Maps

[vitrielle]

So, this topic is pretty self-explanatory, but I was wondering what everyone does in terms of getting maps for the places you'll be visiting. Since my trip this summer will be for 7-8 countries in Europe and all of the UK, I bought Frommer's guide to Europe by Rail, which was actually immensely helpful and fairly comprehensive. The one area I find it lacking is the maps it provides of the cities it suggests visiting. It often only focuses on the small area with the largest proportion of tourist attractions, but nothing for the rest of the city.

I know that once you get to the city you'll be visiting, most information booths will have maps, but I love planning this trip and would really like to get a sense of where my hostels will be relative to the sights, and also where things will be relative to each other. I don't want to buy 100 different travel guides to get better maps, so I thought I might be able to use the internet. So far, I have found maporama, but I REALLY hate the maps they provide (many of the streets aren't labelled). So my question: Does anyone have good ideas for how to go about getting maps for the cities I'm visiting? Any online resources (mapping or otherwise) that you just can't live without?

[TheWills]

when you get off the train or plane or whatever any of those stations will have maps at any stand or kiosk, they might be a tad bit expensive but you really only need to by one. Once in your hostel try to find someone who came from the city you are gonna hit next and see if you can trade your current map for a copy of his to the place you are gonna hit, I did this and it worked fine most people just give you their old maps, or go down to the local travel info place and they usualy have a map of several cities you can ask them for some, and also usualy they are within visual of the train station so just walk on over and get a free map if you dont wanna shell out the bit of extra coin at the station/airport. Worse case you draw a quick sketch of the next place you are gonna visit off someone elses map and just get the city center and X where your hostel is and all that jazz.
you will be fine
will

[worldwidemike]

Go to the library and scarf up all the Lonely Planet, etc., type guidebooks you can. Take them to the local photocopy place and make copies of all the city maps. Yes, this could take you some time, depending on the number of cities, but think how much less space those single sheets of paper will take up than a handful of guidebooks.

Oh, and then return the guidebooks, of course.

worldwidemike

[simply_angelic]

Oh, and then return the guidebooks, of course.

all bent and out of shape from the photocopying? Sounds like a plan! I do like the way u think though WWM

[kingcrazylegs]

I like Microsoft Streets & Trips (North America) and want to get Microsoft Autoroute for Europe. Very detailed, can upload construction info, etc.