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iPod and MP3 Player Tips

MP3 players (like iPods) aren't just for music anymore. These days, you can download podcasts, watch TV shows and movies, and even let Rick Steves guide you though the sights of Paris (on our new audio tours).

What are your favorite tips for using an MP3 player as you travel?

I want to add my comments! 

London Walking Tours.Pod Casts
The British History Channel has some interesting walking tour pod casts for those who are history buffs like myself. I downloaded the How London was built and and Jack the Ripper pod casts and intend to use them when I go to London in November. The website is www.historychannel.co.uk/podcasts
Rich M <email>
Littleton, CO  USA   06/30/2009

Keeping your Ipod safe!
When you take your ipod or mp3 player out of the country make sure to keep it safe. My name is Jackie and I am 12 years old and I took my mothers ipod to Italy. I knew i would need to keep it safe other wise she would make me buy her a new one. In order to protect the ipod I got a money belt to not only hold my mother's ipod in, but also my money. I kept it in the money belt most of the trip and when I wanted to use it i kept it in my money belt and put the earplugs up through the top of my shirt so pick pocketers could not only get the ipod from me, but they couldn't tell i was using it. At night I tend to listen to music and when you are in a hostel just about anyone could walk right into your room and take it. What I did to keep it safe was put the ipod under the pillow and turn up the music just enough so I could here it and no one else could. I had no problems loosing the ipod once using these simple tips. Thanks and have a good trip!
Jackie Loutzenheiser
Boise , Idaho  USA   06/03/2009

Italian on your I-pod
On I-Tunes you can download Italian lessons. They are really handy. In your spare time or on they plane ride there you can listen to it and it will help you a lot with your Itlaian.
Emma
Star, Idaho  USA   06/03/2009

iPod - It's not just for podcasts
I have an iPod Touch and it came in handy for so many things. The wi-fi capability is the best. We used it for emails to keep in touch with family instead of having to use a cell phone or phone cards. We scanned our passports, emailed them to our gmail account (or other easily accessible email account), and downloaded them to the iPod in case we lost ours. We could just show the image. I also forwarded emails with our hotel and other travel details. It came in handy when we had to contact the hotel when our train arrived late. While we were traveling in Hungary, my husband came down with a cold. I downloaded a translation app while at the hotel, entered a few phrases we would need to speak to a pharmacist, saved them and later showed them to the clerk. I also had downloaded a conversions app to keep up with currency prices, measurements, temperatures, etc. My husband used the Safari browser to keep up with baseball scores - something not frequently covered in European news reports.

And it plays music while waiting at the airport too!
Diane <email>
San Bernardino, CA  USA   05/25/2009

Connecting your MP3 player to a hotel TV
We recently stayed in Juan-les-Pins, France for two weeks. With only one English-speaking TV station(BBC News). I hooked up my Zune to the TV and was able to watch full-length feature movies that I had previously downloaded. Don't forget to pack the cable that connects your MP3 player to the TV.
Bart Brady Ciampa <email>
Vancouver, WA  USA   05/11/2009

Good MP3 plaer
We purchased a Sansa Clip MP3 player on a graffiti wall recommendation. It is fantastic! Very small, very light, but it has a navigation screen (unlike the iPod Shuffle). Also, it charges through the USB port of a computer, so no need for an additional wall charger!
Seth <email>
Boise, ID  USA   05/03/2009

Skype for iPod
There is a stand alone Skype application so Truphone is no longer needed.
HankH
Waterbury, CT  USA   04/18/2009

ipod touch or iphone and skype
You have to download a free application called "Truphone" to you ipod touch or iphone first, then add skype or messenger(s) to truphone. It works great with a wi-fi connection
Pattie <email>
Wa  USA   04/16/2009

Skype on your ipod
With an Ipod touch or Iphone, an Iphone headset w/mic (this works with both and is available from Apple for $29.00) a wifi connection and the skype application you can call home(or anywhere else) for pennies. I'll take that over $1.50 plus per minute with a cell or the hassle of calling cards any day.
Kathy <email>
Anaheim, Ca  USA   04/14/2009

I -Tunes University
I-Tunes University/Podcasts

I-Tunes has a section that you can download free lectures/video/interviews via their ITunes University. There is a wealth of information from The Metropolitan Museum,Oxford, Cambridge, Open College, American Public Media, Duke, etc for subjects ranging from Science, Fine Arts, Humanities, History, Politics for FREE!

I just downloaded a lecture from the Metropolitan on Islamic Art/ Rumi culture to prepare me for an upcoming trip to Turkey.

There are wonderful podcasts from Lonely Planet, Rick Steves (of course!) , National Geographic, PRI,NPR that are also FREE. You may spend a little time "digging thru" the I-Tunes University and I-Tunes Podcast- but it is goldmine of finds.
Karen <email>
Schaumburg, IL  USA   04/11/2009

Rick's Books on Kindle
When will all of Rick's books be available for the Amazon Kindle??? Talk about packing light.
SouthernTraveler
Atlanta, GA  USA   03/09/2009

Rick's 2009 London, Paris, Rome and Tuscany
If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, the Amazon Kindle reader is now available for free. Using this software, you can load the electronic versions of Rick's London, Paris, Rome and Tuscany 2009 guides. Very handy having these guides in such a small device.
Nathan Margason <email>
Staunton, VA  USA   03/05/2009

Louvre In Under Three Hours
My wife and I had 36 hours in Paris during a stopover on our way to London. We decided to make the most of it while we were there. I downloaded Rick's Louvre tour to our iPod Touch, and we covered the majority of the museum in just under 3 hours! It was perfect. I used the same audio guides in Rome and Venice. We loaded some other travel shows on it to watch in our hotel or on the train to our next town.

It's also nice to download a movie or some TV shows to pass the time during down time or when relaxing on the train.

An iPod Touch gives you wifi and comes in handy when you need to get online and have found a hotspot.
Andrew
Alexandria, VA  USA   03/02/2009

www.audioguide2go.com portal to mp3 tours
www.audioguide2go.com lists Rick Steves tours and many other fascinating tours and walks that can be downloaded onto an ipod or accessed by mobile phone. As well as city tours it accesses many country walks, nature trails, and heritage trails. There are such a wide range and you can leave a review.
Trailblazer
Cheshire, UK   01/30/2009

MP3 downloands
My best tip would be to download all of Rick Steves podcasts available. They were accurate and saved us ALOT of money. It was SO nice to go at our own pace, rewind when necessary and skip :) when necessary.
Jennifer
Anaheim Hills, Ca  USA   01/26/2009