AlbertaDad

Hello Everyone!

I'm travelling to Italy in June, and will be there with my family (wife and two year-old son) for 24 days. After six days in Rome, we will be driving east to Pescara, and then all the way south into the Salentine Peninsula. I've already reserved my car rental, however I've been reluctant to purchase the GPS add-on for a couple of reasons. For starters, I find the price rather steep. For what I'd pay to rent a GPS in Italy, I could purchase one here in Canada, and simply download the map. Secondly, I'm the proud owner of an iPad 2, with 3G capability, and I understand that it too can function as a GPS. Thirdly, once I reach my rental in Puglia, I will inherit a GPS from the owner. So, essentially, I'm only in need of the GPS for my road tripping into Abruzzo, and then south into Puglia.

I do not want to incur astronomical roaming fees while I'm on vacation, so my question is this: Is it possible to use my iPad 2 as a GPS without ever connecting to the internet? I hope not to make use of any data plan while I'm away, and aside from when I'm connecting to free wi-fi don't intend to use it as an on-line device. If I download the TomTom Italy map from the App Store, can I use it off-line while I'm driving? Or do I need to be connected to the internet?

Thank you in advance for your help. I know that this is more of a technical question, but I'm curious to hear about other travellers who have experience in this arena.

Robert2533

You can use the mapping feature (Google or Apple) on your iPad 2 at any WiFi location, but you should still be able to use it as a GPS feature without encoring additional costs. I use my iPhone’s mapping feature and have never seen any additional costs, but then I add on the AT&T data roaming feature to our plan when traveling in Europe. It's cheap enough.

I've never used any of the GPS apps and have found no reason to outside of the one from REI, which comes at no cost.

AlbertaDad

Thank you Robert! I really appreciate your feedback!

I use Telus in Canada, and I'm currently looking into their international data plans. That said, from what I've been able to dig up so far on the internet, it appears that one does not need to be connected to the internet to run GPS on their iPad 2, so long as it is 3G enabled, as the "wi-fi only" versions apparently do not have an internal GPS device. Aside from the absence of features like live traffic updates, the iPad's GPS should run normally and effectively off-line. Though my understanding is that one should consider purchasing and downloading a map, to avoid streaming data and additional fees.

I should say that, so far, I've only read this information online, and have yet to try it out myself. I'll continue to post any info here that I find regarding this issue here for anyone that may interested.

Thanks again for your thoughts and time!

ParisAmsterdam

Look around and buy a decent use TomTom on Kijiji.ca. I have 3... one for each car... a 920 and two 630s. The 630s cost $30 and 35 bucks each. Download the required maps and you're good to go. The 920 was 84 dollars on eBay including Western Europe maps.

Why? So much handier than an iPad. How are you going to mount an iPad on the dash of a rental? Will you be able to see it in bright daylight? I think the convenience of a dedicated GPS will be worth the money.

As far as data and costs... using a true GPS app will not use date. A GPS gets its signal right from the satellite. If you decide on iPad only download the TomTom app and you'll be fine.

I doubt you'll get any deals from Telus... if you want phone functionality in Italy find a TIM store and get one of their SIMs.

yestravel

I used the mapping feature on iPad 1 without satay plan as we drove in pugila. I would map the drive when having wifi and the followed it as we drove. It's great. A lite dot sows where user as you drive.

yestravel

That would be data.

yestravel

Typing on iPhone...sorry for all the typos. A little dot shows where u r and follows u as u drive.

AlbertaDad

Thank you ParisAmsterdam and yestravel!

That kind of first-hand experience and advice is indispensable to me, I really appreciate it. At this point, I haven't exactly decided whether I'll use my iPad or purchase a GPS device, but either way I feel confident that I understand my options.

This is my first time driving through Italy, so I'm comforted to know that, in either case, I'll have the help of a GPS. And, that I won't necessarily have to spend a fortune to obtain that help. Thanks everyone!

yipper

How about a map. I drove all over Spain and southern Italy with a map, because I did not want to pay the amount of the GPS.

yestravel

We had a map, but actually the mapping feature on the iPad is way more detailed and so easy to follow. As you travel you can zoom in and look at alternate routes if you want.

Ackislander

If the iPad doesn't have a voice feature, then I hope you will have a passenger or co driver who can look at all these routes for you. I have never been on a road in Italy where I would feel comfortable driving and looking at a map at the same time. The country roads are very narrow with few pulloffs, and the autostradi are like the 405 at rush hour, only narrower, the junctions are poorly marked, and the traffic is moving very fast.

ParisAmsterdam asks the right questions and offers a good answer.

Dukey1

Would you be willing to disclose how MUCH the rental car agency is going to charge you for use of a GPS?

BTW did you use a consolidator/discounter for your car rental or go to the agency direct?

Everyone is different obviously but I find it a lot less distracting when I have a screen with voice directions that I can at least glance at while in use and I do not mean glancing away from the windshield.

Also, be aware that there are NUMEROUS speed cameras on the main autostrada routes in Italy and one advantage of a "usual" GPS such as a Garmin as just one example is the warning you will get as you approach the camera.

Just a thought; sometimes higher prices can actually be worth something as I am certain you already know.

Have a great trip.

AlbertaDad

Hello Everyone!

I apologize for my delayed response! Once again, I'd like to thank everyone for their input. I've been giving a lot of thought to everybody's suggestions. Ackislander, you raise some really interesting points. I will have a passenger/navigator, but I'm not sure if the iPad has a voice feature, and I agree that that particular function sounds very useful.

Dukey1, to answer your questions, I researched car rentals on many sites, but eventually settled on Autosabroad.com. I can't recall the exact price of the GPS add-on, but it was somewhere between 300 and 400 dollars.

NOW, in light of what I'd been reading on this thread, I'd been considering that maybe a GPS proper would be best. Yet, I didn't want to spend the money, and I hadn't any luck so far finding one second hand on kijiji. But, would you believe it, a family member has imparted to me an unused, still-in-the-box Garmin Nuvi 265t! For free! They just had it kicking around and it wasn't being used! I can't believe my amazing luck. From what I'm reading, it is a great little GPS, it has a suction mount for the dash, live traffic features and turn-by-turn voice directions that includes street names. Plus, it appeals to my sense of frugality that it's come to me at no expense. Thank you, universe! So, I still need to purchase the Italy map, but I would've had to do that on my iPad anyway.

In conclusion, I'll be spending about the same amount as I would have if I'd used my iPad as a GPS in Italy, but from what I'm hearing here, the Garmin will be a more efficient, and luxurious tool. So, it looks like its time for this Garmin to come out of the box and see some action!

Thanks again, everyone!