Google Maps Offline

I am not sure if everybody knows this but your cellphone makes a great GPS device even when there is no data signal. Google maps app for both Android and Iphone has a a functionality where you can download offline maps so it is not dependent on data signal to refresh roads and POI as you travel. I was surprised how most of my friends were not aware of this. It is very simple and we all love Google Maps.

1. Open Google Maps
2. Click the 3 bars located at top left
3. Scroll to Offline Maps
4. Designate your Map Area to download offline (When I recently went to Czech Republic, I brought my cellphone and used as GPS and was able to download the entire country for about 1GB of storage and drove everywhere)
5. Download (you can go back after your trip and delete the backup if storage is not negotiable)

The great part about this functionality is that you can still do searches for POI and of course use as normal navigation device. With that being said, if you download the maps and have a cigarette charger in the car, you are pretty much set and go wherever your heart desires.

Hope this was helpful to someone.

Cheers!

 

Yep. I do this whenever I go overseas. Nothing like getting lost somewhere nobody speaks English and I’m not there long enough to learn the local language.