Should I buy a GPS unit to use in Europe or rent one when I pick up a car?

I looked into this last year and wound up buying one that has the Europe maps loaded.

You can also buy maps and just load them into most units.

When I looked into renting a car with one there were a few things I found. With Auto Europe it appears they give you a unit to use. Rental prices for the unit were steep and the "lost" price was something like $1,000. So if it disappered you were out that.

Also, several posters on here posted that thier GPS units in the rental cars were not "graphic" but just text or voice commands. I like to "see" the map when I don't understand the language.

Plus I could get used to playing with it here.

now the downside. My GPS had LIMITED options in Croatia. However, it was able to get me in and out of major cities so it worked for me.

I won't go without mine again if I am driving. For city visits only I leave it at home. (Part of the charm is being lost in Paris for example!)

Our 18 day trip in 2006 through Germany, Austria and Italy we had a Hertz rental equipped with an installed GPS and it was fantastic! I believe it was an additional $10 a day. We did have to have the agency set it for English and show us how to use it. This was our first experience with a GPS.

I went to Rome this past April and brought my own Garmin with the Italy navigation map. My intent was to drive from Rome to Pisa and then to Venice. My biggest mistake was to make this trip on April 25 which is a huge holiday in Italy. I think EVERY Italian was on the road. It took 3 hours to go about 30 miles. I decided to skip Pisa and go straight to Venice. The GPS got me off the AutoStrada "parking lot" and on the road to Venice.

I will never go to Europe again without a GPS.

I went through the same exercise for our Scotland trip. One place that we had car reservations at said they weren't available. I found other places that rented them, but for our three week trip, it would cost almost $200 - enough to just buy my own.

My dad had a GPS, but it was an older model that couldn't add maps for Europe.

I bought (on Ebay) a Nuvi GPS, with US maps already in it, and then bought a card with the Europe maps on it - all for about $200. It worked great

18 days @ $10/day?

Rather than lay out all that dough and not have anything to show for it, why not buy a GPS-equipped pocket computer and an inexpensive mapping program for it?

HP iPAQ 6510 - $100 on eBay
Microsoft AutoRoute - $40 MSRP
Microsoft Pocket Streets - free

It's funny. I have a GPS that is good for both Europe (where I live) and the US (where I used to live). The time it really saved my sanity was in New Jersey!

I still rely on paper Michelin maps while driving in Italy, and you will still want them too. But a GPS (mine is a Garmin Nuvi) is useful for finding specific addresses, and for figuring out exactly how lost you are (usually not much) if you take a wrong turn.

"My biggest mistake was to make this trip on April 25 which is a huge holiday in Italy. I think EVERY Italian was on the road. It took 3 hours to go about 30 miles. I decided to skip Pisa and go straight to Venice."

Not just every Italian -- me too! I made the same mistake heading out of Bologna for Cesanatico for lunch. Had to ditch those plans and head straight for Venezia, where we were spending the night. We used to the GPS to find our way there once we'd bolted off the jammed autostrade. We took a back road into Mestre.

I would recommend either the TomTom 920/930 or a Garmin that ends in 70 (370, 670). Those are the only two brands I've heard good reviews on post travel.

I have the TomTom 920 and I really like it.

Buying it before hand allows you to learn to use all the features. You can also pre-load your planned sites as points of interest for your trip.

I had driven in Germany/Austria without trouble. My German is decent and signage is logical and prevalent.

Italy was another story. While I survived, I wouldn't go again without a GPS. Signage leaves a lot to be desired.

Even if you can get around, a GPS will save a lot of time on the road. On vacation, that time could be better used seeing sites or relaxing that trying to find your way.

<<Author: Robespierre

18 days @ $10/day?

Rather than lay out all that dough and not have anything to show for it, why not buy a GPS-equipped pocket computer and an inexpensive mapping program for it?

HP iPAQ 6510 - $100 on eBay
Microsoft AutoRoute - $40 MSRP
Microsoft Pocket Streets - free>>

Sorry Robesdpierrre I am still a MAC person and always will be. And as I stated in my post I bought a Garmin.

Lydia

"Italy was another story. While I survived, I wouldn't go again without a GPS. Signage leaves a lot to be desired."

But since all roads lead to Rome, it's not a problem.

Thank you for asking this question. We were wondering the same thing.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a unit that you can walk around with and use in the car?

I have the Nuvi 370. It has a pedestrian mode which I did use to find my apartment once in Croatia!

I also recommend looking into the beanbag mount. I got mine at BestBuy (got the Garmin from Amazon)

The Bean Bag mount is very stable, does not leave the tell tale "ring" on the window and actually works MUCH better on my personal car then the window mount. (I have a convertible and the "angle" on the window just is not good for the mount!

We bought a TomTom before we went to Italy earlier this year. It was definitely a marriage saver! I'm not the best navigator, so it was worth every penny. We had to buy the Italy map at home & load it before we left, but it wasn't a big deal.

Thanks for all the replies. Fodorites always come through for me! Can't wait to start planning my trip for May of '09 so that I will have an excuse to be reading this board all the time.

I'll buy a unit here that can be used in Europe. Your answers were totally convincing for that option. Thanks again. PJK

Sorry Robesdpierrre I am still a MAC person and always will be. And as I stated in my post I bought a Garmin.

You lost me. If you're a Mac person, why didn't you use it instead of buying a Garmin?

Do all Mac users analyze problems the way you do?

<<You lost me. If you're a Mac person, why didn't you use it instead of buying a Garmin?>>

I don't usually carry a laptop while out sightseeing or use it while driving a car.

<<HP iPAQ 6510 - $100 on eBay
Microsoft AutoRoute - $40 MSRP
Microsoft Pocket Streets - free>>

These are all windows based.

So you'll use something other than a Mac if it isn't Windows-based.

I see.

How about an iPhone?

BTW, there's an iPhone workalike application for the Pocket PC that mimics the look and feel of an Apple. So for all intents and purposes you've got an iPhone - for 1/4 the cost.

The iPhone GPS application is Google Mobile Maps - just like the PPC. It updates at EDGE speed if a WiFi network isn't around, but basically for free.

http://www.dvdtoiphone.com - scan down for iLaunch.

Actually, Robbes, the OP was asking about GPS units not about computer platforms.

Lidia brought up the platform issue, which you seem to want to turn into a fight.

Here's my take: I traveled this summer with a Garmin Nuvi 370. It comes with a suction device for the windshield but it also fits into a pocket (though there is a little antenna wing that juts out).

The Nuvi performed BRILLIANTLY! We used it most extensively on Corsica, in Italy, and in Croatia. The only weakness I saw was that the island of Hvar was not covered. I'm guessing I could have found map sets for Hvar if I had thought to look.

In Zagreb I don't know how I would have driven without the Nuvi since streets signs were hard to interpret.

As for platform: as far as I know, the Garmin Mapsource software only works on Windows. So if you plan on uploading routes or waypoints, you'll need a Windows machine. But wait! All three of my Macs run Windows! How convenient!

Anyway, my suggestion is to get the Nuvi with US and Europe maps preloaded. Practice at home and then enjoy it in Europe.

I think the iPhone works on both Mac and Windows. But Robbes, what's your point?

I see my role as strictly educational. The more people who know that there are alternatives to whatever the herd is doing, the more pressure for innovation there will be.

I don't know if you've noticed it, but some Mac users have a rather supercilious attitude towards any non-Apple solutions. Their ignorance vexes me mightily.

"Actually, Robbes, the OP was asking about GPS units not about computer platforms."


And most of us who have been here for a while KNEW that he would post ASAP on how his method is better. (he wins very few coverts, but you have to admire the determination!)

I finally broke down and bought a TomTom on ebay the
other day complete with
N.American and European maps.

I've always found paper maps
just fine but with a possible
trip to France next month I figured it was time to make the change.

Although I have a 12 inch Dell laptop with both Streets and Trips and Autoroute 2007 I find it too bulky to use in the car. Hard to read the screen in bright sunlight when on battery power too.

The Asus EEE laptop I have might have been the solution but I wasn't able to find GPS Linux software I liked and don't have the time to convert the laptop from Linux
to Win XP.

If nothing else, I'm sure my wife will like the GPS as she is directionally challenged... it should arrive any day.

Rob

I appreciate your attempt to offer an alternative, Robespierre.

And, yes, some Mac users seem a little smug. Maybe it's the quality of the product, or the amazingly innovative and user friendly operating system? (Really, I'm not trying to pick a fight.)

And speaking of Apple, I'm guessing the new iPhone may offer another alternative to what GPS device to carry, since the 3G has GPS technology built in. But I don't think it will talk to me like my Nuvi does.

Actually, Robbes, the OP was asking about GPS units not about computer platforms.

Funny, I thought the question was "Should I buy a GPS unit to use in Europe or rent one when I pick up a car?"

And my answer (which is no better or worse than anyone else's) is "no."

I used a laptop loaded with Micrsoft Autoroute 2006 and a GPS attachment for navigation in Scotland last June. I have never owned a dedicated GPS, but I've been in vehicles where others were using them, and what I really liked about the laptop solution was the ability to plan the route in advance.

When you enter a route in on a dedicated GPS, everytime I've seen this done, the unit just comes up with a route and the driver follows it. If there is a way to override the unit, I'm not aware of it, and I can tell you that there would definitely be times that you would want to override the software. On the other hand, with my laptop based GPS, I would plan the route at home, and have time to check where it was sending me, and override it if I wanted to go a different route. Then, when I get in the car and am ready to make that trip, I simply open the appropriate file and it is all planned out for me. Maybe there is a way to do something similar with the dedicated units, but I'm unaware of it.

One problem-- in Norhern Scotland and several places in England (London included) this past month, our usually spot-on Garmin did odd things. The map was accurate, but the voice commands were off by two tenths of a mile-- tricky on routes with many turns.
Everywhere else it is fine -- gets every roundabout in Italy, and we would still be in Budapest, with all the construction and detours, without it.

We just returned from 3 weeks in Europe and I highly recommend the Garmin etrex Vista HCx. I just about gagged when my husband told me how much it & the Europe add-on would cost (over $400); but once we got there, I was sure glad we had it. The fact that it was a hand-held unit allowed us to use it both in the car and when we were exploring on foot. Lots of folks say the best part of experiencing a city like Rome or Venice is allowing yourself to get lost in the little back streets & alleyways...true, but it was nice to know we could get "unlost" whenever we were ready. Bring lots of batteries!

twk - Garmin's Mapsource software allows one to plan routes on a computer but I haven't figured out how to get them to work on the Nuvi.

You can insert waypoints in the Mapsource software and then upload the waypoints to the Nuvi.

So it sounds like your method is more versatile. What I don't understand is this: You have your laptop sitting on the seat next to you when you drive? Does the computer talk to you telling you when to turn, etc.? Is the GPS unit a USB device? Does it take it long to find satellites and does it track satellites well when you are in cities surrounded by tall buildings?

I'm very interested in your method using a laptop for navigation.

The latest versions of Microsoft (I think 2006 and 2007) will automatically re-route you to your destination if you get off course. The 2006 version, if I have my dates straight, would not allow you to turn this feature off, which got some professional truckers in trouble when it took them via routes illegal for heavy/tall traffic.

You have your laptop sitting on the seat next to you when you drive?

Yes - just like where you keep a road map open to your route.

Does the computer talk to you telling you when to turn, etc.?

Sure. Should you be surprised?

Is the GPS unit a USB device?

I have one USB and one Bluetooth (in addition to the one that's built into my iPAQ). The one that comes from Microsoft is a little USB fob (you can see it at microsoft.com/streets).

Does it take it long to find satellites

I just fired mine up and it acquired a fix in eight seconds. When I start it after a plane trip, it might take a minute or two.

and does it track satellites well when you are in cities surrounded by tall buildings?

Yes - if it has SiRF Star III (not II) technology. MS has supplied III since 2005.

I bought a Garmin Nuvi 370 to use in southern France last year. Best move I could have made. It got me everywhere without a problem, even all the small back roads in the Pyrenees.

The reason I picked the Nuvi was size, it fits in a shirt pocket, & the battery life, with the sound & brightness turned down to low it will last up to 8 hours. Many other units only last about an hour.
I could park my car, tell the Nuvi to lock on that location, then wander around the cities. With the unit in pedestrian mode, when it was time to leave it would bring me right back to my car.

They're selling for $350 on Amazon.

Thanks everyone for excellent information on something I have been thinking about. I know the new iphone has only been out a week or so, but does anyone know what its GPS function can do? That is will the GPS function on an iphone purchased in the US work in Europe? Will it give voice commands? Would there be an additional cost using the GPS function in Europe in the form of roaming charges? I have always used downloaded maps from Via Michelin because they show the speed cameras, but am considering coming out of my technological cave.

twk, I bought an HP iPAQ (model rx5915) It is a PDA with GPS (Tom Tom). You can preplan your trips and lay out pedestrian routes. If the highway is busy and you turn off, it figures out where you are and gives updated instructions. Of course, it may be pushing you back on the highway. As a PDA, it has a Windows Mobile operating system with mini-versions of Word and Excel. Also a WLAN internet connection.

Don't even think about using an iPhone for GPS in Europe. Yes, it will work (that's why it's called a Global Positioning System), but you'd need to mortgage your house when the bill for data charges came.

But wouldn't it make sense to buy an iPhone for $199 and load TomTom on it? Then you'd have GPS and a Europe phone in the same package.

Plus a slick little pocket computer, of course!

Thanks for your reply Robespierre. That was my thinking too. Being the Luddite I am I did not know that I could load Tom Tom onto an iphone. I also would like voice commands so I don't have to take my eyes off the road. Lastly, being the cheapscate that I am, I wonder if roaming charges would apply when using the GPS function.

There are two ways GPS mapping is done on computers.

First, the device uses an application that continuously updates the display with maps it acquires in real time through the internet (usually via WiFi or cellular data service). This can get expensive if you're roaming. Examples include Google Mobile Maps (and its derivative, Maps for iPhone).

Second, the maps are downloaded into the device once a year (or whenever they're superseded), and no internet connection is necessary. Many of these exist, including Michelin, TomTom, and a number of others.

Downloading Tom Tom then would make the most sense and I assume that would also give me the voice command function that I desire.

I think our GPS was AMAZING for our trip. We would have been lost without one - and we did have a road atlas.

Don't rely on the rental agency - I upgraded our car to make sure we had a bigger trunk and a GPS. At the rental agency, they wanted to give us a RAV4 without a GPS. I was told the typical car in that class was a Mercedes with a built in GPS. When I asked to rent a GPS, they refused b/c it was a one-way rental.

They did give us an Audi A4 with a built in GPS. The Audi was an excellent car that I loved driving. The GPS was hooked up to traffic reports and it actually re-routed us when construction was tying things up on the roads. The downside was that the trunk in the Audi was small - but we were able to cram our 3 suitcases in it, but barely.

I went with Harmon Kardon. Because the model available here in the States only has N. American maps; and the model available in Europe only has the European maps: I have 2 units. YMMV
We drove around England and Scotland in May 2008.
Yes, it is good to have a GPS.
However, it was not without querks such as sending us down one-way streets.
Also, sometimes actions need to happen so fast that the voice command doesn't have time to keep up. Be sure to watch the map as well as listen to the voice commands(we preferred to assign this task to a passenger/navigator so the driver can keep eyes on the road and traffic).
We learned to have a paper map handy to double check that it wasn't leading us astray or if we would prefer to take a different road/highway or see a site along the way.

Remember that when you rent something, what you're actually doing is buying it for its owner.

I can see doing that with a car, because it's often inconvenient to bring one with you.

But not a GPS.

My girlfriend bought a Garmin for our recent trip to Italy -- It had US and Europe (even Poland and Croatia) maps pre-loaded and I think it cost around $300.

It was priceless in terms of saving on headaches and arguments in the car.

Buy it -- cause then you have it afterwards. I am not sure it was even an option (or and easy one) through Europcar. Once you get to the rental counter, you are at the whim of what they have.

Not only are you at their whim, you may or may not be able to master whatever make and model they foist on you. Some contributors here have admitted they couldn't even get to the English text interface.

I'll echo what most everyone else is saying - buy one. Two things I'll add from using our Garmin Nuvi 270 in Spain this past May: it's also great in pediestrian mode when in confusing, medevial European cities and roundabouts: it actually told us in advance which of the 3-6 exits to take.

<<Garmin's Mapsource software allows one to plan routes on a computer but I haven't figured out how to get them to work on the Nuvi.

You can insert waypoints in the Mapsource software and then upload the waypoints to the Nuvi.>>

I saw that software at Best Buy the other day and was wondering precisely that--could you plan a route at home, using that software, then load it on to your dedicated unit? If so, that would make dedicated units a more attractive buy to me than they currently are. When you look at the routes that mapping software selects, you'll see it makes some really strange decisions. There seem to be certain roads that, for some reason, the software doesn't like or doesn't recognize as a viable (or even preferable) atlernative. That's whay I'd have a hard time just entering a destination and blindly going wherever the dedicated unit tells me.

<<What I don't understand is this: You have your laptop sitting on the seat next to you when you drive? Does the computer talk to you telling you when to turn, etc.? Is the GPS unit a USB device? Does it take it long to find satellites and does it track satellites well when you are in cities surrounded by tall buildings?>>

Robespierre answered those questions; however, let me add that on my Scotland trip, I had someone sitting in the passenger seat and therefore holding the laptop (in a Targus bag, which kept it from getting too hot). I have used it solo here in the States, but it does require some space and set up to get it situated. I've had no trouble picking up satellites, and the only time I've really been in amongs tall buildings was using it to get to a hotel located on Market Street in San Antonio (right downtown on the riverwalk). It can work like a dedicated unit and give you turn by turn instructions (visual and audio, although the sound on my laptop is hard to hear over road noise, which you can solve with one of those FM transmitters you use for an Ipod), or you can simply view a map with the route highlighted.

Mimar: I don't have a PDA, but that does sound like a good option for folks who do.

Still if the choice is rent or buy a dedicated unit, I think I'd buy the dedicated unit. But as long as I'm travelling with a laptop, I don't think I'll have to make that choice.

Of course you could just take a Blackberry 'World edition' which gives you an international phone, email, Internet Explorer, a GPS (though no voice instructions) and you would be all set! Even my Canadian Roaming charges for email in Europe and the Baltic were less than some hotels' daily internet charges!
But Michelin's wonderful maps provide lots of "off-the-beaten track" roads that you could miss if you had programed a GPS whcih tends to take you in the most direct route.

Does anyone know how, where or if maps for Paris can be downloaded for a Magellan GPS?

It's great over here, talks to you, while showing streets and where to turn, if you miss a turn, re-calculates -

But WALKING in Paris, there is a particular area where I always end up walking around in circles. I had the idea of bringing it with me for walking ?

What do you think ?

Well I've found out the answer online at Magellan's.
I have the Roadmate 2200T which is wonderful here, but has no European maps for download.

I have heard the Tom Tom is best for Europe, but I think I'll look at one of the handhelds since I'll be using it more for walking.