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Luke7carroll
Traveller
1 comments

Posted 11 years ago

Hello.

I am inter railing over the summer and was wondering if people would recommend taking an iPad. I am undecided and can see the pros and cons just wondered what others felt about this and if it was useful or not. I can see booking hostels etc would be easier with it however not sure if its worth it?

Thank you.

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NatureOne
Traveller
273 comments

replied 11 years ago

hi,
it depends on you, but personally I wouldn't take one on my trip. There are different use cases for an iPad. I don't know what's the most important one for you. But as I see it, they all can be solved without an iPad.
I try to come up with some, where I would you it for.
- Listen to music: Use an iPod or a different device, it's smaller and handier.
- Taking photo: Use a real camera or a mobile phone
- Reading books: Get a real book with you
- Playing small games: Maybe take small board games with you, to play with other people you'll meet or just talk to them instead of playing games :D
- Watching movies: Read a book or watch the movies at home :D
- Booking Hostels: You need an internet connection for booking a hostel, so if you don't pay roaming fees you need a access to a wifi-spot. Mostly hostels have wifi, but they also have computers, where you can book your hostels. As far as security is concerned hostelworld uses SSL-encryption. But it's possible that the computers are infected. That wouldn't be nice. You can use a live version of linux or something similar :D
- Navigation through the city: Mostly hostels provide small maps or just walk around and explore your surroundings.
- Keep in contact with your friends and family: You can contact them with your phone. But I'm sure it will be great have some weeks off and not be available everytime. And if you have to, keep in mind there are hostels :)
- Find connections: You either check for connections before your trip or search in hostels or get something like Thomas Cooks European Rail Timetable.

Even if you are take care of your iPad it might get stolen. I think it would not be comfortable in every situation, e.g. on a beach.
But it depends on you :)

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Luke7carroll
Traveller
1 comments

replied 11 years ago

Thank you

The thinking between me and my mate was just to use it to plan our next route and book the hostel with it/find out train times etc. I wouldn't use it for things like games,movies etc its really just for the trip so as you say I suppose just use CPUs or my iPhone.

Cheers.

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cold__
Traveller
49 comments

replied 11 years ago

I took mine for a month interrail and... never took it out from my backpack, even once. After I came back home I sold it :P

Usually you don't have internet (and if you catch in a hostel or in a shop(rarely), then you can use your phone).
Also in hostels there are always internet and computers.

movies? who's got time for this when there are so many exciting things to do on a trip!