40 Genius Carry-On Hacks That Make Traveling So Much Easier

29. Pre-Download Maps and Travel Guides

One of the most frustrating travel experiences is arriving in a new city only to realize your phone has no service, Wi-Fi is unreliable, or roaming charges are sky-high. Avoid the hassle by pre-downloading maps and travel guides before your trip, ensuring that you have offline access to essential navigation and destination information. Google Maps offers a fantastic offline feature that allows you to select an area and download it for use without internet access. This means you can still see streets, find restaurants, and navigate public transportation even when you're completely offline. Just search for your destination, tap on the area, and select “Download” to save it to your device. For more detailed travel insights, apps like Maps.me, TripIt, or Citymapper provide offline functionality, allowing you to access transit routes, tourist attractions, and itinerary details without needing an internet connection. If you prefer traditional travel guides, consider downloading PDF versions of Lonely Planet or Rick Steves' guides, which can be accessed on your phone or tablet without Wi-Fi.