Mobile Devices for Oversees

For me, just back from Japan which they don't allow non residents to even buy simcards. Unless we rent phones and sims at the airport. Or get one of those data only sims, not that fast thou but ok for GPS, email etc. But it was still like forty or so bucks for 2 weeks.

For multiple countries if you must must have it - look into individual simcards for each country if it is obtainable and cheap enough for that duration stay.

Have a look at your home telco and if they have any packages, where I am in NZ if we are a contract customer (not prepaid) some gives us 300MB for like $30 and another gives $10 per day all you can use data. The former 300MB isn't too bad just for emails, Facebook text stuff, GPS navigation - obviously not using Street View or Satellite images :D

I don't use my phone enough so I am not on contract. What I did was just use GPS offline and leave the internet stuff until I was at the hostel/hotel when I could use WiFi for free. Not the high end hotels b/c they tend to charge you. I Skype home, family have Smartphones with the Skype app installed and we have a Skype cordless handset too which works with WiFi to our modem/router.

If you want GPS. You can just save areas using Google Maps but you won't be able to recall points etc. Also if you plan on seeing many diff cities or countries like you say you may need to save numerous maps, haha. What I do is use mapswithme. I can download country maps, they are normal street maps, the free version doesn't let you recall, but the prem version for like five bucks does, it has a database like ATM, attractions, stations, hotels etc, you can also add your own ones in or export My Places with Google Earth and double tap the file when emailed to your phone or copied over using USB cable or another way. I've just tried Orux, has way more features if you are into that but you have to save diff areas of maps which for me is too time consuming, so you can get satellite images, you can create your own tracks and stuff, lots and lots of jazz too over the top for me. But by far the best option is get a simcard if you can use it that way if the data is enough for the price. Another way is go to Sygic and buy a offline map and it does voice guidance to you even. The previous mentioned ones don't do guidance. Not all countries are supported so check if it is.

I agree with rayonline as we have just returned from tripping for 10 weeks with a wifi touchpad and an old prepaid phone. Have used the phone for years and it either works in that country or doesn't. You have to decide how much you need to be available. The free wifi is available many places and if you have to pay it still works out cheaper than finding computers available and working in the language you want to use. You can download maps and use them and then if you get lost find a cafe with wifi to get your bearings. I found the Google maps even tell you the bus numbers to catch in China which is heaps easier than trying to find anyone to explain it in english. Good luck

Google map by a wifi or sim is the best - you can get street view, public transport assist as mentioned - I think it might even tell you when to get off the bus/train. It even have timetables as well so it knows when the first departure is next morning. Voice guidance. At at no charge other than what the telco charges you. But many countries don't have all you can use data so you need to be mindful.

What I did in Japan was, I had a paper map of the train network so I knew how to get to this station to see the museum or what I wanted, then using the GPS offline I navigated my way there. You can watch the blue arrow spin the right way and then walk there. Also keep mindful that some internet connection don't provide location info - I was at a place where I stayed and my phone couldn't get GPS info, I logged into their PC on Facebook and "checkin" that also couldn't get location info either. You may not hit this brickwall but it can happen.

If you don't have a sim then it's gonna be a tradeoff. Wifi might work but you need to begin at the accom or find a cafe etc .. you can also buy Wifi monthly memberships in some places too but again you have to find these establishments even if it is somewhat common. And there are countries that Wifi is not not that freely available - like NZ, Japan for eg. Japan basically wanted $3 for the sim/phone rental per day and $15 for the data per day. It was all you can use but once you hit about 2MB it was $15 anyway. They had some no frills sims that peggy back on the main telco's like NTT etc but the speed is restricted and no voice/texting service. That was like $40 and expires in 14 days. So some countries are like that, just need to hit the right compromise for yourself.