Scott I did not know about the local maps option for iPhone or Android, but thanks for the update.

As for BBMaps, I found it incredibly useful during a recent trip to Europe for a month. I used it extensively in every city I visited. I would load up the maps via wifi in the hostel (you must pan over the city areas that you will visit at a zoom level 2-3 steps from the closest to get all of the data loaded) and then using wifi search for locations either via address or local search and save them as waypoints then layer them in place. On the street, you cannot get turn by turn directions, but you can "Find a Location", select one of the points, and it will show you an arrow and an as-the-crow flies direction to the point. I also found it very useful to pre-name each of my waypoints by the city so that I could search for them easier (yes I could have sorted them in folders but even still typing is faster than browsing IMO). Finally, like I said you don't need to enable unlimited caching, but to insure that you don't loose any maps that you want I did. I currently have about 5MB worth of maps stored and that covers more than 10 major cities, decent level overviews of most of Europe for train rides, and some places back home.

If you have any questions on it, please let me know. I can't suggest it enough, except I wish I had a blog myself with a big enough of a following to lay it out there for the public lol, but better someone does it.

I have a Blackberry and hate it! I'm changing as soon as possible! Http://www.iphoneinfoguide.info

This article and subsequent comments are over my head. I just purchased a BB Bold 9560 2 days ago with the express intent of using it regularly while I travel in Europe for a couple of months. Are the data rates mentioned over and above the unlimited Verizon plan that I signed up for?

KATE - Will you be charged over and above your monthly fees for phone calls and data usage on your new Verizon BlackBerry in Europe. Phone = Yes and Data = Probably. I went to Verizon's site and checked out what the pricing would be if you made calls in France(Plans | International Services | Traveling Outside of the U.S. | France). Calls while you are in France will cost you 99¢ per minute or $1.29 per minute. Data usage while in France will cost you 2¢ per KB unless you pay at least $129.99 per month for GlobalAccess, then data will be free up to 100 MB.

As Scott said above, just because a phone is International capable, doesn't mean you won't be charged extra for using your phone abroad. Regular plans that most of us sign up for do NOT include free calls while abroad.

And as an aside, Android Market has a great App (APNdroid) that turns of the data part of your phone so you do not incur data roaming charges while abroad (used this in Canada last month to great success). I'm also a HUGE fan of T-Mobile's UMA feature and plan to use it while in Italy next year.

What I really wish is that I could call T-Mobile and say: I'm going to be in Italy in January, is there a feature I can add to my phone that will allow unlimited calls and data for the 2 weeks I'm there? And have T-Mobile say: Why yes there is. We've got a monthly add-on feature available for your account. For $XXX.00 per month you will be able to roam internationally with both data and voice without incurring additional charges. I'd be willing to pay $100 - $200 for that option, depending on how long I plan to be abroad. This charge by mb/KB is too difficult to track. Having a set $ amount to pay and unlimited usage would be ideal.

Until that happens, I'm taking my UMA BlackBerry, an unlocked Android phone with me and crossed fingers that I can get a pre-paid data SIM in Italy. I'm looking forward to reading the upcoming pre-paid article.

I think this article should be required reading for anyone when they purchase an airline ticket abroad. Very informative.