Update: Why I still bring a paper map on trips

Everyone swears by phone apps, but a real map doesn't need data or a charge. I saved cash last summer by using one to find free parking spots tourists miss.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_dylan1mo agoMost Upvoted

That point about not needing data is so true! Last month my GPS completely blanked out in this new housing development that wasn't on any app yet. I was stuck for twenty minutes because every street looked the same and there were no signs. Had to finally knock on a door and ask for directions like it was 1995. Felt pretty silly but it definitely made me see the value in a backup that doesn't rely on a signal.

jenniferr891mo ago

No street signs in a brand new development? That's hard to believe. I've had my GPS fail before, but going completely blank in a new place sounds terrible. This is why I always keep a paper map in the car. We rely too much on tech that can let us down. Having a simple backup can save you a lot of trouble.

river_burns1mo ago

Yeah @jenniferr89 that whole thing about tech letting you down is so real. It reminds me of when my phone died at a huge outdoor music festival last summer. The map was only on the app, and I spent like an hour wandering past the same taco stand three times trying to find my friends. I was so lost I almost missed the headliner. Now I take a picture of the physical map at the entrance, just in case.