Technology Tips
European tourism now comes with a digital divide: those with high tech gadgets and those without. Which fancy new tools are worth the trouble and actually enhance your travels?
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Facebook text to cell phone
You can set up your facebook page to forward facebook messages by text to your cell phone. You can even specify whose messages or posts you want to receive. My daughters are traveling through Europe without phones or a laptop. Internet access has been easily accessable. Their facebook messages and posts go directly to my cell phone so I get them immediately and don't have to check facebook. I can even reply (text) back to their facebook page from my phone. It has worked great! certainly a very economical way to keep in touch
Susan <email>
Marietta, GA USA 06/29/2009
laptop adapters
My laptop adapter broke during a trip to Paris. Across from rue Cler, on the av. Motte Picquet, is an "Electric" shop that sells all types of adapters, converters, etc for most countries in Europe. The proprietor speaks English, which is helpful. The adapter I purchased cost about 3 euros, and saved my trip.
Beth D
Ithaca, NY USA 06/19/2009
iPhone - Great Travel Tool
Loved having my iPhone in europe for my last 2 month vacay. I plan on bringing it again for my next 2 month vacay at the end of the year. I used skype most of the time for calls which was a life saver. For only $20 to $50 you can get a international data roaming plan. great for using google maps when lost, updating currency converters, finding quick metro maps, and using wikitravel for quick changes in plans. Make sure you turn OFF data push options and international roaming when you arent using it.
Word to the wise on cell service providers.... I'm with AT&T and planned in advance for my 3 month trip. all international service including data for my iPhone and checked for service in all my locations. I had the most problems ever. I was told I would have coverage in every country on my itenerary. I didnt. I had a random 201MB charge that wasnt mine. I have spent a total of 7 hours in the last 3 months on the phone with customer service regarding tech and billing problems. Basic advice... plan plan plan and as always... when you run into trouble and have to call tech support make sure you document every call, time, date, and service agent when changing or setting up new plans and options.
stephanie <email>
lake charles, la USA 06/16/2009
Getting the Laptop through TSA
Usually TSA makes you boot your laptop PC to confirm it is a PC and not something else. If you have a chance on the ride to the airport boot your PC and put it into sleep mode to save time in the line. That way you only take 30 seconds instead of a couple of minutes in the line. The other recommendation I would have is to put your laptop in the side pocket of your bag for quick access. Then once you get through TSA transfer the laptop in to your day bag for protection during the flight. Then put the day bag back in to your carry-on and cinch everything down tight and don't bother to use your PC until you get to Europe.
Rich M <email>
Littleton, CO USA 06/09/2009
Fring - All in one communication apps for your mobile PDA phone
Fring - install Fring in your Iphone's, Windows Mobile phones and get connected with Skype, Yahoo Messenger, MSN, etc plus you can also sign in to your SIP VoIP account. All you need is a Free WiFi hotspot and off you go to a free or cheap calls back to the US.
Download Fring free at http://fring.com
My Onesuite VoIP works perfectly with Fring and I've read in Fring forum that most phones are supported except for the Blackberries.
Jeremy <email>
Palo Alto, CA USA 06/08/2009
ipod touch
the ipod touch is great with all of its apps. There is a skype application and a bunch of travel ones that are wonderful. I also have put movies on and of course rick steve's podcasts!
mailys <email>
princeton, nj USA 06/07/2009
Travel Tech
I use a Nokia N810 and an iGo Bluetooth Keyboard. This functions for GPS, Email and Media Player. Easier to pack than a notebook fewer devices than I would carry otherwise.
O. N. Ely
www.onthehorizzon.com
O
Milano, - Italy 05/28/2009
Skype on i-touch
A co-worker just got the i-touch and he has the Skype application for it. Not sure how he got it (I'm a real rookie here), but as soon as we work together again I'll know, as I'm buying my i-touch Thursday.
Elaine
USA 05/18/2009
Free wifi
There is free wifi everywhere. McDonalds and many coffee shops offer it as well as a few cafes and bars. A lot of the time they won't advertise it, but i have gotten in the habit of bringing my iPod most places and trying it out.
Kate
Canada 05/17/2009
GPS
Ditto Ed's comments about the Garmin Nuvi 275. A very useful device that was generally spot on with directions, as we discovered on an Italy trip this past month.
Some general GPS comments particular to Italy and similar countries.
1) Have a map in hand, use the GPS to navigate but expect errors. Typical are the occasional new traffic circle that the GPS mapset doesn't know about. Others are one way streets in those ancient hills towns in Tuscany and Umbria that the GPS doesn't know about. Be aware that the actual data the GPS relies on was generated by humans field checking the roads. Ditto the actual route the GPS chooses - also generated by a human and entered into the Navtech data base sold to Garmin.
2) The Garmin and any GPS using Navtech maps, give turn instructions in street names. That may or may not work in cities - IF you can find the street sign labeled "Via del Torrero" or some such. In the country and with turns on country roads, Italy does not label the streets, except for a turn arrow sign (white on blue) with a town destination and sometimes a "SS275" or "E45" indication. This is not how the GPS calls out directions so the map is essential as backup.
3) In those hill towns and narrow streets of Rome, the GPS may not get a decent signal from the requisite 4 satellites, to allow navigation. So pay attention and don't become a slave to the GPS. Follow common sense and sometimes follow the actual street signs.
Steve B.
Freeport, NY USA 05/11/2009
Technology tips
In regard to carrying copies of documents to Europe. I have scanned copies of my passport, license, credit cards, etc. and have downloaded them to a thumb drive. It will become a permanent part of my money belt during the trip. If I need anything out of it, I plan to hit a cyber cafe or computer in the hotel.
Jim
MO USA 05/06/2009
GPS in Italy
We just returned from a 4-week driving tour of Italy using our Garmin 470. We call her "Sally". Sally was confused much of the time in Italy.
Our first night's hotel in Fiumicino was carefully typed in. Sally kept saying "Arriving at destination on left". On the left was a deserted building, roof gone, windows out, weeds and garbage in the yard. My wife said, "I know you booked us in budget hotels, but this is too much." We followed street signs and easily found our hotel a block or two away.
Later, on the Almafi drive, Sally kept repeating, "Turn sharply left". To the left was a thousand foot drop-off.
In navigating to our little hotel in Sorrento, Sally apparently confused a street hundreds of years old and used for pedestrians and motorscooters for a regular street. The street kept getting more and more narrow so that finally it was impossible to back out. We pulled in the side mirrors of our Smart Car and squeezed through with about one inch clearance on either side.
We laugh about these incidents now, but I would recommend using a good road map with a GPS in Italy, and if a road sign points to your destination and the GPS is insistently telling you to drive in the opposite direction, just turn it off and use common sense.
Kyle & Jan Dameron <email>
Tulsa, OK USA 05/04/2009
GPS
Just returned from driving from Barcelona to France where I used a Garmin nuvi 275t to navigate. I also had maps for general info. but the nuvi did the talking and showed the way. While in France I drove hither and yon across the Southern part of France. I stopped at Figueres and Montserral on the way back to Barcelona. The nuvi never missed a beat. I bought it because it had European maps preloaded. It was right on every time. What a teriffic piece of equipment. It was also good for walking around in an unfamiliar city or town.
Ed Grentz <email>
Pittsburgh, PA USA 05/02/2009
tripit.com for iphone
tripit.com now has an iphone/ipod touch app. you can create your itinerary online and then view it on your phone. you don't have to be connected to the internet. i plan on storing my rome itinery on it for my trip next week.
wayne phillips <email>
norwalk, ct USA 04/14/2009
IPOD/IPHONE and Skype
to use Skype on an Ipod touch or Iphone, download "truphone" a free application then you can add your skype account and yahoo, aol, msn instant messenger names also. You do need the headset with built in mic from apple, it costs around $30. It works really well.
Pattie
USA 04/07/2009
Disposable lithium camera batteries
I heartily recommend Energizer Advanced Lithium disposable batteries for digital cameras.
On our '06 IT, SP, FR trip I used standard alkaline disposables in my camera--it takes four AA. Seems like I was always shopping for and changing batteries.
Our '08 FR, GER trip I used the lithium ones. I shot close to 1000 digital photos and only had to change once! Amazing longevity.
However, when they die it is suddenly and totally. The alkalines would recover a bit between uses and you could coax a little more out of them, but not the lithiums. When they die, they die! Until they come out with something better these will always be my battery of choice.
Tom
Gillette, WY USA 04/04/2009
Skype on iphone
I just wanted to let the iphone users know that there is now a skype application for iphone. I'm not sure about ipod touch. But I don't see why it wouldn't. hope this helps you guys out.
jason
Atlanta, USA 03/30/2009
Email/Passports
I am not really sure where to post this, so this might be the place. I have read over and over about photocopies of passports, etc. I will take a copy, but I'm also going to scan and email them to myself. This makes me feel like I have a nice backup.
europebound
Texas USA 03/28/2009
VOIP calls with Ipod Touch
I just learned that the second Generation Ipod touch will accept the Iphone microphone equipped headset, available from apple for $29. That headseat and a free app, Truphone, allows you to make phone calls when you have a wifi connection. We don't need a lot of telephone contact when in Europe, but with this we can make calls to land lines for about 6 cents per minute, whether they are in Europe or back home in the states. With all the other capabilities of the touch, I truly have no need to haul my lap top along on our travels.
Tom
Orlando, FL USA 01/30/2009
Vibrating Watch
I found this great idea for travel in airports, on airplanes or any place that can be really loud or where you need an alarm that won't wake others around you. I found information about it in the following article about travel tips: http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2009/01/03/AR2009010301461.html
Instead of an audible alarm it vibrates to notify you of the time so you would not bother anyone on overseas flights if you need to take medicine or waken for any reason.
April
Dallas, TX USA 01/27/2009