cell Phone. We have Verizon in the U.S. Can we get set-up on Verizon for these places?
GIZMO question #3 - a compact NetBook for internet access on the trip? I%26#39;ve just about decided to NOT get one. Reasons: 1) technology and prices are changing too fast, and 2) access is not assured or cheap. Agree? So, IF we need access, are internet cafes still out there? How likely will our gasthaus / bauernhof / djh allow us to use their access?
Advice appreciated.
|||
I can%26#39;t answer your GIZMO GPS questions as we don%26#39;t use GPS. But I%26#39;m sure that the maps in the large scale (1cm = 1.5km, or 1 inch approximates 2.5 miles) Shell Regional Map series of Germany would be better to discover all the interesting places to visit, there are hundreds or thousands of them on each map of all kinds whether natural or man-made, and these places are accurately rated. Using these maps it is simple to plan a day%26#39;s travels and see all the excellent things along the way. Several of these maps will be all you need for Germany, and will have parts of some of the countries next to it. They are available for 7.50€ from Shell gas stations and bookstores.
As for your cell phone, does it have the European bands, otherwise it%26#39;s worthless. It%26#39;s possible to buy a cheap one after arrival, and if you do a search in the German forun you should see prior advice about this and your options.
There are places to get internet access such as internet cafes and public libraries. Some hotels may offer free internet access, more probably charge for it if available.
|||
GIZMO #1--do you need a GPS at home? If so, you might consider getting one with European and US maps. I think CostCo online as a special for a Garmin with both for $200--you probably can%26#39;t rent a GPS in Europe at that cost. We used one in Italy last year and felt it invaluable as it got it to places we couldn%26#39;t figure out with our maps and viamichellin directions. I would use it without some supplementary help with a map/mapbook, viamichellin, or at least the hotels instructions from their website.
Or, are you really good with maps? Get an overall map here and check out your route before you go and use viamichellin for the specifics.
GIZMO #2. Verizon will let you know about the compability of their services overseas. I have a quadband phone (Motorola Razr) from T-Mobile and have had no problem with it. Cost wise--if you are just checking in with family--use a text message. It%26#39;s about $1 a minute to call from Europe. If you need to talk alot, get a European sim card if your phone is a quad band or just a phone card. If your Verizon phone isn%26#39;t compatible, you might buy a used quadband phone from e-Bay and then get SIM cards in Europe. BUT--I think each SIM is limited to the country it is purchased in--at least for cheap rates.
GIZMO #3. In Italy and France there are lots of internet cafes. I resurrected a Compaq PDA that had wi-fi and used it. BUT--again this is something else you had to bring a charger for.
|||
PS on GIZMO #1--I use my GPS at home all the time, not because I am lost or don%26#39;t know how to get somewhere, but to use the blue tooth for my cell phone. I can%26#39;t stand those ear things--I can make and receive clear calls using my GPS. It also has a traffic feature and if driving on the freeways, can guide me around traffic.
|||
Reread my first response and it should say: I WOULD NOT use it without supplemental information: maps, viamichellin....
You may want to practice with it at home so you know how it gives explanations--especially on the highways.
|||
Patricia
%26quot;CostCo online has a special for a Garmin with both for $200--you probably can%26#39;t rent a GPS in Europe at that cost.%26quot;
Amazing! Thank you. Great specs and price.
|||
You%26#39;re welcome. We paid almost $400 for a similar one a year ago, and $600 two years ago.
|||
Here%26#39;s our Gizmo Update
1) We purchased the Garmin GPS with both US and Europe Maps - and so far, we LOVE it! We have been AMAZED by how precise the instructions were that came from the robot voice in that machine. I deliberately got myself %26quot;lost%26quot; in the busy, serpentine one-way streets of downtown Cincinnati while telling to send me across the river in Kentucky. The GPS is certainly smarter than me. I can%26#39;t imagine how any maps could have informed me as to which lane to merge into. Hopefully, it will do a similarly fine job in Germany. We downloaded a lot of instrcution from Via michelein as a back-up.
2) Internet - we doing this on the supercheap. He have no active plans to communicate back home. We have, instead, pre-booked every night of our lodging, and are leaving a list at home with those e-mail addresses, phone. etc.
3) Phone - still a stuck point for us. We ONLY want to use this in case of emergency, or if we need to tell our lodging that we%26#39;re running late. We may not use the phone at all.
Our T-Mobile provider seems incapable of explaining HOW to unlock our phone and use it in Europe. The last word is that we would need to repurchase NEW minutes in Euros, rather than allow our American plan to roll-over. That much - after being bounced around in innumerable forwarded calls - so, enough of that. We%26#39;re not going to pursue our US T-Mobile account as a European option.
So now, we have TWO more options to explore. Does anyone know where I can get good answers.
Again, our ONLY interest in a cell phone is as a form of insurance. We want a short-duration, low-cost and ultimately, disposable set-up.
1) Can we just get by with a prepaid phone card - and go to the public booths? Does such a system still exist today, or have the cell-phones pretty much wiped out public phones as an option (which seems to be the case in the USA).
2) Is there such a thing as an inexpensive, preloaded prepaid %26quot;handy%26quot; or cellphone for perhaps 20 Euros or less. Such offers DO exist in the US.
Again. Appreciate any advice.
|||
Do you have a pre-pay T-mobile phone? If so, it is probably impossible to get it to work in Europe. I tried to help some friends with theirs, talked to T-mobile, and found out it wouldn%26#39;t work. Gave them one of our old quadband phones that they could put their sim card in--work in the US, but wouldn%26#39;t work in Europe.
Do know that the phone cards are still available--I have read that the phone company charges a fee that might use up the minutes.
hopefully a local can answer the cheap cell phone--perhaps available like the ones at 7-11.
Have fun.
We can wait until our trip in October.
|||
Verizon phones won%26#39;t work in Europe. If you really want a phone in Europe, there are two options. One option is to buy an unlocked quad band GSM phone (Best Buy has them sometimes, or try ebay) and then get a SIM card in Europe. Two years ago I got an unlocked GSM phone and then a SIM card from Blauworld (18 Euros). Calls back to the US are 9 cents Euro per minute and incoming calls are free to you (caller pays). You can buy the Blauworld card at any Reisebank branch in Germany. There%26#39;s a roaming charge for out of Germany. The other option is to buy a cheap cellphone when you get there. Blauworld has those too.
As for a laptop or netbook, you might want to consider an Ipod touch instead. There%26#39;s plenty of wifi access, at least that%26#39;s what I found in Bavaria.
|||
Sounds like a great trip! I will try to offer what I can in response:
1. I don%26#39;t use GPS, so not sure about the value of buying one unit for US %26amp; EU. It seems like TomTom is best suited for this, if you decide to explore it further.
2. I believe Verizon has an international option, but it won%26#39;t work on your US phone, unless you specifically purchased an international-capable phone. I seem to recall they may have a short-term lease or phone swap option for travel. A very good Verizon store and/or their web site might provide enlightenment.
3. I always have a laptop with me when I travel to Germany, so it is important to me that I find free wireless access. When I use Booking.com for my hotels, I have found their information on this to be pretty reliable. I have not tried to find internet cafes or other options, only hotels. Most hotels seem to offer it now, but some charge a lot!
Good travels!
Jeremy
No comments:
Post a Comment