Questions about trip planning
 

Hi there,

I am from Hong Kong & I shall be making a trip from SFO to Agentina and would like to learn a few things:

1. Can the US phone card (prepaid type) be used all over central & s. america? Or I need to buy a phone card in each and every country I plan to stay longer than 3 days? What is the cheapest way to have mobile phone service?

2. How easy it is to get internet access or WiFi? I will bring my netbook.

3. Do you think I can buy a secondhand Garmin maps to be used on my GPSMAP 276C? It seems too expensive just to buy a new map and use it only once.

Any other advise would also be appreciated.

Cheers,

Franki

Hi Franki, Not sure about phone cards, but there's a fair bit of wifi around the places I've been (although not on a bike YET!) so you could use skype to call home, I'm sure you can search that info out somewhere though.

As for getting maps you can downoad free GPS maps from Free worldwide routable Garmin maps from OpenStreetMap

On a side note, definitely bring a GPS from home, the prices for electronics here in Peru and most of latin america are absolutely astronomical (I found a $170 GPS selling in radioshack for the equivalent $720! can you beleive it?!)

Good luck!

International SIM card?
 

I haven't tried them and don't know about conditions/prices, but if you plan to have them as a back-up for emergency calls, what about a prepaid international (roaming) SIM card? A quick google search gave this, just check the conditions if interested:

OneSimCard International SIM Card for World Travel - 200 Countries

International SIM Cards WorldSIM - Travel SIM card. Free roaming, Global SIM card. World Phone, International Cell phone and cellular roaming. Cheap roaming charges.

If conditions are good, maybe a dual SIM cell phone is the right tool as well.

Check well the navigation section in HUBB for the Garming Maps and Open Source maps, I don't use GPS, but here there are some gurus!

Safe trips,

Esteban

I´m using a GoSIM international sim card - which is pretty useful as a backup - but I generally just use Skype on my notebook to keep in touch. There is WiFi and internet pretty much everywhere.

There is quite a bit of info on the kit I am using, route, prep etc - and my bike - on my blog (see link below)
Pat

Thanks you guys for the info. I think all the info provided are good for my planning. Any more is also welcomed.

:thumbup1:

Hi,

My German phone was not working in Soutamerica and USA because they have been using different Frequences.

Free maps for your Garmin you can get here:

Free worldwide routable Garmin maps from OpenStreetMap

and here

DE:OSM Map On Garmin/Download - OpenStreetMap Wiki

In moast of the Hotels you can use WiFi for free if you friendly ask for the password. Then you can use Skype and dont need phone cards...

Greetings, Tobi
Motorrad Reise durch Brasilien und Argentinien - Teil 7

Great information. Thanks to all from me as well.

Check out this link on local gps maps to CA
 

Cenrut.org • Ver foro - OVERVIEW OF THE CENRUT PROJECT (in English)

I don't travel by GPS, mostly by the seat of my pants and where my gut leads me, but I have some local friends that swear by this site. Let me know if it is of any help.

Franki, when are you planning on being around Guatemala. I am of chinese ancestry, and there is a group of us that would love to meet you and take you around while here. PM with details if you wish. bier