My Garmin Nuvi 370 Just Arrived!
 

I don't know what got into me but I bought a new Garmin GPS. I own a GPSmap 76CS and have taken that to Europe with me a couple times but it wasn't all that useful. It told me where I was and where I'd been but it wasn't real good at helping get to where I wanted to go.

The Nuvi 370 is nice in that it gives directions and it is also very compact. But of course the very best thing about it is that it comes pre-loaded with US and European maps.

I have put in hotels that I am staying at on my upcoming trip to eastern Europe. And I have marked sites that I want to see.

Now I just have to wait 2 1/2 months to use it.

Congrats! I have the C330 StreetPilot and had to purchase the Europe maps separately. I may have to upgrade to one of the 370's next year and gift mine down to one of the kids. Hope you got it for a good price. ((b))

I didn't know the Nuvi 370 came pre-loaded with both US and Europen maps. In fact, I had not even considered getting my own GPS because usually you have to pay like $150 to load the Europe maps. Time to check if I can get a good deal on it anywhere!

Never mind, the 370 is more than $150 than the 350.

How about $609.95?

mobileplanet.com/p.aspx?i=145434

(<i>p.s.</i> If you're looking to save money, why buy a dedicated GPS at all? A PDA with onboard GPS costs less and does more. I loaded all of Europe for $40 on mine. Plus nanika.net/metro plots subway and bus routes for me on the same device.)

The Europe City Navigator map set is close to $275. Those are the maps that come pre-loaded on the 370.

I looked carefully at the costs of the 360 plus the European maps and it was cheaper to buy the 370. I did price shop and wound up buying it from Amazon since it wasn't actually in stock and shipping at a lot of the places advertising low prices. I had a fairly short time frame for getting it before I left.

I am absolutely delighted with it so far -- I'll let you know in a couple of weeks how well it did in Italy.

I used my 350 on my past trip through Northern Europe and it was a Godsend. It actually performed better there than it does in New Jersey. I did the exact same thing you mentioned: made all my hotels AND recommended bars and restaurants part of my POI (points of interest) list. Perhaps the best feature was the fact that it gave me an arrival time for the next stop which then allowed us to know just how much time we could spend sightseeing in our current location. It also came in handy when we were running low on gas motoring down the Autobahn.

And it's hilarious to listen to the Aussie Girl mispronounce German street names.

Ok, maybe this will sound horribly dumb to those of you who are familiar with these &quot;thingies&quot;, but I have always wondered if they are just as useful when travelling on foot (i.e walking your way around paris). My father had one in his rental car in Italy and said it was a lifesaver, but would it help you even if you don't rent a car??
Just curious :)

Thanks,

Layla

It has a pedestrian mode, which I have not yet tested. I'll let you know what I find out.

Hi aaucho - not a silly question at all. They are just as effective walking. The pedestrian mode is primarily to refresh the screen more often as you are moving slower and not necessarily on roads.
Have you heard of geocaching? This sport depends upon people using GPS units on foot. I use my (old) Garmin for this all the time.
Now my turn for a questionable question. Is there any reason you can't plug GPS units into European cars using same connections as in Nor Am?

Thanks guys.....I have always been curious about that! I think I might invest in one for my next trip....I'm sure it would come in quite handy!

Thanks!

Layla :)

All automobiles manufactured on this planet in the past 30 years or so have twelve-volt negative-ground electrical systems.

The Brits were the holdouts - so your Hillman Imp may still have a positive earth electrical system. But who cares?

I have a terrible sense of direction. Do you think it is worth $600 US to pick up one of these GPS systems for walking in Paris. I have been to Paris many times, but will be with a group of gals and don't want to get lost.

The Nuvi 350 was more money than I want to spend. It looked like the lower models were only preloaded with EITHER U.S. or European maps, and for only one zone at that. If I had to purchase other maps, the price starts bumping up again.

Any practical suggestions? I am willing to invest some money, but the sky is not the limit!

I have only owned two GPS units - both Garmin. So my advice is somewhat biased. I've had my Nuvi for two days and I have concluded that it will be a great tool for travel in the US and especially in Europe.

My other GPS is a GPSMap 76CS. The thing that impressed most about the Nuvi is how fast it finds the satellites. It also connects inside my house. This is something the 76CS couldn't do.

If you wanted something cheaper, I think you could go with a 350 and find maps for specific European countries. I think this would be cheaper than buying the whole European map set.

Hi L,

&gt;I .... will be with a group of gals and don't want to get lost.&lt;

As long as you are with your group, you won't get lost. :)

((I))

PS,

Keep a card with the name, address and phone no. of your hotel with you.

You will always be able to get a cab.

((I))

Actually, if you do the math, considering that you would need to buy a SD card and European maps (around $300), you just might be better off with the Nuvi 370 since it comes loaded with both North Am &amp; Europe maps. ((b))

Ira:

Two of the gals have never been to Paris before, one has been for two days, and one's not been there for many years. So the pressure is on! I do so want them to have a good time and not spend a lot of time finding our way.

We may end up plotting our way with a map the &quot;old fashioned&quot; way. Just wondered if there was a practical, high tech alternative.

We had a built-in GPS in our rental car in Germany this past December. It was so wonderful that the idea of one for Paris is just so tempting!

Leburta:
IMO--no! Not for walking.

You will spend too much time staring at the GPS figuring out &quot;where you are&quot; instead of enjoying where you are.

Getting a bit lost is fine--part of the adventure. Just have a good walking map and stop periodically to get your bearings, if you feel the need.

And learn a few french phrases for asking for directions.

You will spend too much time staring at the GPS figuring out &quot;where you are&quot; instead of enjoying where you are. <font color="blue">Maybe at first. But the novelty will soon wear off.</font>

Getting a bit lost is fine--part of the adventure. <font color="blue">GPSs come into their own when you're lost and you don't <i>want</i> to be.</font> Just have a good walking map and stop periodically to get your bearings, if you feel the need. <font color="blue">Or a GPS and stop periodically...</font>

And learn a few french phrases for asking for directions. <font color="blue">And a few hundred for interpreting the answers.</font>

Just an update. Garmin is bringing out a Nuvi 270 which appears to have both the US and Europe maps on it and is a little cheaper then the 370

I haven't spent much time figuring out what the differences are between the two.

Leburta,

If you use a GPS like mine (and I assume they pretty much all do this) you do not need to write down the name and location of your hotel to remember where it is.

You simply get your GPS to locate and save your starting location as you start out. If you do get lost you can simply direct it to route you back to the starting point.

Um, why go back to your starting point if you're halfway to your destination?

And what's this about looking up hotel coordinated and entering them? If you have truly 21st-Century mapping software (like Streets &amp; Trips), you just type the name of your hotel and tell it to guide you to it from <i>wherever</i> you are. And if you go off-track (unanticipated detour or suchlike), to automatically plot your new routing.

But Garmin has the rep, deserved or not.

&quot;Actually, if you do the math, considering that you would need to buy a SD card and European maps (around $300)&quot;


Budman, I was wondering why you would need an SD card and the Europe maps. I have the 350 and I just ordered the Italy maps last week for an upcoming trip. It comes on an SD card, so why would I need another one? I am just trying to figure out how it works, so I don't get to Italy and not have what I need. I just assumed I would pop in the Italy map card and be all set.

Roaming, in hindsight, that's probably what I should have done. I bought the European maps separate, loaded them on my computer and purchased a 512 SD card, put the card in the unit and download the portions of the maps that I will be using, up to 512K. I wish I would have known at the time about buying the maps on the card. You are probably better off just getting the maps already on the card. BTW, how much did ghe card cost you?

Can you view maps/points of interest on your computer, select them, then download them to the Unit as part of your favorites? ((b))

Did you buy the card for maps for just the one country only? My maps include all of Europe -- I just select the sections of Europe that I want to download onto the Unit.

For example, I'm going to Zurich and Northern Italy, so I selected all of Switzerland, parts of Southern Germany and Western Austria, Parts of Eastern France, and all of Northern Italy from Florence and above. That all fits on the 512 card, then I select POI, cities, hotels, and the like that I will or might be visiting, and they load up in my favorites section. Not sure how it works if you just have the card only. ((b))

Budman, you're fast.

I bought the Italy maps only and they came on an SD card. That is the only place I will be going for the next few years so it did not make sense to buy the whole package. By the time I can travel elsewhere, I will be ready for a new unit and who knows what the technology will be.

I ordered from the Garmin site and it was $182. Only about $110 less than the whole European package but I did not see the point in spending extra, when I know I won't use it.

Budman, I missed part of your question.

I have not tried the SD card in the computer. I just assumed I would pop it into the unit and be all set. I guess I had better spend a little time playing with this thing and figure it out.

My husband just retired and we are going on a one-month trip to Germany and Austria in the Fall. He just ordered a Garmin Nuvi 670 that is preloaded with the US and Europe maps. It should be delivered today. It's a little pricey but he received a $500 gift card from his fellow employees when he retired so we just had to chip in the difference.

We'll also be doing a lot of traveling in the US in the car and on our motorcycle so I think the investment will be worth it.

Roaming _ After you put in the SD card be sure to turn on unit, go to settings, then map, thenmap info. Be sure you check the box for your European maps and uncheck the North American ones.

I assumed the person was concerned about &quot;getting lost&quot; and not being able to find their hotel, Robespierre. I didn't recommend that the person stop and go back right then did I?

Now, we know that would never happen to you but do try to understand it does occur periodically.

BTW...how much duct tape did you have to use to keep that laptop within view in your car??????

mark

We LOOOOVE our Garmin Nuvi 360, we bought in in Amsterdam last fall with the European maps included and it has been one of our smartest buys on our extended world tour.

We have been using it for 8 months and it makes life sooo much easier when you are driving all over Europe in an RV.

http://www.soultravelers3.com/

This is so great to hear. I've been doing a bit of research on GPS. I just putchased the Garmin Nuvi 360 online. Anyone interested Costco has a great price on the 350. The 360 has North America &amp;Europe already dowloaded. I'm so excited to get it and put it to good use in France.

Well the above post did nothing to convince me of the fact that your perferred technology is the &quot;only way&quot; which seems to be your goal.

And by the way, I love my job. Perhaps you should quit making all your ASSUMPTIONS???

Hey, Robes..where's your trip report about Germany...perhaps we could all agree on that adventure.

I got my new TOY!

The Garmin Nuvi 370 is here. It's AMAZINGLY small and light. I finally decided to get it after playing with a co-workers Garmin. Her's is much older and much bigger (This is going to create &quot;Garmin Envy&quot; in my office) This thing weighs less then my Razr cell phone and a HECK of a lot less them my Blackberry!

Just to verify I had Europe loaded, I put in my desitination as Zagreb Croatia and it figured out a route. (Not sure what the route was as I didn't let it finish)

I think this is going to help keep me from killing my navigator (also known as my mother)

T

Carol-
I'd love to hear more about it after you start using it here in the US.
I'm especially interested to hear how the traffic alert function works.

Also, where will you be using it in Europe? And do you plan on using it in the car there or also while walking?

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