Why Use OpenStreetMap Instead of Google Maps?
And if you can't use OSM, try Here maps.<p>They are easy to download for offline use. Following the suggestion of friends, I have repurposed an old phone as a "travel phone" with maps of the whole world (or at least the parts I can download!)<p>Not perfect, but when I catch a plane, I don't have to worry about local networks.<p>Fun story: recently in Europe, Google Maps stuttered. Now and then, there was a networking issue. It is almighty wiseness, Google Maps was then showing a white page instead of showing me the previously downloaded maps. This was irksome, especially in navigation mode. I was litteraly following my way on the screen, when it turned white in front of my eyes. Several times. I turned white too.<p>After that, I decided I would take a chance with the backup plan. I turned off the phone and used the travel phone instead. No network, so no lookup of business names, but Here maps offline with street addresses did better than Google Maps online.<p>I called that a learning experience. I later was told Google Maps lets you download some tiles, but it is not as convenient  as having litteraly every continent saved. I do not want to plan what part I may need. Just "down it all"!