Introduction, use of Google Maps and travel cards

About the blog

This travel blog is mainly aimed at sharing thematic maps and routes created with Google Maps, based on travel guides and experiences.

These maps highlight the main points of interest of the selected area to do the routes and these are defined by the order that these points have in the legend. If you decide to do the proposed route you just have to follow the Google Maps navigation directions.

Google Maps allows you to create maps by drawing routes but with a maximum of 10 points of interest, a very low amount, for this reason these routes have been established through the map legend.

Use of custom maps and favorite lists

To save the map as a favorite you just have to mark the star that is at the top of the map inserted in the blog.

Once saved, you will have to activate it in the Google Maps app to use it:

• App menu - your places - maps - select the map

To deactivate it:

• App menu - you'll see it highlighted in blue, at the bottom of the menu

To reactivate it (several options):

• App menu - you will see it in the same place but without highlighting
• App menu - your places - maps - select the map

To remove it from "your places - maps" (several options):

• Uncheck the star at the top of the map inserted in the blog
• Enter Google Drive through the app or web browser and remove from "shared with me" and "starred"
• Infallible method: enter Google Maps through the web browser and "menu - your places - maps - see all your maps - not owned - map menu - move to trash"

To navigate, the points have to be selected on the map. Thus, to advance on the route you just have to mark the nearest point and check that it coincides with the one that appears in the legend. You can also view the routes through the screenshots of the routes, which are shown in the publications.

Custom maps of Google Maps cannot be downloaded. Without internet there is no map.

To avoid the loss of information in situations without coverage, before starting the route and with internet connection:

• Download the map of the area covered by the route: app menu - offline areas (preferably with Wi-Fi, because of the size they can reach)
• Take a screenshot of the route, that is, the map legend
• Follow the favorites list. The link is found after the map, in each publication. Points of interest will be seen on the map even without internet: app menu - your places - saved - select the list - see map

Favorites lists contain exactly the same points of interest as custom maps, but some points may not appear in the favorites lists following the order of the route. This is because only custom maps can be edited, so that if modifications are made, the points can be relocated in the order that corresponds to them on the route, while in a list of favorites this cannot be done.

Other important differences between custom maps and favorite lists:

• Points of interest can only be grouped (by layers) in custom maps
• When you mark a favorite you are marking the point that is registered on Google Maps and all its information will appear (ratings, comments, photos, schedules, etc.), while if you mark the point of the personalized map (it is always next to the favorite, zoom in until you can differentiate the two) you will not see more information than the one edited by the author (in my case I like to add the link to Wikipedia, as long as the article is available)

Connectivity

If the instructions of the previous section are followed, the routes can be made without internet connection.

Even so, it is advisable to buy a local sim in the country of destination (in case of roaming applies) to stay connected at all times. In this way you will always have all the functionalities of Google Maps (in offline mode the information of the maps is basic, there is no information about traffic or points, you will not be able to use custom maps, etc.).

Travel cards

Changing cash in the destination country remains the best option to lose less money in commissions. The problem arises when the trip we are going to make is long and for security we cannot take cash for every day. At some point we will have to use our bank card.

Withdraw money or paying abroad with current debit or credit cards carries many commissions. Luckily banking has evolved and today we have at our disposal many free wallet cards that allow these operations without extra fees and with very low exchange rates.

After trying several of these cards, if I had to keep only one, it would undoubtedly be BNEXT. It is the only one with which I was able to verify the full return of all commissions when withdrawing money at ATMs. It can only be requested by Spaniards or residents in Spain.

Download BNEXT from this link and get 5€ gift when activating your card