Going to France and Iceland - GPS recommendations?
Apr 6th, 2014 | 02:09 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Going to France and Iceland - GPS recommendations?
Hello!
We are going to Iceland and France this summer and are thinking of buying a GPS. We want to buy something inexpensive that will work well in both Europe and the US, and that comes pre-loaded with North American and Europe maps with a lifetime subscription for updating (on ALL included maps). It seems that there are a lot of options and I don't know where to start. Don't need anything fancy with a huge screen or Bluetooth or anything - just a regular sat nav. However, it must have Europe maps loaded and must have lifetime updates for those Europe maps (as well as North American maps.)
Any suggestions? Thank you!
We are going to Iceland and France this summer and are thinking of buying a GPS. We want to buy something inexpensive that will work well in both Europe and the US, and that comes pre-loaded with North American and Europe maps with a lifetime subscription for updating (on ALL included maps). It seems that there are a lot of options and I don't know where to start. Don't need anything fancy with a huge screen or Bluetooth or anything - just a regular sat nav. However, it must have Europe maps loaded and must have lifetime updates for those Europe maps (as well as North American maps.)
Any suggestions? Thank you!
Apr 6th, 2014 | 02:29 PM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,969
Likes: 0
The models that come with Europe and the US maps with "lifetime" subscriptions are <u>not</u> inexpensive models.
When I looked at such products last year, they have defined the term "lifetime" map update to mean something different from what you might imagine. "Lifetime" in their unique dictionary meant something around 4 to 6 updates. Maps in their dictionary meant USA. For their purpose, European maps are not "maps." Read the product offers with lawyer's eyes.
Also, for use in France, there is a pesky issue on whether a GPS unit with precise speed camera locators is a "radar detector" with breathtaking fines if found in the car even if not in use. Tom Tom came up with a compromise firmware with the French authority where a GPS can report "general" regions where speed cameras are located. Not all Tom Tom units can do this. Their web site lists which models can download the firmware.
When I looked at such products last year, they have defined the term "lifetime" map update to mean something different from what you might imagine. "Lifetime" in their unique dictionary meant something around 4 to 6 updates. Maps in their dictionary meant USA. For their purpose, European maps are not "maps." Read the product offers with lawyer's eyes.
Also, for use in France, there is a pesky issue on whether a GPS unit with precise speed camera locators is a "radar detector" with breathtaking fines if found in the car even if not in use. Tom Tom came up with a compromise firmware with the French authority where a GPS can report "general" regions where speed cameras are located. Not all Tom Tom units can do this. Their web site lists which models can download the firmware.
So I guess it will have to be a Garmin.
Apr 6th, 2014 | 03:06 PM
#4
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 0
I think it's an excellent idea to have a GPS but I would not be without a paper map as well. I've never been to Iceland but I travel all the time in France and though I don't use a GPS I use Michelin maps (and little else) to plan my vacations here. Here is my standard advice about Michelin maps:
"Get your hands on the Michelin maps. You want the ones of the scale 1:200,000 (regional maps) or 1:150,000 (departmental maps, more detailed, cover slightly less area) for whatever regions you visit. A nice feature of the 1:150,000 maps is they show the starred attractions in the corresponding Michelin Green guidebooks. The Michelin maps have icons for all kinds of historically/touristically interesting things such as châteaux, ruins, churches, abbeys, scenic view points, caves, Roman sites, megaliths, designated scenic roads and many other things. Usually when I'm exploring various regions in France I just look at the map and I am able to plan interesting and scenic drives just reading the map. For instance, I usually look for a designated scenic road, which are highlighted in green, and I especially look for towns with the historic church and/or château icon. With the departmental maps also look for towns/sites/attractions that have been give one or more Michelin stars. I also try to make sure the route goes through as many small villages as possible. Usually putting all these things together I find interesting and scenic drives without even knowing where I am going and with no assistance from a guide book. Often these places are never mentioned in guidebooks and remain completely unknown to many tourists.
You can buy the Michelin maps from their website and here is a link to the page that shows you the 1:200,000 scale maps of France (Regional maps): http://tinyurl.com/4bt96ev
And here is a link to the page that shows you the 1:150,000 scale maps of France (Départementale maps):
http://tinyurl.com/6mt4n64
You could also buy them here but then you can't do research beforehand. The maps can be bought in many places such as bookstores, news stands, magazine stores, larger supermarkets, department stores, hypermarkets and in the full service rest areas on the autoroutes, just to name a few. If you're going to be traveling all over France you may find it easier to buy the Michelin Atlas, which covers all of France.
And speaking of Michelin, you can go to the website viamichelin.com and get info on drive times and distances, toll and fuel costs and suggested routes (i.e. scenic routes). The drive times given do not consider stops (fuel, food, bathrooms) nor do they consider bad weather and bad traffic. I find the drive times very accurate when these factors are accounted for. The time estimates can break down when you are driving in congested urban areas, like in or near Paris, due to the unpredictability of heavy traffic or traffic jams. They can also be affected on peak travel days, specifically on autoroutes leading to/from popular destinations.
You can acquaint yourself with rules of the road in France and road signs and such and this website will give you some useful tips:
http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/FrenchDrive.htm
"Get your hands on the Michelin maps. You want the ones of the scale 1:200,000 (regional maps) or 1:150,000 (departmental maps, more detailed, cover slightly less area) for whatever regions you visit. A nice feature of the 1:150,000 maps is they show the starred attractions in the corresponding Michelin Green guidebooks. The Michelin maps have icons for all kinds of historically/touristically interesting things such as châteaux, ruins, churches, abbeys, scenic view points, caves, Roman sites, megaliths, designated scenic roads and many other things. Usually when I'm exploring various regions in France I just look at the map and I am able to plan interesting and scenic drives just reading the map. For instance, I usually look for a designated scenic road, which are highlighted in green, and I especially look for towns with the historic church and/or château icon. With the departmental maps also look for towns/sites/attractions that have been give one or more Michelin stars. I also try to make sure the route goes through as many small villages as possible. Usually putting all these things together I find interesting and scenic drives without even knowing where I am going and with no assistance from a guide book. Often these places are never mentioned in guidebooks and remain completely unknown to many tourists.
You can buy the Michelin maps from their website and here is a link to the page that shows you the 1:200,000 scale maps of France (Regional maps): http://tinyurl.com/4bt96ev
And here is a link to the page that shows you the 1:150,000 scale maps of France (Départementale maps):
http://tinyurl.com/6mt4n64
You could also buy them here but then you can't do research beforehand. The maps can be bought in many places such as bookstores, news stands, magazine stores, larger supermarkets, department stores, hypermarkets and in the full service rest areas on the autoroutes, just to name a few. If you're going to be traveling all over France you may find it easier to buy the Michelin Atlas, which covers all of France.
And speaking of Michelin, you can go to the website viamichelin.com and get info on drive times and distances, toll and fuel costs and suggested routes (i.e. scenic routes). The drive times given do not consider stops (fuel, food, bathrooms) nor do they consider bad weather and bad traffic. I find the drive times very accurate when these factors are accounted for. The time estimates can break down when you are driving in congested urban areas, like in or near Paris, due to the unpredictability of heavy traffic or traffic jams. They can also be affected on peak travel days, specifically on autoroutes leading to/from popular destinations.
You can acquaint yourself with rules of the road in France and road signs and such and this website will give you some useful tips:
http://www.nickbooth.id.au/Tips/FrenchDrive.htm
Apr 6th, 2014 | 03:09 PM
#5
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,752
Likes: 17
You could save money by renting a Garmin Nuvi and returning it when you don't need it anymore. http://www.gpsrentals.biz/210.html?page_not_found=1
Apr 6th, 2014 | 09:25 PM
#6
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 618
Likes: 0
I am almost positive that our Garmin that is preloaded with European maps did not include Iceland. I think this because I seem to remember renting one from the rental company at the airport in Iceland. We bought a new Garmin last year with European maps, not sure if it has Iceland or not. Bottom line - check to make sure the GPS has all countries you need before purchasing.
