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Scott
Trip Date 08/15/2018 Posted On 09/08/2018 17:17:22 |
Destinations | Camping | Cruises | Hiking | Travel | Exploring | Mapping App | Cell Phone | No Service | South America | Europe | Venice
For years, I've been using the MAPS.ME off-line map application on my cell phone. When traveling internationally where I don't have cellular data service, or domestically in rural areas when I'm far from a cellular tower, MAPS.ME has been very useful. The off-line nature of the app allows me to have access to many mapping functions and points of interest. Ranging from necessities like restaurants, restrooms and gas stations, to historical, tourist points of interest and even hiking paths that don't show on other mapping services - this app is great!
The term offline refers to locations where you don't have any cellular coverage and your phone says 'No Service'. Just because there is no data service available, the GPS (Global Positioning Service) and compass functions of your cell phone don't stop working. While offline, the app can still calculate your location and direction and plot it on maps that you have downloaded to provide you with a wealth of information to explore and search.
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Downloading the Maps in Advance
The app has high-level generalized maps and very detailed specific maps that can be downloaded. To use the application effectively, you need to download the maps before going to a remote area. You can zoom into areas on the map, and as you get closer to cities the app will figure out which map segment is needed to provide another layer of detail. The app will then ask you if you want to download the additional map.
Maps for Each Country
You can also select maps by country and region and download them. Sometimes you don't always know what region of a country you are going to, so I like the zoom method. Each map that is selected for download, is placed in a queue and begins downloading. This allows you to select multiple maps and the app will download them in the background.
Points of Interest
The maps have many points of interest. Before we go to a country, city, or even out into the country, we think about the places that we hope to visit and see. As I learn of places, I build a wish list or bucket list of places I want to see. I usually can find them on the map, and place a marker there.
There all kinds of points of interest on the maps from many different categories. You can find museums, restaurants, grocery stores, statues, monuments and so many other things. Compared to other offline maps, I find that MAPS.ME has an excellent collection of some of the more off the beaten path sites. If you are interested at all in history, I highly recommended taking a look at the points of interest in MAPS.ME.
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Searching by Category
You can search by category to find all of the restaurants, gas stations or historical points of interest in the map area.
Using Markers
The use of markers is the most used function. Before I go, I mark the points that I'm interested in seeing. I group them into my own categories by choosing the color of the marker. For example, the key things that help me get established in the new city (like the airport or train station, the subway or bus stops and my hotel) I will mark in a specific color. This allows me to easily find them on the map, and see their geographical proximity to the other places that I want to go.
I can then mark the sightseeing points of interest in the default color. Sometimes, I might change the marker to a different color once I've seen the place. I can then use the map as a checklist to ensure that I see all the planned points of interest as I'm walking about a city like Rome, Venice or Paris. Sometimes, I may partition my sightseeing points into different days of my trip, marking them with different colors so I know that I'm exploring one area on Monday and another area on Tuesday.
Grouping Markers
Markers can also be grouped into your own categories. You can think of these categories by type or by trip. Sometimes I forget to do this, but it is a useful feature. For example, if I'm taking a trip to South America, I can plot all my interesting points with marks in the South America category. After my trip, I can clear them all at once - although you do need to pay attention to make sure you put markers in the correct group (otherwise you may delete a group and inadvertently delete markers you wanted to keep). Used with the above caution, grouping markers is a great feature.
Sharing Markers
On some occasions, I've been traveling with my brother and we both use the MAPS.ME app. He would make markers for his points of interest, and I make markers for mine. Then we share our marker groups before we go on the trip. In this way, we both can see on the map all the places that we are hoping to see and can plan cooperatively.
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Navigation
The MAPS.ME mapping also allows you to do navigation. I use this many times to find out the walking time from one place to another. Stacy and I have also used it many times in Europe to navigate on the roads when we have a rental car. It doesn't require cellular service so it is a great tool to make sure you don't get lost or waste your time.
We used it heavily when we were in Venice a few years ago. The little walkways and alley ways in Venice wind around at strange angles and you don't always know where you are, or which turn to make to get where you are going. The MAPS.ME app was tremendously helpful because it would plot our location in the maze, and we could know when we should turn or keep going straight to get where we wanted to go. We used MAPS.ME also recently in Buenos Aires to explore the downtown area and see the important points.
Downloadable Routes
A great new feature of MAPS.ME is the addition of downloadable route catalogues. These routes are perfect to use as a walking tour in a destination that you are visiting. They contain already identified points of interest that are described and stitched together into an optimal route. These are produced by users and partners of MAPS.ME. Check out this MAPS.ME YouTube video for more information.This app can be found in the Apple App Store and in the Android Market.
For years, I've been promoting MAPS.ME when we talk to people on our travels. My fellow travelers call me an unofficial ambassador of the MAPS.ME company!
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