Prepping Electronic Materials for Trip

It is about 4 weeks until our 9-day Europe trip and I feel I have a strong handle on the layout of the land and directions between important locations thanks to hours spent reviewing GoogleMaps and StreetView depictions. During the initial trip planning I developed a map based itinerary (click here for template of map based itinerary) that geographically represents where we need to go and identifies specific times we may need to be places (i.e., before they close, when they open, scheduled, etc...). I then went a step further and developed a set of detailed instructions using PowerPoint, GoogleMaps, and StreetView or online pictures of the locations.

The following picture depicts an example of one of the directions I will be including for my upcoming trip.  I would like to visit Modeder Lambic Fontainas one of the evenings we will be near the Grand Place. However, I have heard it can be difficult for some travelers to navigate the warren of side streets in Brussels, so I will be depending heavily on several such map files.

To make the map file, I use GoogleMaps (or another navigation tool capable of satellite imagery and directions) to capture the walking directions between an estimated starting location and where I want to end up. Once I have the information entered, I select the option that appears to best suite my needs and copy the text to the right side of the PowerPoint file along with the estimated times and distances. I then perform a screen capture, copying and cropping the map (from GoogleMaps) into the left side of the PowerPoint file. To finish the map up I locate an elevation (i.e., front view) image of the site and place this as a large image with a red border over the map. Click here to download a template for this map...

When I have completed a set of instructions for each city, I then save it as a *.PDF to improve sizing and ensure compatibility with multiple devices. Before I leave I will transfer all of these maps/directions to my Android phone, my iPad, and my wife's Nook Color. That way we will have all the information we need at our fingertips, even if our devices are not connected to a WiFi network. Repeat after me, "Prior Planning Prevents P#ss Poor Performance!"