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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