mappy.com vs. Via Michelin?
 

Message: I'm trying to map out my trip to Normandy. I can't figure out whether I should use mappy.com or ViaMichilen. Any advice out there? We will not be downloading it to a PDA, just printing out directions.

I'd print out both. Do you want advice o (differing?) info provided by the two sites - - seeking a reality check from Fodorites who may have driven those destinations?

In my Sep 2002 trip to Normandy (and a little bit of Britttany) -- I can't remember which I used (probably viamichelin, and we traveled a lot of back roads to small, lesser-known towns), but it always seemed to take me 50% longer than the driving estimates. I have not had this experience before; I am usually a leadfoot.

Best wishes,

Rex

Hi cb,

You have to check both. Very often they give different suggestions between two points.

I use Viamichelin to get the route and an *idea* of the total driving time between two points. I print out large versions of the map marked with the itinerary, plus close-up maps of the departure and arrival points. I then use this as a back-up to our Michelin road atlas.

Trying to follow a printout of written driving directions with no clear map is a recipe for disaster, especially if there are roadworks or diversions.

And the driving times given by Viamichelin are the minimum time it takes between two points if you are travelling at the maximum speed allowed. Feasible on uncongested motorways, perhaps, but downright impossible on smaller roads where things like traffic lights, local speed limits and slower-moving traffic are not taken into account.

We usually beat the viamichelin drive times by a bit. But I hate driving, so I drive pretty fast.

Mappy directions are easier to follow in my experience.

Ron, you beat me to it. I too think Mappy is easier to follow.

Our approach is very similar to hanl's. We use ViaMichelin to get a suggested itinerary, then use Michelin maps once we're on the road.

If you don't have the spiral-bound Michelin road atlas, their 300-series "local" maps are great. There are 45 of them covering all of France.

Anselm