I absolutely agree that communication is essential.
and I strongly recommend that you KEEP your idea - get a tablet computer. The reason is this ... it is much easier to read maps on the screen of a tablet computer. I find that reading maps on the screen of my cell phone is a nightmare. It is really a nuisance.

If you buy a tablet, I recommend that you do NOT get Windows 8. I bought a small laptop recently and it came with Windows 8 - I find the whole system incredibly frustrating. Maybe other people here can suggest something better. Honestly, you are probably better off buying an Apple ... even if they cost more money.

Pete