Travel Maps

Whether I'm off to somewhere completely new or returning to a favorite destination, I always keep a local map handy.

Travel maps come in an endless variety of sizes, shapes and levels of detail, from the ubiquitous hotel Concierge maps to folded paper maps that don't hold up well in inclement weather. Invariably, the text is too tiny to read, streets are missing, or the map is loaded with ads for shopping and dining venues for the uninformed.

Red Maps are my all-time favorite - I always check their web site first for any of the cities on my itinerary. They pack a wealth of information into a colorful, easy-to-read laminated guide, and they are just about indestructible (I am actually replacing Rome now after having had it for over 10 years!).

These indispensable 2-sided wonders keep me from wasting precious time by helping to easily plan walks that cover all the top sites, so I can maximize my itinerary in every neighborhood I visit.

Hotels, trains, ferries, restaurants and all the attractions and sites of interest are available at a glance and listed alphabetically on the reverse, AND in a text that is readable for my "over-40" eyes!  I still have my first one purchased for a trip to Rome in 2001, and it looks almost as new as it did the day I bought it, even though it has accompanied me there a dozen times since!

If you are spending more than a day on the ground in a major city, be sure to carry a good map with you, and if you want a GREAT map, check out Red Maps.