travelworm

Hello there! I'm renting a car at Malpensa airport in a few days and will be driving it to Milan city center and then on to Tuscany. I have never driven in Europe before, so I thought I would take my Garmin nuvi 2598 with me for the trip. Only having used the Garmin in the US, I'm not sure how it's going to work in Italy. Any and all comments/advice are welcome. Thank you in advance, kind folks, for taking time out of your busy day to help a stranger!

greg

The more fundamental question is if you have thought about whether driving was the relevant choice of transportation/activity, etc. for this segment of your trip.

Most folks would probably not rent a car for an explicit purpose of driving into Milan city center. "Tuscany" also has many destinations whether having a car gets punitive. You might have thought about these already, but it is not clear from your posting.

I think 2598 comes with European maps. So you need to take car charger and a way to mount on a vehicle you have never seen.

tracilee

Did it come preloaded with European maps? We have a different model, actually two different ones, that came with both US and European maps and they both work just fine. I know some people prefer maps, but my husband and I really like the Nuvi and can't imagine traveling without it.

One tip, we try to have the first destination (usually our hotel) loaded so that when we turn it on in Europe it's ready to go.

Have a great trip!

travelworm

Just called Garmin tech support and learned I need to purchase a downloadable map for Italy.

bvlenci

I now use Google Navigator on my phone instead of a dedicated GPS system. To use it with turn-by-turn instructions, you'd need to have a data plan on your phone. However, if you just want to consult the maps, you can download them ahead of time when you have access to wifi, so you can keep your data services turned off. The GPS function runs down your battery very quickly, though, so you should bring a car charger for the phone.

I certainly wouldn't want to drive into Milan. I would consider picking up the car at Florence airport or Pisa airport, or at some other place in Tuscany.

rbciao47

You can purchase the Garmin European Map SD Micro card on Amazon at a discount and free shipping. We have a NUVI 2495 LTM and use it every year in Italy. Having a good map is a cogent strategy, as well. Our Garmin has taken us on some interesting field trips. We've been through vineyards, chicken coops, driveways, dirt roads, etc. When we stay at our neighbors house in Nusco we never leave the top of the mountain the same way, but we always arrive at our destination.

Buon viaggio,

bvlenci

A few years ago, we went to a truffle festival in S. Angelo in Vado, in Le Marche (where we live). We ended up on a road that looked as though it was about to turn into a mule track, but it didn't and we eventually got there. (Before turning onto this road, I saw a sign to S. Angelo pointing in the other direction, but my husband followed his Garmin.)

While we were at the festival, we got into conversation with a family who lived not far from where we live. The husband asked us which route we had taken to get there, and when we told him, he said, "Oh, you have a Garmin, too!"

My advice is that if the road sign points right and your Garmin tells you to turn left, follow the road sign.

rbciao47

Several years ago we left Nusco in La Campagna for Sorrento. Garmin told us to go right and the sign indicated left. We went right... into Castellammare di Stabia on the way to Sorrento at lunch time. We were on a NARROW street with cars parked on the right, metal posts that resembled hitching posts the whole way down the street on the left, and jam packed with pedestrians everywhere. We should have followed the sign.

buon viaggio,