Got called out by a cafe owner in Medellin for not having offline maps

I was working from this little coffee spot in Laureles last month and needed to find a coworking space across town. My internet cut out and I couldn't load Google Maps so I just sat there refreshing my phone like an idiot. The owner came over and asked why I was struggling and I told him the wifi was slow. He laughed and showed me how to download offline maps on the spot. Now I keep maps for every city I visit saved to my phone before I even land. Has anyone else had a simple tip from a local that completely changed your travel routine?

2 comments

2 Comments

west.henry10d ago

Honestly I think the offline maps thing is overhyped. You're sitting there refreshing your phone like you're stranded in the jungle but you're in Laureles which has like a million cafes with wifi. I've been to Medellin three times and never once needed offline maps. The city is small enough that you can just ask a taxi driver or walk until you see a landmark. Half the time those offline maps are outdated anyway and you end up walking into a closed street or construction zone. Why clutter your phone with storage you don't need when you can just talk to people?

claire_wells8710d ago

@west.henry I get what you're saying about just asking people, but for me offline maps saved my butt in a different way. I was in Bangkok once and my phone died, no wifi anywhere, and I had to find my hostel in a maze of tiny streets. A local guy saw me panicking and showed me how to download maps on my hotel wifi before going out. Now I always do that too. It's not about not talking to people, it's just having a backup when you're stuck.